An exciting new semester begins at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort and Spa. The inspired stay is styled around the mythical narrative of the former Lamarck University being revived as a glorious hotel. Named after a real-life French naturalist, ‘student’ guests can enrol with a revised curriculum of gastronomy and holiday festivities. A newly enlisted team of skilled, attentive ‘professors’ ensures that luxurious stays evolve into memorable experiences on the eponymous Vietnamese island.
A new semester season of memorable experiences awaits
College calendar highlights include a spectacular four-hand lunch and dinner from 22 to 24 November. In-house chef, Danny Minh Do heads the formal, fine-dining five- and eight-course dining event along with culinary master of modern grill cuisine, Jayden ‘Woo Cheol’ Kim from JW Marriott Jeju. Highlights include Kim’s renowned black pork barbecue, a melt-in-the-mouth taste sensation with ssam lettuce leaf wraps and aged kimchi salsa.
After a selection of Asian and French amuse bouche, courses include Japanese Wagyu A5 tartare, Korean beef with tomato kimchi, and sturgeon meunière. The creative menu sources the finest ingredients from Phu Quoc, known as ‘Pearl Island’. These include the freshest seafood, the island’s famed pepper renowned for its heat and aroma, and local honey.
A one-night-only dining experience on 15 December explores exquisitely presented sustainable gastronomy in collaboration with Nén Danang eatery. The renowned 2024 Michelin Guide restaurant plates creatively crafted, stunning works of culinary art using hyper-local ingredients.
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort and Spa embraces the cuisine and ambience of the ancient town of Hoi An with the Rue de Lamarck Night Market every Saturday. Set in the resort’s inner walking street district, complete with colorful lanterns and old-style buildings, visitors soak up the atmosphere and sample tasty Vietnamese street food and drinks from stalls and shophouses.
Meanwhile, a brand new menu was launched on 7 October at the resort’s popular all-day-dining eatery, Tempus Fugit. Specializing in authentic Vietnamese, contemporary Korean, and classic Western dishes the beachside setting and eclectic menu promise a spectacular setting with the most appetizing plates.
During the festive season, ‘boarders’ will celebrate the nostalgia of the ‘roaring ‘20s’ when college life was in full swing. The glitz and glamour of the Gatsby-style era are brought to life with sophisticated dress-up parties featuring live jazz, classic gin Martinis, and 1920s-style menus.
During this semester, guests are handed a ‘Student Book’ of extra-curricular activities. These include physical, creative, and culinary pursuits for all ages For those who want to dive into the imaginary heritage of the hotel, there is even a Lamarck University tour that reveals hidden secrets along the way.
The resort’s story of an old university revived as a hotel features new leading characters
Created by renowned architect, landscaper, and interior designer Bill Bensley, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort and Spa weaves an intricately imaginative tale of a wealthy, French-colonial boarding school in Vietnam. After being abandoned in the 1940s, according to the storyline, a destination hotel was crafted in its place with memorabilia from its past preserved.
According to the design maverick, the concept comes from a quest to reimagine the expectations and possibilities of a beach resort. The university plot captures the youthful excitement of exploring new experiences in a world of wonder. “Almost all of us enjoyed our college times,” exclaims Bensley. “Some would say it was the best years of their lives. So why not build a resort based on those happy times?”
The hotel ‘university’s dean’ is the general manager at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort and Spa, John Woolley. His passion and 20-plus-year background in luxury adventure tourism inspire all to try their best to create unique stories to be retold long into the future.
” ‘Student’ guests are plunged into ‘immersive experiences and environments that echo the hotel’s ‘past’ as a nature-focused university” the GM explains, “complete with, almost every department you could think of, from zoology to conchology to chemistry! Interiors, signage, and even uniforms create a rich, storytelling depth, with a sporting hall of fame for the university’s Ridgebacks.
Setting a high standard alongside him is newly appointed Ian Mahajan. With a global career spanning Dubai, Thailand, and Seychelles, the ‘deputy dean’ and hotel’s director of operations brings over two decades of F&B experience to guide the heads of the other departments.
.jpg){kind=tracking}
