Beyond her wildest expectations
Busabong Preechanonda has achieved a dream of running a small business during her retirement by operating the Lanna Mantra resort in Chiang Mai. Her next ambition is to build a renowned hotel chain under the Mantra brand.
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Busabong Preechanonda's dream for her retirement was to run a small business in a scenic location outside Bangkok, but what she has achieved is beyond her wildest expectations. She is now a partner in a two-rai boutique resort beside the Ping River in Chiang Mai.
Events took a turn shortly after her husband, a pilot, drove through Chiang Mai and found a piece of land up for sale. The couple decided they wanted to start a resort on the plot and shared their thoughts with family and friends. They managed to attract 12 partners and an initial investment of Bt50 million to build a 30-room resort. The Lanna Mantra is designed in Thai style, using mainly materials from the province. There are four main villas - Ruen Fai, Sai Ping, Ing Nam, and Ngam Bua - each containing six rooms. The daily tariff is between Bt2,500 and Bt4,800 per room, depending on exclusivity - deluxe, superior or standard. Each room is decorated differently, with influences of both traditional and contemporary Thai styles. The owners designed the décor themselves - mainly Busabong with the help of her niece, who had just graduated in interior design. Apart from the décor, which she says is the resort's strong point, the Lanna Mantra draws customers by hosting activities such as rolling-canoeing and massage from premium spa operators in the province. Busabong said she did not want her own spa as it is not really her thing and, in any case, Chiang Mai has many premium spa establishments. The resort is well located, surrounded by peaceful scenery and with downtown areas such as the renowned Chiang Mai Night Bazaar only a 10-minute drive away. The resort has had an average occupancy rate of 70 per cent since it started operations last October, and this has been achieved without the use of a hard-sell strategy. Busabong prefers that her clients gain first-hand experience of the facilities and pass this on to their friends, rather than relying on advertising that does not in her view really capture the imagination. However, she attends travel trade exhibitions as well as road shows arranged by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to attract prospective guests. Her marketing strategy seems to be working, with the resort playing host to many international visitors. Scandinavians have to date been the main guests, followed by Germans, French and Thais. They mostly opt for a three-night stay. The occupancy rate declined to 40 per cent last month due to political uncertainty, she said, adding that she hopes things will return to normal soon so that the resort can maintain its goal of breaking even in seven years. Given the overall success of the past six months, Busabong now feels her initial goal of having a small business in a small town is not enough for her. Her next dream is to create a hotel chain under the Mantra brand. She is not yet sure of the timing of such a venture, but when the time comes the Kingdom may have another internationally recognised chain of which it can boast.
Nitida Asawanipont The Nation CHIANG MAI
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