Born in Bangkok and armed with a Master’s Degree in Arts – Leadership in Society, Business, and Politics, Khun Wipa Nareerak is a trailblazer in the wellness hospitality industry. As the General Manager of Amatara Welleisure™ Resort, she has redefined the concept of leisure, transforming a traditional holiday resort into a pioneering wellness destination.
Wipa’s extensive experience in holistic well-being and her E-RYT-500 Yoga Certification have been instrumental in inspiring her team, stakeholders, and guests alike. Her personal commitment to wellness serves as the foundation for the resort’s evolution, where she has successfully integrated wellness into every aspect of its offerings. By leading this paradigm shift, she has not only captured the growing market of wellness-conscious travelers but has also driven a cultural transformation within her team—encouraging them to embrace a healthier, more purposeful lifestyle.
This bold transition has required strategic vision, business acumen, and fearless leadership. Wipa has tackled challenges head-on, converting obstacles into opportunities through innovative thinking and meticulous execution. Her dynamic approach, which aligns seamlessly with the fast-paced global hospitality landscape, has bolstered the resort’s strengths while addressing its weaknesses, seizing new opportunities, and mitigating risks.
With a strong background in sales and marketing, Wipa has elevated the resort’s revenue potential while ensuring cost efficiency through the development of innovative products and services. Her passion for wellness guarantees a consistently high standard of delivery, enhancing guest experiences and strengthening the resort’s brand equity. This meticulous balance of financial performance and service excellence has led to significantly improved GOP (Gross Operating Profit) and NOI (Net Operating Income), all while preserving both tangible and intangible asset value for the company.
Exceptional leaders take calculated risks and have the courage to break new ground, and Wipa Nareerak epitomizes this entrepreneurial spirit. Her visionary leadership has not only positioned Amatara Welleisure™ Resort as a beacon in the wellness travel market but has also set a benchmark for how wellness can be seamlessly integrated into hospitality, delivering transformative experiences for guests and sustainable growth for the business.
Below are highlights of the interview:
How do you integrate wellness into every aspect of the guest experience at Amatara Welleisure™ Resort?
The vision for Amatara is to create a future where our realistic approaches to wellness help all of our guests make lifelong and sustainable changes that improves their wellbeing. The mission is that every day, we strive to provide meaningful and engaging ways for people of all ages to make small changes that will add up to transform their lives. Our plan is to stretch our creativity to offer unique products and services that relate to wellbeing that is both unexpected and fun. Our Brand Pillar is W-I-S-E which means Well-being, Individualize, Small Step and Enjoyable. These allow both experienced and new wellness guests to enjoy the wellness program at Amatara.
What role does local culture and tradition play in shaping the resort’s wellness offerings and guest experiences?
We have been Integrating local culture into Amatara and we believe these can transform a standard experience into something truly extraordinary. Our Welleisure Retreat offers the activities and trip that allows our Wellness guests to connect with Phuket on a deeper level. Traditional healing practices are another powerful way to integrate local culture into wellness. Thai massage and many other local treatments including “Learn how to massage” have been incorporated into our wellness programs. These practices offer a unique selling point and attract travellers interested in holistic and natural approaches to health and well-being.
Culinary Experiences: Food is an essential part, we have been incorporating local cuisine into our wellness offerings—particularly dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients including cooking classes that teach guests how to prepare traditional dishes or creating wellness menus that highlight the nutritional benefits of local foods. Anotehr local culture that we offer is through art therapy sessions, e.g. Mandala Art, ceramic painting, etc. These elements allow travellers to connect with the local culture in a way that transcends language and other barriers.
One of the most rewarding aspects of integrating local culture into Amatara is the opportunity to engage with local communities. We offer the guests the chance to participate in community-led activities such as Thai traditional ceremonies, or guided cultural tours—not only enriches their experience but also supports the local economy. This creates a positive feedback loop, where both the travellers and the community benefit from the exchange.
What strategies do you employ to maintain operational excellence while delivering personalized and high-quality wellness experiences?
During the leadership as the general manager at Amatara WelleisureTM Resort, I have been able to inspire the team, resulting in a much lower turnover of staff in all departments. We all endured great challenges during 2020, when our borders were shut and hotels were forced to be closed during the pandemic. Managing the team of over 270 people during this time, while trying to retain our valuable talented staff have been a key to Amatara’s success. My commitment to the team, the place they hold in the heart, are the key to sustaining our talent. We are a family, and this is a result of Wipa’s nurturing and empathy, while ensuring staff are both inspired and challenged for growth. This shines through in the passion each of our staff has for their job, and is reflected in the outstanding service our guests enjoy.
What initiatives do you implement to foster teamwork and ensure staff well-being, given the resort’s focus on health and balance?
My role as a general manager is only part of who I am and what I do at Amatara. I am a mother of twin girls, a yogi with the high-level yoga certification, and a respected practitioner. Not only is yoga a hobby, but, a religion. My belief in nurturing people from my own family at home to my new family at work is insurmountable. It takes discipline, sympathy and commitment to help individuals grow. Through my actions, and challenging my team I have been a wonderful influence and catalyst for their growth. I believe that wellbeing is a great contribution to the world, makes my career very meaningful and matches with my personal values and hobbies.
What trends in wellness tourism are you most excited about, and how is Amatara positioned to lead in this space?
We have also expanded from a solo hotel property in Phuket to a new project of luxury Amatara branded villas by the sea in another Thailand province. The opportunity to develop the brand is still vast as there are potential international expansion opportunities for management contracts. The rebranding project to drive WelleisureTM concept is a very unique section within the hotel industry.
The WELLEISURE™ concept was developed due to the demand of leisure travellers also wanting to improve their wellbeing. They know they need to improve their health, yet they also want to enjoy their holiday.
Our plan is to stretch our creativity to offer unique products and services that relate to wellbeing that is both unexpected and fun. For example, we may extend our concept from operating as a resort to an urban escape, residential project, develop related product lines and collaborate with people and ventures who have similar values to Amatara. The aim is to grow clients around the world and expand internationally.
How do you measure success as General Manager, and what benchmarks do you set for the resort’s growth and guest satisfaction?
Compassion, collaborative, walking the talk doesn’t do justice to the aspirational, multi-skilled role model that is Wipa. Not only a successful General Manager, but also a passionate entrepreneur. I have been instrumental in developing concepts that not only help the growth of Amatara WelleisureTM resort, but also helps our guests in achieving their optimal wellbeing. I put people before profits…. yet profits come as a result!
Having worked in hospitality in different roles, I have honed a business acumen and people management skill. I am a risk-taker who is open to trialing new ventures. Yet I work on strategies and implements action plans with realistic approach, ensuring any risk is mitigated.
What challenges have you faced as a leader in the wellness hospitality sector, and how have they shaped your approach to management?
The goal for any wellness hospitality hotel/resort is to deliver high-quality guest experiences while maintaining profitability. After the pandamic the labor shortages/talent shortages are a concern, labor is a primary success factor. Not only is talent in short supply across the industry, record turnover rates and wage inflation have further increased labor costs and this is one of a hospitality company’s biggest expense categories.
Wellness hospitality is about people serving people. Creating a culture and environment that attracts and retains skilled workers and investing in effective, ongoing training and development is crucial. These people strategies are key to increasing customer satisfaction, fostering customer loyalty and enabling business growth in the hospitality industry. My approach is to ensure employee training and development program is in place, not only to bring new hires up to speed but also to improve and advance the skills of her existing staff. Fostering a working environment that keeps the team engaged and happy is a key. I believe that the better the work experience the company offer its team, the more likely its workforce will be to deliver outstanding experiences to guests.
What advice would you offer to aspiring hospitality professionals, particularly those interested in wellness and luxury management?
In a hospitality management position, you lead by example. Actively listening to your customers and staff will be critical to success as guest satisfaction is the ultimate priority. Leaders who prioritize customer orientation create a service-focused culture throughout the organization.
Wellness and Luxury management can be wide and varied, depending on what you want to pursue in the long run for yourself and your career. It’s good to always be willing to work hard, be responsible and diligent. Get involved in what you are doing in order to understand the process thoroughly and that you can see if anything goes wrong. Open-minded to learn something new. This commitment to learning not only enhances your skills but also demonstrates your dedication to personal and professional growth. Embrace a strong work ethic. The hospitality industry is known for its demanding environment, where long hours and attention to detail are common. Demonstrating reliability and a willingness to take on challenges can quickly set you apart from others.
Networking can also provide valuable insights, support, and opportunities for career advancement. By cultivating a strong professional network, you position yourself for future success in the industry.
To know more, please visit: https://www.amatara.com
