International Women’s Day: Let’s Hear it for the Girls!

International Women’s Day is just around the corner and to celebrate, hotels around the world share some heartwarming and incredible stories from women that will encourage and inspire everyone to follow their dreams.

Anantara Siam Bangkok

In Bangkok a lovely lady called Nutawan Jumpanak, known as Khun Nuch, is Anantara Siam Bangkok’s first ever female Chief Sommelier and is part of a growing movement to put Thailand on the world wine map. Now one of the leading female sommeliers in the country, she organises high profile events to celebrate women in wine in Thailand, uniting female sommeliers from across Bangkok at wine paring dining events hosted at the hotel.

Khun Nuch has undertaken her Sommelier training around the world and at some of Thailand’s most prestigious hotels. In addition, she boasts many awards and accolades celebrating her passion and skill for wine, including: Winner Best Thailand Sommelier competition 2019; Winner Chilean wine trophy competition 2019; Certified sommelier Certificate- Court of Master Sommelier United State 2017; Introductory Certificate -Court of Master Sommelier United State 2014.

FCC Angkor by Avani

Over in Cambodia, Jamila Nsouli, Executive Assistant Manager at FCC Angkor by Avani, believes in investing in one’s own self and empowering others.  As an active member of her community, she supports local nonprofits that provide resources to vulnerable women and prepare underprivileged Cambodian youths, particularly girls, for a career in hospitality. In Siem Reap, Jamila found professional fulfilment through her passion for creating unique experiences for guests inspired by the kindness of locals. In celebration of International Women’s Day, FCC Angkor by Avani has partnered with A21 Women of Cambodia to host a Fitness Bootcamp on 8th March to raise awareness of modern-day slavery and the trafficking of women and girls.

Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll

Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives is proud to reveal the navigators of its flourishing business all across the globe, an all-women Sales and Marketing Team.  They all hail from different countries with unique cultural backgrounds, but this diversity results in a beautiful convergence with one goal – to spread the word about Finolhu’s major transformation and to bring the right guests to the resort.  As a team, they work with passion coupled with dedication and strive hard to be successful in all their initiatives.

The team is headed by Edyta Peszko, Director of Sales and Marketing since July 2019.  Originally from Poland, she has extensive experience in the international hospitality and travel sectors in Asia, 15 years in Bangkok, Thailand and last 6 years spent in the Maldives.  Her passion and strength in driving sales, generating business leads, developing and managing client relationships has been recognized by Corporate Maldives, landing her a spot in the Top 20 Most Influential Sales & Marketing in the Maldives.

Jumeirah Bali

Mrs. Ram Hiralal was appointed General Manager at Jumeirah Bali, a new contemporary luxury resort in Uluwatu. An experienced hospitality leader with stints across Bali, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives and the Caribbean, she is bringing her keen understanding of the luxury hospitality sector to manage the 123-key oceanfront property. Ram’s career trajectory started in Malaysia, where she worked at a number of five-star hotels in Kuala Lumpur, as well as being part of the pre-opening team at COMO Parrot Cay resort in Turks and Caicos.

In 2003, she joined Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru as director of rooms, before being promoted to resort manager, and went on to stay with the luxury group to manage Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan and Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui in Thailand. A highly skilled hotelier with strong leadership qualities, Ram is passionate about working alongside her team to create exceptional experiences for the guests. In her role as General Manager at Jumeirah Bali, she will focus on furthering Jumeirah’s legacy in Asia and upholding the group’s trademark take on timeless luxury.