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When Rainy Chan takes time off from managing a luxury property, she wants a
perfect holiday
Hong Kong-born-and-raised
Rainy Chan, the general manager of Peninsula Bangkok, is a feisty
personality who loves making the most of her leisure travel.
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 Peninsula
Bangkok
The luxurious riverside Peninsula Bangkok has
established itself as one of Bangkok's finest hotels, winning many awards
and accolades, including "World's Best Hotel" in 2003 by the readers of
Travel + Leisure magazine. Located on banks of the Chao Phraya River, The
Peninsula Bangkok is a stunning, 39-storey hotel offering uninterrupted
panoramic views of Bangkok from every one of its large, luxurious guest
rooms and suites. The Peninsula Bangkok is within easy access of the
business and shopping districts of Bangkok and is close to several of the
city's numerous attractions. Among the largest in Bangkok, each one of the
guest rooms features pioneering technology, allowing hotel guests to control
their environment with the touch of a fingertip. Dining at The Peninsula
Bangkok is rated among the finest in the city. With unrivaled hotel
facilities, The Peninsula Bangkok features a magnificent, three-tiered
swimming pool, a Fitness Center with gymnasium, sauna, steam rooms and
beauty salon. Hotel guests of The Peninsula Bangkok also have special access
to the exclusive
Thai Country Club golf course.
The Peninsula Bangkok blends traditional Thai hospitality with a fresh yet
timeless elegance - and, of course, the legendary Peninsula service |
Last Minute Hotels Bangkok  |
Ms Chan does raise a few eyebrows when introduced as the property's first
female general manager, but what many don't know is that she has also set a
precedent in the cut-throat hotel business by becoming the group's first
Asian female general manager.
Ms Chan started her career with InterContinental in Hawaii. At the
Peninsula Hong Kong, where she joined as rooms-division manager in 1994, she
was eventually promoted to hotel manager. She took over as general manager
of The Peninsula Bangkok at the end of last August. Apart from working on a
number of new promotional projects, she is looking forwards to introducing
the single female traveller's programme later this year, which should once
again raise a few eyebrows.
Working in a hotel environment, what type of accommodation do you opt for
on a leisure trip? Do you also tend to review the hotels where you vacation?
When I go on vacation, I look for hotels that have good location, are
easy to get to and easy to get around. I also look for accommodation that
has good leisure facilities _ swimming pool, fully equipped gym, diverse
in-room entertainment, and definitely good food. But most importantly, I
require privacy and flexibility during my days off.
On vacation, I'm off duty so there is no chance of my reviewing the
choice of accommodation. All I look forward to is kicking back and relaxing.
People often have the impression that working in a hotel is like being on
an extended vacation, and is glamorous, what is your opinion, and how have
your leisure travels changed through the years?
I can assure you that working in a hotel is nothing like being on
vacation. Imagine you are in charge of planning your family annual vacation
and making sure that everybody is happy. And imagine doing that every day of
your life, and for hundreds of people.
Instead of just your family, trying to make all of them happy is no
vacation! But, mark my words, it can be fun (smiles).
As for the changes I have found in my leisure travels through the years,
it seems as I get older, my vacations seem to get shorter and shorter. I
also have less tolerance for people making mistakes and even less patience
for having to wait unnecessarily. I value having my own space much more now
than before.
To what lengths would you go to make your vacation a pleasant one?
I would go the length of finding the perfect hotel which would organise
the whole vacation for me. Having to be a planner at work every day, I
actually don't do much planning when I am on vacation. The most I do is book
the airline tickets, hotel and the car if necessary and that is it. That's
why the hotel I go to has to be really a hotel. They are supposed to make my
vacation magic without me doing much planning!
How adventurous are you as a traveller, and what is an ideal day for you
when on vacation?
Unfortunately, I am not the adventurous type. I am in fact a creature of
habit. I make decisions based on past experience or recommendations by
friends.
My ideal day on vacation would mean waking up without my alarm clock, and
spending the rest of the day without having to look at the time.
What type of leisure travel relaxes you the most, and where do you
normally go?
The sea, surf and sand, probably because I lived in Hawaii for six and a
half years. It's a place I consider as ``paradise'' and it has the key to my
heart _ always. Hawaii will be my first choice if I want to go to a
beach/sun vacation.
However, being a city girl at heart, I also gravitate towards cities with
a lot of attitude and personality such as New York, Milan and Paris. I love
watching people going about their business in big cities, and of course
there is the shopping.
Which three overseas destinations have impressed you highly, and why?
New York comes to mind as it is vibrant, coupled with the unique mixture
of culture and people; it has always been my favourite. I feel very much
alive and full of energy when I'm there.
I would also give Lake Como in Italy the thumbs up for its natural
romantic setting, great food and of course the ``lovely'' Italians. How can
anyone not fall in love there?
Last but not least is Maui, Hawaii _ my home away from home. Besides the
beautiful sandy beaches and clear blue ocean, I love the way the Hawaiian
people live their lives. However, I always believe it's the people that make
the place.
How much of an art and history buff are you, and if so, any museums worth
recommending?
While I enjoy visiting museums, I would not consider myself an art and
history buff. However a few museums that have taken my fancy include the
Musee de Louvre and Musee d'Orsay in Paris; the Metropolitan Museum and The
Museum of Modern Art in New York; the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. I am
looking forward to visiting some in Thailand.
What activities do you indulge yourself in while on vacation?
Spending my day while on vacation without a schedule: That's a real
indulging thought!
Have you had the chance to travel much in Thailand, and if not, which
province would you like to visit most?
I have visited some areas in the southern part of Thailand. However, I
would like to find time to travel to provinces in the northern part of
Thailand such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son.
From your observation what are the major similarities and differences
found between Hong Kong and Thai travellers when they visit each other's
country, who are more demanding, and who more laid back?
I think people's behaviour changes when they get to a certain
destination. For example, a traditionally more relaxed Thai traveller would
become less relaxed when travelling to Hong Kong, simply because of the way
people in Hong Kong live, which is packing every minute with some kind of
activity. And when you go to Hong Kong for vacation, you don't really want
to sit back and relax, you want to get out there, and shop till you drop.
On the other hand, when a Hong Kong man visits Thailand, he immediately
slows down, giving himself time to relax. Aside from the good food and
excellent shopping, most people indulge themselves with a relaxing spa
treatment which is so well known in Thailand. So, I would say that
destinations have an impact on the way tourists conduct their activities.
In terms of who is more demanding and who is more relaxed, I find that
both cultures exhibit these traits...nothing is ever one-sided, don't you
think?
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