Chin Pitak Norathepkitti is a natural educator, a skill he puts to good use as a university lecturer, but he is also a devoted student of life — an ethos he carries into his role as general manager of Anantara Angkor Resort. Norathepkitti, who joined Anantara Angkor Resort in 2020 after working with Sofitel in Laos as a cluster general manager. He teaches his students to “use textbooks as [their] framework but to be ready for the real-world tsunami” and to create their own networks among classmates, looking forward to times in their careers when the relationships they’ve formed may be pivotal. Norathepkitti pairs his passion for education and interest in people with his drive to uplift communities and support local talent — a compelling synergy that gives him a unique management perspective.
HOTELS recently interviewed Norathepkitti to discuss his role and his bigger picture point-of-view on the hotel business.
HOTELS: What do you do differently than other GMs?
Chin Pitak Norathepkitti: I genuinely embrace local community, including team members’ families, and support them where I can. The message is that we are here to sustain and improve the socioeconomics of local life. I apply a global brand approach to a very local, intimate environment.
HOTELS: What do you love about your role at Anantara Angkor Resort? And what about it keeps you up at night?
CPN: Being Southeast Asian myself, I am all for the Indochina people and glad to be surrounded by them and their profound culture and traditions. I was born, raised and have been working here and am very proud of our region. There are new opportunities every day. On the other hand, I am a numbers guy, so P&L and cashflow statements keep me up at night. End of the day, you are the one trusted to look after the well-being of the guests, the employees and the shareholders.
HOTELS: What is your best advice to those entering the industry now?
CPN: Enter with the end in mind. Think about what you want to really become or achieve. Most importantly, do not delude yourself with the stereotypical flamboyant GM life. Don’t look for the light at the end of the tunnel — your focus should be on the graffiti and street art along the way.
HOTELS: What’s the biggest threat to the hotel industry?
CPN: The lack of experienced staff. As our industry continues to grow, staff have more options and the stealing of experienced employees will become a very competitive sport. Also, some tourist destinations haven’t hired many home-grown talents, so when a crisis like this hits and income drops, the talent tends to move back home or to other higher-income destinations.
HOTELS: What is one trend you are watching and how do you think it will impact the industry?
CPN: Regionality and domestic travel. People need to travel and presently for many, domestic travel is the only option. In many places, the closed borders make travel outlandish and travel notices discourage individuals from voyaging overseas. Subsequently, this year’s vacation — and maybe for a few years to come — will largely take place domestically. This applies to both leisure and business travelers. We have prepared for domestic-preferred service and regional-driven marketing content.
HOTELS: To what do you most attribute your success and growth?
CPN: I am passionately committed. I believe insanely successful individuals wholeheartedly accept their objectives and dreams, then they follow their success roadmaps. They are profoundly enthusiastic about their objectives and are totally committed to seeing them through. Passion isn’t something you can fake; it must really come from inside. That’s why you’ll never succeed doing something you disdain — it must be something you adore and are committed to.
HOTELS: What is a personal skill you have that makes you stand out in your field?
CPN: I love being around people. As a part-time lecturer in the university, I have the privilege to travel in between these two industries. They are both human industries. I become interested in how the team works, how the guests react and how our business partners are involved during a certain period of time and what could be done to help them all meet their needs.
Quick takes with Chine Pitak Norathepkitti
What languages do you speak?
Thai, English, Lao, Khmer, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese
Do you have a hidden talent?
Storytelling and magic tricks for kids
What is an unusual thing you have learned on the job?
The heterogeneity of human behavior and reactions towards the very same situation
Is there a historical figure you’d like to host?
Leonardo da Vinci
Is there a celebrity you’d really like to meet?
Barack Obama. He’s part of an extraordinary club whose members are addressed as “Mr. President.” He’s proven to be gentle and smart with knowledge and views over a considerable array of topics.