Issue 45

A Thai architect has transformed his traditional family home into a charming boutique hotel in the historic Rattanakosin island area of Bangkok.

Step into Baan Noppawong and you immediately feel the welcoming ambience of the colonial wooden house. With only seven rooms for guests, you are treated as if you are a member of its extended family.

“Thai hospitality is charming,” says Kantasom Noppawong Na Ayudhaya, president and CEO of Siam Hotel Maker and the mastermind behind the renovation of Baan Noppawong. “In other countries, service is very systematic; however, the Thai way of service comes from the heart.”

Turning your family home into a boutique hotel was something unheard of five years ago.

“When I was considering how to renovate the house, some suggested turning it into a restaurant or museum, but the location is in one of the most important areas of Bangkok, right around the corner from Wat Phra Keaw,” he says. “Not many local people understood the concept of a boutique hotel at that time.”

With his training as an architect, Noppawong Na Ayudhaya was determined to preserve the original house as much as possible, while integrating the modern functionality of a hotel. He says that international guests enjoy the experience at Baan Noppawong as the hotel is comparable to a four-star hotel located in an historic area.

Baan Noppawong retains its original characteristics, such as the old-fashioned teak floor, teak doors and windows while each room is specially designed to follow Thailand's nine precious stones concept (Manee-Noppakao) to create a unique living experience. Noppawong Na Ayudhaya adds that he decorated the rooms with antique furniture.

Another nice touch is that guests can relax on a wooden terrace at the rear of the house while enjoying English afternoon tea.

Since its opening four years ago, most guests at Baan Noppawong come from Holland, Norway and France, and other European countries, according to Noppawong Na Ayudhaya.

The architect and entrepreneur has turned his other business, Siam Hotel Maker, into a one-stop consultancy service for boutique hotels – from renovation to design and management – as he sees great potential for the boutique hotel industry.

Moreover, he believes that boutique hotels can give back to the local community.

“Boutique hotels have a great opportunity in engaging the surrounding community,” he says. “For instance, Baan Noppawong serves guests congee from local restaurants and brings in massage therapists from a nearby spa instead of having an in-house facility. We can give guests a taste of Thai culture and guests can experience Thainess in their own way.”

Baan Noppawong
112-114 Soi Damnoen Klang Tai, Ratchadamnoen Klang Rd.,
Bowon Niwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200 Thailand
Tel. +66 2 224 1047
www.baannoppawong.com

Words by Pimsirinuch Borsub

Issue 44

Combining natural Thai herbs with ingredients from France, Laily has developed a Thai beauty brand that has spread across ASEAN.

“Our Thai natural ingredients and products have their own unique qualities,” says Patthanan Hongpiticharoen, general manager of Laily.

Laily started in 2013 with the aim of creating high quality products made from natural Thai ingredients divided into three categories – facial care, body care and spa products.

“We use natural ingredients,” says Hongpiticharoen. “All of our products contain at least one Thai ingredient, such as turmeric, butterfly pea or kaffir lime, depending on their properties. They are useful for creating a harmony with inner balance.”

Hongpiticharoen is steeped in the traditions of Thai natural products.

“My mother is a pharmacist working in the field of Thai traditional medicine,” she says. “She’s keen on Thai herbs, natural ingredients with various medical properties. Our home business is also doing OEM manufacturing for the past 30 years. So the way I have created my brand started not far from my surroundings.”

Hongpiticharoen believes that it is the quality of the ingredients, packaging and price that makes Laily’s products appealing. “Most of our main customers are foreign tourists, such as Chinese, Western and also Japanese expats,” she says. “They love our quality products as well as the packaging. They said it’s good to be a gift from Thailand.”

Laily has a strong focus on research and development, as well being meticulous in its choice of materials. “We have selected what is the best fit for our products from both local sources in Thailand and foreign countries,” she says. “From Thailand, we use natural Thai herbs that possess a good quality of medical properties as well as a relaxing aroma. From France, we use natural ingredients certified for their spa standards.”

In addition to its shops in Thailand, Laily now has retail outlets in Cambodia, Malaysia and Taiwan, with plans for further expansion.

The entrepreneur believes that Thais should place a higher value on their own domestic brands. “I would like to encourage all Thai people not to judge quality by price alone,” she says. “Thai people should value our originality and endeavour. Some people regard a high brand as representing a higher quality. But actually, Thai products are good quality even at an affordable price.”

For more information, please visit www.lailybeauty.com

Words by Natthinee Ratanaprasidhi

Issue 43

With more demand for Halal food worldwide, Thai businesses are looking for ways to export Halal products to Muslim countries in ASEAN and the Middle East.

Thailand is the leading exporter of halal goods within Southeast Asia as well as the fifth-largest halal food exporter in the world. According to the Board of Investment (BOI), Thailand's Halal food exports were worth approximately US$275 million in 2014. However, as the global Halal market is estimated at US$976 billion, there is still much room for growth in the market.

The Halal Assembly was held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, from December 25 to 27 under the theme ‘Halal Culture and Innovation for the Halal Economy’. Some 200 booths exhibited international and domestic products targeted for the Islamic market.

Dr Winai Dahlan, founding director of the Halal Science Center, says that the event presented an opportunity for Thai Muslims to interact and network with the Muslim community around the world, while establishing more business contacts and increasing their professional skills and knowledge.

“The Thailand Halal Assembly is designed to showcase Thailand’s role in the rapidly-growing market for Halal products,” he said.

Thousands of Muslim tourists visit Thailand each year, according to Yuthasak Supasorn, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. “These numbers will grow further after the [establishment of the] AEC when we can expect to get more visitors from our neighbouring ASEAN countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. Hence, it is very important for Thailand to have the necessary products and services catering to the Muslim market.”

Business agrees with TAT’s governor.

Medical technician Intira Palee recently developed and launched a brand of individually-packaged honey – called The Queen Bee – which is being marketed in Middle Eastern countries, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, where it has received Halal certification.

“Honey is a food that complies with Halal certification,” says Palee. “Middle Eastern consumers like [our brand] because the benefits of honey is mentioned in the Quran and they like our taste and the premium look.”

As the honey is made from bees in Chiang Mai, the unheated, unpasteurised and unprocessed honey is 100% made in Thailand.

Palee believes that the Halal Assembly shows that Halal business offers a great potential for exports. “The Halal industry has grown greatly in Thailand and I think we can go far because the Halal certificate is recognised worldwide among Muslims,” she says. “As for my brand, in the near future we aim to look for possibilities to expand our market.”

Words by Pimsirinuch Borsub