“ I don ’ t want to feel guilty while I ’ m having my facial ,” she laughs .
Her definition of “ region ” is within an hour flight of her home . “ We ’ ve been asked to go to the Seychelles , India , China , but it ’ s better for me to concentrate my activity in Burma , Cambodia and Laos – and there ’ s so much opportunity in Thailand .” She is working on a new project in Vietnam .
Intrinsic to her philosophy is sustainability and philanthropy . “ From the first hotel onward , I always thought , I ’ ve come to make a living here . I don ’ t want to be part of the problem … I have to make sure the local community thinks the same .” The company ’ s Pure Blue Foundation enlists the community by touting the economic benefits of marine conservation . “ We make a living from the beach . If we don ’ t preserve what ’ s on it , what ’ s in it , nobody ’ s going to come here .” The sustainable approach continues on the property . The Aleenta Hua Hin is experimenting with hydroponics and raises chickens .
Kijkanakorn is a board member of Small Luxury
A two-bedroom beach house at the Aleenta Hua Hin
Hotels of the World after a four-year run as chairman , the first woman and first Asian to do so . “ The owners could easily go to an international brand … but she is able to preserve the Thai hospitality and culture and bring that to the table ,” says Mark Wong , vice president of Asia Pacific at SLH .
“ She gets involved in the whole concept ,” he adds . “ That where the passion comes in . That ’ s why you don ’ t see massive growth or quick growth , because it takes a lot of time to develop each property . That helps to give the soul of the hotel .”
She is watching home-sharing services like Airbnb . “ I think hotels have to think about how people might not actually want ( hotel ) services anymore ,” she says . “ I still haven ’ t got the answer for that .”
Above all , she employs a personal touch . “ Being boutique hotels , people spend a lot of time asking questions before they book , and you have to answer .” Her email address is on the website . “ A lot of people call me a control freak ,” she acknowledges , but “ it keeps me close to my guests , and that ’ s what I value .”
“ LUXURY HAS DIFFERENT MEANINGS FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE . PERSONALLY , I ’ M NOT TRYING TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE . I CAN ONLY CONCENTRATE ON KNOWING WHAT I DO . THE TRENDS OF THE REST OF THE WORLD – I DON ’ T REALLY LOOK AT THEM . IF IT DOESN ’ T TALK TO ME , THEN IT ’ S PROBABLY NOT FOR ME , AND THAT ’ S FINE .”
ANCHALIKA KIJKANAKORN
April 2017 hotelsmag . com 47