Once again, I had a chance with a group of IPST science communication team to visit the Sivatel Bangkok Hotel (https://www.sivatelbangkok.com/). The first time was some years ago when a group of ASEAN participants and I learned how hotel business could be applicable to their university missions. Then, we met with Ajarn Apichati Sivayathorn who has been experienced as a medical doctor, a deputy dean of Siriraj med school, a senior administrator of a leading hospital to get a Thailand Quality Class award, and the hotel CEO.
This time, a few things have changed.
1. The topic was on branding and the timing couldn't have been more perfect as the hotel has just settled with its brand and purposes of existence.
2. The CEO is Khun Alisara, Ajarn Apichati's daughter who never saw herself take over the business and has been doing it real well!
3. Sivatel has added various values into the overall operation, based on lots of learning Khun Alisara has acquired, tried, and shared.
The reflections of the IPST group were all very positive. Some examples were: they food science was put into the full cycle of implementation, the hotel journey was clearly seen, its firm standing to do what it considered valuable was the true value well, one was glad to see the links of happy workplace and caring for employees like family members, stories can be in anything offered in the hotel, and one jokingly said he would love to get a job at this hotelJ!
Below is my learning ka:
- Nothing is easy as it needs over 3 years rebranding the hotel. Khun Alisara has to seek for the right brand through more learning on megatrends, happy workplace, waste management, and organic food costs, etc. Finally, the soul of the hotel has sparked clearly.
- Through the guidance of a right person who’s a key brand specialist, Khun Alisara has been able to pave a more solid ground of the hotel further, building on the base on Sustainable Economy Philosophy (SEP) and the directions on ‘being a clean, green, and smart hotel’ to the one that is’ the hotel of happiness and sharing’.
- Guidance is only part of the ‘self-assessment’. It took this capable lady some time to crystalize what the real hotel soul must be! Several keywords I jotted down were, ‘know self = brand purpose, sensible, clear positioning clear for sustainability’ to optimize the brand to the full 360 degree from the logo, character for staff recruitment, engagement with attitude over competence.
- Sivatel’s lintegration (link+integration) is admirable to make sure that ‘from farm to table’ isn’t just a nice yet hollow message to draw some particular groups of customers who prefer organic food. Her determination for people to have the right to safe organic food at affordable price has been a drive for her and the team to look for the right sources of food and farmers. The key people now know well where the quality ingredients are from and how!
- Farmers from different parts of the country have become the hotel’s valuable collaborators who can earn more income from getting high quality produce while having their strong networks to become sustainable. More importantly, I share the feeling of pride for offering safe food for others and naturally, their own families included.
- Happy workplace doesn’t look beautiful on paper. Rather, it’s brought about team activities that bond the team more closely to others. If any doesn’t feel they ‘buy-in’ to the hotel’s directions, they may not be fit to work there (win-win for both!) A key staff told me he too learns more how to access safe food and urges his own family to do it the right way.
How I was inspired could be measured ka! I still feel 'fin' (a Thai slang to show the high level of joy!)
Fin fin fin from the learning ka.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น