Page 60 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL6

A trip to Bhutan isa once-in-a-lifetime experience for a lot of people, and we are determined to make it count for them by giving them the best we have to offerand wood is very cheap. That’s why I decided to build the whole hotel from beautiful oak wood.”The tallest building allowed in Paro is three stories high, and all construction has to be designed for earthquakes and adhere to Bhutanese traditional architecture. After a Bhutanese architect completed the structural plan of the property, Mr Woraphot commissioned Thai designer Vichai Chonprasertsuk to oversee the interior design concept where most decorative items were brought over from Thailand. It is this simple touch that makes Southeast Asian visitors feel at home.“Fifty per cent of the guests here are from Haven Resort Hua Hin’s client base, and the rest come from all over the world,” Mr Woraphot explained. “Haven resorts in Hua Hin and Paro are closely connected, because they were designed by thesame designer. Also we offer similar things at both hotels, such as high quality, five-star in-room facilities and friendly, sincere service, hence we greatly benefit from word-of-mouth marketing. With the kind of budget we have we could build a massive city hotel with hundreds of guest rooms, but that’s not what I want. I don’t look for profit but for happiness and self-fulfilment.“Coming to Bhutan is complicated because everything from applying for a visa to booking flights and hotel has to be done through authorised travel agencies, and it’s not cheap. A trip to Bhutan is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a lot of people, and we are determined to make it count for them by giving them the best we have to offer.”58 Elite+