Travel And Tour World: Share with us about your prestigious property, InterContinental Khao Yai Resort.

Sandy Liw: InterContinental Khao Yai Resort is a beautiful luxury resort nestled on the lush tropical landscape of abundant lakes and trees at the edge of Khao Yai National Park. The resort offers 64 luxurious rooms, including repurposed heritage railcar suites and villas, with world-class facilities including five conceptual restaurant and bar, tea carriage, wellness spa, a cross-fit-inspired gym, an outdoor pool, a kid’s club, and outdoor lawn for wedding and events.

This resort takes historical inspiration from the area’s gateway from rail transportation to the northeast Thailand during the reign of King Rama V. Designed by award-winning architect and interior designer Bill Bensley, this is a luxurious and unforgettable destination for travelers seeking a serene and relaxing environment.

Travel And Tour World: First of all, congratulation for your new appointment at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort. You are the new General Manager here, what are your future plans to allure more guests?

Sandy Liw Thank you very much for your well wishes.  As the new General Manager at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, my top priority is to provide our guests with an exceptional and unforgettable experience. To achieve this, I have several plans to allure more guests to our resort, including:

Enhancing our guest experience at our resort.  We have introduced live entertainment every Friday & Saturday Night at Poirot Restaurant, our specialty restaurant. We are also introducing a wine dinner every quarter with the theme “Murder Mystery Dinner on the Khao Yai Express” where guests will participate in a fantasy adventure using clues to uncover a murder mystery while enjoying the finest local and international wines and a scrumptious dinner.

Offering more family-friendly activities: We will introduce new activities and programs that cater to families with children, such as new playground and rabbit house at Planet Trekkers (kid’s club), harvesting vegetables at our organic garden, and kids dine for free benefit.

Expanding our wellness offerings: We will introduce new wellness programs, including yoga and meditation classes, and healthy dining options.

Increasing our marketing efforts to promote Khao Yai as a new destination of Thailand and a must visit.

By implementing these plans, we aim to attract more international guests to Khao Yai and our resort and to provide them with an unforgettable experience that they will cherish for years to come.

Travel And Tour World: Your journey began from Raffles Hotel Singapore as an Assistant Director of Sales, as a veteran hotelier, please share how the hospitality industry is going and how it is evolving in near future?

Sandy Liw The hospitality industry has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many hotels and resorts experiencing a decline in occupancy rates and revenue. However, with the rollout of vaccines and the easing of travel restrictions in many countries, the industry is slowly recovering.

In the near future, the hospitality industry is expected to continue evolving to meet the changing needs and preferences of travelers. Some of the trends and predictions for the industry include:

• Increased emphasis on health and safety: As a result of the pandemic, travelers are more concerned about health and safety than ever before. Resorts will need to implement strict cleaning and sanitation protocols and provide guests with a sense of security and peace of mind.
• Rise of contactless technology: Contactless technology, such as mobile check-in and digital room keys, has become increasingly popular during the pandemic and is expected to continue to grow in popularity in the future.
• Personalization of guest experiences: Guests are seeking more personalized experiences that cater to their unique needs and preferences. Resorts will need to use data and technology to offer personalized services and amenities.
• Sustainability and eco-friendliness: Environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly important to travelers, and resorts will need to prioritize eco-friendliness in all aspects of their operations.

Travel And Tour World: Share with us about the sustainability approach of this esteemed property under the family of IHG?

Sandy Liw : Bill Bensely’s sustainability innovation shines through in the resort’s design, as he builds it with sustainable principles that won’t harm the natural surroundings. One of the most impressive aspects of the resort’s design is the use of upcycled train carriages as resort suites and restaurants, adding to the resort’s uniqueness.

Additionally, Bensley planted a number of 100-year-old colossal trees, and artworks made entirely from antique maps, articles, and posters collected at antique fairs add to the resort’s charm.

Travel And Tour World: What are your marketing strategies you want to place to allure more guests?

Sandy Liw: InterContinental Khao Yai Resort has implemented several marketing strategies to attract more guests and promote the resort.

One of their strategies is to highlight the unique features of the resort, such as the stunning natural setting and the luxurious accommodations. The resort has also partnered with renowned architect Bill Bensley to create a design that pays homage to Thailand’s golden age of train travel, which adds to the property’s allure.

InterContinental Khao Yai Resort has also utilized social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, to showcase the property and engage with potential guests. They have created visually appealing content, such as photos and videos, that highlight the resort’s amenities and experiences. We also plan to expand the social media platform to Chinese and Korean languages platforms in order to attract more clients from these two key destinations.

In addition, the resort has implemented various promotional campaigns, including special packages, to attract more guests. We have also partnered with travel agencies, online travel platforms and Thai tourism boards to promote Khao Yai as an up-and-coming destination for international travelers. This will help to increase visibility and reach a wider audience.

Travel And Tour World: How your past experience will benefit you in future as a general manager of InterContinental Khao Yai Resort?

Sandy Liw: As a General Manager of InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, my past experience in the hospitality industry will be a valuable asset that will benefit me in several ways.

Firstly, drawing from my experience in managing luxury hotels and resorts, I am well-equipped to oversee the operations of this stunning resort and uphold the highest standards of service and guest satisfaction. My extensive knowledge of the unique challenges and opportunities that accompany managing a luxury resort will be invaluable in enhancing the guest experience at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort.

Secondly, with my experience in leading teams of various nationalities and cultures, I am confident in my ability to effectively manage and motivate the team members at the resort. Having worked with teams from diverse backgrounds, I possess a deep understanding of how to create a work environment that is positive, inclusive, and conducive to collaboration and productivity.

Thirdly, leveraging my expertise in developing and implementing strategic plans, I am poised to steer the resort towards success. My track record of successfully developing and executing strategic plans that have resulted in increased revenue and profitability will be instrumental in driving growth and innovation at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort.

My hospitality industry experience has equipped me with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to effectively manage and ensure the success of InterContinental Khao Yai Resort.