INTERVIEW ИНТЕРВЬЮ > > >
№2(32) February 2016
Mark Weingard –
THE CREATOR OF INIALA
Iniala is one of the most beautiful hotels in all of Phuket. It combines unique design elements with wonderfully artistic touches. We were fortunate enough to be able to sit down with Mark Weingard, the owner of Iniala, for a little chat about how and why he got started in the business, as well as some of his other views on life in Phuket.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST BUILD PROPERTY HERE?
In 1999 I built a house here; there wasn’t much around at the time. It was my own piece of paradise. WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY FROM CHILDHOOD?
I was an only child, my father died when I was 10. That really changed me. I thought I would die before his age. He died in a car crash, he was a taxi driver. I traveled a lot when I was young, I worked with youth organizations. I always wanted to travel and see the world. At 19, I left Manchester and went to London. At 24 I went to Singapore WHAT DID YOU GAIN FROM YOUR EXPERIENCES IN EARLY LIFE?
I was in a youth organization for all of North England and Scotland at the age of 16. It taught me leadership skills and how to organize things. MY PARENTS RAISED THEIR CHILDREN TO LEARN the value of life and quality of life and to get
experiences in life, like other families do.
WHO WAS YOUR HERO AT THE TIME?
I did not have heroes. There were people I looked up to, my Grandfather, my Mother. I learned many things from them. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE ABOUT LIFE?
I believe life is short, we don’t know what is around the corner. I think it’s best to fill your life with inspirational people and to do as much as possible. I tried to build a charity, to help people, also in orphanages. I don’t like to plan too far ahead, I think it’s best to be organic and look for opportunities instead of being rigid with planning. I enjoy being a part of a community. DO YOU CHOOSE ALL THE ART IN THE HOTEL?
Phuket is a beautiful place but the hotels are not always unique, we wanted to make a difference. Design, art, gastronomy, hospitality and philanthropy are our 5 main tenets. We don’t want it to be just a hotel, we wanted to bring in different aspects. I chose most of the art here but Stephen Pettifoot, an art critic from Bangkok helped me in some of the selections. We also hope to help people here with their own designs. The place is like a living gallery. WHAT IS ART TO YOU? IS IT LIFE?
Art is decoration. Family and friends are life for me. Art is a way to enrich the place and the culture WHAT IS FRIENDSHIP FOR YOU?
People you love and trust. You help each other. I believe in helping people, not just friends and family. We have IF: Inspiration foundation, helping all around the world in need. People say you can’t have more than 5 real friends in the world, but I don’t believe that. There are many good people out there.
46.......www.reallifephuket.com
№2(32) Февраль 2016