The Farang, the Gora and the Gwai Lo

I guess it all started at a young age, the fascination with history, architecture, beautiful buildings, and the romance behind a structure that invites people to have an experience within it, a hotel. I remember early on, being intrigued walking past an entrance of a grand hotel; the doorman with his majestic outfit, waiting to assist arriving guests, the grandeur of it all. The luxury limousines, the drivers in black suites and black ties, the entry of the hotel, so intimidating yet so fascinating. Who is staying here tonight? Who is checking in? And, who is ready to leave? The story that can and cannot be told, the secrets of what takes place behind those doors that, was what caught my fascination early on. I do not come from a family of hoteliers, but my early years of travelling with my family around Europe truly inspired my imagination. Early on, my dream was to own and run my own little luxury property…I have kept this dream alive and keep aspiring to achieve my goal, which I will. My philosophy has always been in the details of creating an experience, the location, the building, the stories, the history, the marriage between cultures and creating memories. Hence I have taken my time to find the right property, one that I can one day transform and make my own. I have been blessed with the talent of speaking several languages, this opened doors to places that I never imagined existed nor that I would be fascinated to live in. But, languages break all the barriers, this enables you to be welcomed, well received, listened to and respected. Such a crucial anecdote in a hotelier’s journey, life, as the profession entails, not only, the ability to travel to and manage hotels and resorts, but, the ability to learn and manage people, inspire them, encourage and develop. This is something that I have been blessed with throughout the years of travelling and the journeys I took, the people…its all about the people, you ultimately have to leave behind. So, this is about sharing, telling the stories and experiences that I had, travelling the world, hopefully, it will inspire you to travel, learn about cultures and people. The hospitality industry has a lot to offer and I often found that those who took the risk and spread their wings, travelled, benefited so much more, by the mere fact of the sights and sounds, the character building and perspective that it cushions you with. Take the risk and seek out the unknown, its scary, at first, but, its so worthwhile. But, remember, you have a huge responsibility that comes with living and working in a foreign country with a different culture, language and people. You are the one who has to try harder, be a good listener, patient and always remember that you have so much influence on the people around you, so, use it wisely, inspire, coach, teach, tend to and nurture. It will be worth your while.