QUICK TAKES WITH CHIN PITAK NORATHEPKITTI
all for the Indochina people and glad to be surrounded by them and their profound culture and traditions . I was born , raised and have been working here and am very proud of our region . There are new opportunities every day . On the other hand , I am a numbers guy , so P & L and cashflow statements keep me up at night . End of the day , you are the one trusted to look after the well-being of the guests , the employees and the shareholders .
H : What is your best advice to those entering the industry now ? CPN : Enter with the end in mind . Think about what you want to really become or achieve . Most importantly , do not delude yourself with the stereotypical flamboyant GM life . Don ’ t look for the light at the end of the tunnel — your focus should be on the graffiti and street art along the way . doing something you disdain — it must be something you adore and are committed to .
H : What is a personal skill you have that makes you stand out in your field ? CPN : I love being around people . As a part-time lecturer in the university , I have the privilege to travel in between these two industries . They are both human industries . I become interested in how the team works , how the guests react and how our business partners are involved during a certain period of time and what could be done to help them all meet their needs .
H : What ’ s the biggest threat to the hotel industry ? CPN : The lack of experienced staff . As our industry continues to grow , staff have more options and the stealing of experienced employees will become a very competitive sport . Also , some tourist destinations haven ’ t hired many home-grown talents , so when a crisis like this hits and income drops , the talent tends to move back home or to other higher-income destinations .
H : What is one trend you are watching and how do you think it will impact the industry ? CPN : Regionality and domestic travel . People need to travel and presently for many , domestic travel is the only option . In many places , the closed borders make travel outlandish and travel notices discourage individuals from voyaging overseas . Subsequently , this year ’ s vacation — and maybe for a few years to come — will largely take place domestically . This applies to both leisure and business travelers . We have prepared for domestic-preferred service and regional-driven marketing content .
H : To what do you most attribute your success and growth ? CPN : I am passionately committed . I believe insanely successful individuals wholeheartedly accept their objectives and dreams , then they follow their success roadmaps . They are profoundly enthusiastic about their objectives and are totally committed to seeing them through . Passion isn ’ t something you can fake ; it must really come from inside . That ’ s why you ’ ll never succeed
The courtyard at Anantara Angkor Resort
QUICK TAKES WITH CHIN PITAK NORATHEPKITTI
What languages do you speak ? Thai , English , Lao , Khmer , Mandarin Chinese , Vietnamese
Do you have a hidden talent ? Storytelling and magic tricks for kids
What is an unusual thing you have learned on the job ? The heterogeneity of human behavior and reactions towards the very same situation
Is there a historical figure you ’ d like to host ? Leonardo da Vinci
Is there a celebrity you ’ d really like to meet ? Barack Obama . He ’ s part of an extraordinary club whose members are addressed as “ Mr . President .” He ’ s proven to be gentle and smart with knowledge and views over a considerable array of topics .