Thalias Hospitality

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RESERVE

Department: Leadership

Arnaud Darc

Arnaud Darc, alongside his business partners, has been instrumental in shaping the hospitality industry in Southeast Asia over the past three decades. Known for his visionary leadership and entrepreneurial flair, Arnaud began his journey in Cambodia in 1994, initially making a mark with Accor Hotels before launching his own ventures. Cultivating Thalias Hospitality Together with his partners, Arnaud co-founded Thalias Hospitality, nurturing it into a prominent hospitality group. Their collaborative efforts led to the creation of celebrated venues such as Topaz, Malis, Khéma, Go Bakery, Siena, Nham Eylov, Santepheap in the food service industry and Arunreas in the hospitality industry. They also spearheaded the launch fine dining off-site catering services to the burgeoning demand for high-quality dining experiences in Phnom Penh. Leadership and Recognition Arnaud serves as the CEO of Thalias Group, where he and his partners oversee a dedicated team of nearly 500 employees across their various stores, restaurants and hotel. His leadership extends beyond daily operations as he has held influential roles such as President of the Cambodia Restaurant Association, Vice-President of the International Chamber of Commerce, and Co-Chairman of the Government Private Sector Forum Working Group on Law, Tax, and Governance. His efforts, along with those of his partners, have garnered significant accolades, including being named as one of Cambodia’s Top International Voices and earning the ‘INTERNATIONAL LEADING BRAND – CAMBODIA’ award at the ASEAN Outstanding Business Award 2023. The French government also recognized Arnaud with the Knight of “L’ordre du Mérite National,” a testament to his impactful career. A Commitment to Collective Success Arnaud Darc’s professional story, shared with his co-founders, is a narrative of collective vision and mutual dedication. Their leadership not only propels Thalias Hospitality to new heights but also significantly contributes to the broader community and industry. Contact: arnauddarc@thalias.com.kh

Luu Meng

Luu Meng was born in Cambodia and hails form a lineage of culinary celebration, whose grandmother honed her own skills in the Kitchen of the Royal Palace and a mother who has passed on this passion for food. Drawing on this inspiration and equipped with knowledge of Khmer traditional usage of flavors and spices from his matriarchs, he further pursued his passion for cooking abroad. After ten formative years developing his skills in restaurants in Singapore and Malaysia, he returned to Cambodia and was quickly recruited as a chef at the Hotel Cambodiana. With extensive kitchen experience in five star hotels belonging to the SOFITEL and Sunway group, his love of Cambodia dishes and the creative fusion of other international cuisines continue unabated. Luu Meng has worked with Anthony Bourdaine and appeared in an episode of the Gordon Ramsay’s Great Escape as a guest chef as well has having bestowed with the honorable title of ‘Cambodian Master Chef’ in recognition of his creativity and celebration of Cambodian dishes. In 2005, Luu Meng established Malis with Arnaud Darc based on a passion to see authentic Khmer cooking served respectfully in chic aesthetic presentations and under a more enchanting ambience. The success of Malis has elevated even further the respect for his culinary style and excellence in delivering the complete hospitality experience. Malis has been bestowed with the title of the ‘Best Cambodian Cuisine’ by the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia and awarded Restaurant of the Year in Cambodia by the International Travel Expo. Luu Meng has been honored by the French government with the Ordre National du Mérite Agricole (National Order of Agricultural Merit), an honour established in 1883 to reward services to agriculture, appointed Cuisine Advisor of the Chaine des Rotisseur. He is also currently the president of Cambodian Hotel Association, president of Cambodia Chef Federation, vice president of Asean Hotel Association, vice president of The China Hong Kong and Macao expatriate and business association of Cambodia and vice the Huang Zhao association of Cambodia.