Master’s degree in Management from the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration, Chulalongkorn University
CAREER SUMMARY
When Naphalai set up Chiva-Som International Health Resorts Co., Ltd. in 1991, there was no spa industry in Asia to speak of. It took over three years before Asia’s only destination spa was ready to open its doors, and another several years to convince the market that Chiva-Som was a spa resort ahead of its time. By this time, the spa industry in Asia was starting to take off, and Chiva-Som had established a reputation for itself as the market leader, winning international acclaim including the Best Spa Resort in Conde Nast Traveller’s readers’ awards for 2000. As a pioneer in the spa industry, Naphalai has been a key player in its growth. Through Chiva-Som, she has contributed to upgrading and setting standards in the business, creating a better understanding of the spa concept, establishing a market for the product and assisting in building a name for Thailand as the spa capital of Asia. Being in the forefront of the region’s spa industry, she was invited to participate in the setting up of the International Spa Association (ISPA)’s Asia Pacific Chapter based in Singapore. She spear headed the formation of the Thai Spa Association and served as its first President. Educated overseas from a young age, Naphalai combines the professionalism of the West with the flexibility of the East. She holds a Master’s degree in Management from the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Thailand’s leading Chulalongkorn University.CAREER SUMMARY
When Naphalai set up Chiva-Som International Health Resorts Co., Ltd. in 1991, there was no spa industry in Asia to speak of. It took over three years before Asia’s only destination spa was ready to open its doors, and another several years to convince the market that Chiva-Som was a spa resort ahead of its time. By this time, the spa industry in Asia was starting to take off, and Chiva-Som had established a reputation for itself as the market leader, winning international acclaim including the Best Spa Resort in Conde Nast Traveller’s readers’ awards for 2000.
As a pioneer in the spa industry, Naphalai has been a key player in its growth. Through Chiva-Som, she has contributed to upgrading and setting standards in the business, creating a better understanding of the spa concept, establishing a market for the product and assisting in building a name for Thailand as the spa capital of Asia. Being in the forefront of the region’s spa industry, she was invited to participate in the setting up of the International Spa Association (ISPA)’s Asia Pacific Chapter based in Singapore. She spear headed the formation of the Thai Spa Association and served as its first President.
Educated overseas from a young age, Naphalai combines the professionalism of the West with the flexibility of the East. She holds a Master’s degree in Management from the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Thailand’s leading Chulalongkorn University. She started her career as a journalist before moving into public relations and marketing. Her experience in the hospitality industry was accumulated during 10 years spent working with Inter-Continental Hotels.
While most spa consultants understand concepts and are familiar with the theoretical aspects of the spa business, Naphalai’s main advantage is her experience in developing and running the leading and most complete destination spa in Asia. Naphalai was the first inductee of the Hall of Fame at the inaugural Thailand Spa & Wellbeing Awards 2012.
