As we celebrate the importance of personal strength in our everyday life, it is also the people who walk with us in our journey of ups and downs which makes the difference. That was how Khun Sor recounted her story - her achievements were made possible with the support she received from her colleagues since the very beginning.
“We are more than just spa therapists; we are a part of the Banyan Tree family. That is the kind of experience I want to share with our guests – to make them feel cared for, just like how one cares for their family. Hence, serving them with sincerity became my philosophy. ”
Born and raised in Thailand, Khun Sor enrolled into Banyan Tree Spa Academy Phuket in 2009 to pursue her career as a spa therapist. She described her time there as a rewarding one where she bonded with her peers under their patient guidance. “The friendship I shared with them made me realise that we are more than just spa therapists; we are a part of the Banyan Tree family. That is the kind of experience I want to share with our guests – to make them feel cared for, just like how one cares for their family. Hence, serving them with sincerity became my philosophy.”
“Even though I was in a foreign land, the warmth from the friendship made me feel like I belonged.”
Khun Sor also worked in Sri Lanka before her transfer to Hangzhou, China. She struggled with the Chinese language and was unable to converse with the locals at the beginning. “I couldn’t even buy food at the start. My Chinese colleague knew, and she taught me basic Mandarin and brought me around the area so I could experience the country through a local’s pair of eyes.” Despite feeling insecure about her command of Mandarin and English, the support from her colleagues motivated Khun Sor to keep pushing forward. “It’s so heart-warming. My colleagues became friends I could count on and even though I was in a foreign land, the warmth from the friendship made me feel like I belonged.”
“We have the ability to pass that energy on and impact someone in a positive way.”
We asked Khun Sor about her motivations, and she shared a sentiment that resonated deeply with us - “Other than having the willpower during stressful times, I believe that having the right support is just as important. Being able to receive encouragement and guidance from my seniors and peers definitely spurred me on. Most importantly, it made me realise that we have the ability to pass that energy on and impact someone in a positive way. And for me, I pass it on by serving our guests with dedication and attentiveness.”
Khun Sor’s story inspires us with the truth that while personal tenacity is essential, having the right support is just as important. As we come to the end of the She Inspires series, we hope to empower all women with our belief that no matter who you are or where you come from, you’re always worth celebrating for.
She Inspires is a series where we celebrate women empowerment by featuring our spa therapists who pursued their dreams with courage and tenacity. In light of 2017’s International Women’s Day theme “Be Bold for Change”, we are honouring our spa therapists from different backgrounds by sharing their journeys at Banyan Tree, and making it last.