The Personal Touch
‘JJ’ Jeremy Johanson
It’s not always easy for corporate structures to find those rare partners that embody their philosophy. Ever since his studies, The Westin Grande Sukhumvit’s General Manager, Charles Jack, realized that all people are human, and deserve to be treated as such.
As a student, Tasmanian-born Charles Jack received the most important part of his induction while serving as Vice-regal Waiter in the service of the Governor. It was then that he understood it was always the ‘personal side’ that counted.
“Even when looking after prominent people, or regal people in this respect, it is important to keep in mind their needs can be very similar to our own, to feel special and understood,” asserts Charles.
So when he moved abroad in the late 1980s to work in the hotel business with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, it was this lesson that has helped him grow personally throughout the years. “It has given me the opportunity to be more comfortable developing human relations, and build those relationships quickly with people whom I have the opportunity to meet.”
This is very important in the hotel industry where a multitude of individuals from all backgrounds and traditions need assistance in almost any and every situation imaginable. “When people travel outside their home country in completely different environments and cultures, you find that in their times of need, whether it be a family emergency or business complication, you can build their confidence quickly to be able to satisfactorily resolve the situation in a minimum of time,” he says.
With Westin’s core values of ‘personal, instinctive, renewal’, the trick is to find collaborators with those special talents that make all the difference. “Westin is all about wellness and health in travel, a place where a guest can relax and recharge, and feel more refreshed when they leave than when they arrived. A rejuvenating sleep, energizing workout, relaxing spa and nourishing foods, all enable Westin guests to preserve wellness during travel. True wellness focuses on mental and physical health, and living the best life possible. This is also seen in our corporate personal touch on a global scale,” explains Charles.
So worldwide, it quickly became obvious that it’s the smaller things done within a hotel, allowing guests to be at their best, which sets one brand apart from another. “Westin was the first brand to launch a signature bed in the hotel industry ten years ago. It’s a signature icon called the ‘Westin Heavenly Bed’ and gives guests an exceptional night’s sleep.”
As a company, Starwood conducted sleep studies to understand sleep habits and what was important to get a great night’s sleep. ‘Heavenly Bed’ is more than just a comfortable mattress, the all-white ‘Heavenly Bed’ includes a custom-designed pillow-top mattress set, a cozy down blanket, three crisp sheets, a comforter, duvet and five plush pillows. Specifically manufactured for Westin, its ten layers wrap you in pure comfort for a deep, restorative sleep.
“We also have a ‘RunWestin’ program led by a personal running concierge in key cities and resort locations where guests can energize while exploring the environment of a destination perhaps unknown to them. Personally tailoring the experience of the traveller to promote wellness is what sets Westin apart. There is also the SuperFoods program for our insides, to provide the best nutrients for the body and brain,” he says.
The newest addition to enhance Westin’s healthy food and beverage experience is Jing tea, chosen for its philosophy that corresponds to Westin’s, as well as its vast range of tea types. Jing recognizes the very essence of tea is similar to that of a fine wine, with its taste reflecting the terroir of its origin; type of soil, altitude, steepness of the hills, rainfall and exposure to sunlight.
Jing’s Jack Cummins explains how Jing sources authentic teas that have been produced by artisans according to time-honoured traditions. “Jing packages tea at the source, buying direct from tea gardens, and paying very close attention to packaging for freshness and taste, whether it be in bags or loose tea, rather than buying from traders. Having cut out traders also makes Jing tea more cost-effective,” explains Jack.
Jing was founded in 2004 by Edward Eisler who was passionate about tea. Studying Chinese medicine, he travelled extensively throughout India, China, Japan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, where he noticed that mass-produced teas could never offer outstanding taste sought-after by discerning tea drinkers.
With a multitude of varieties – white teas, green teas, oolong teas, black teas, puerh teas and herbal infusions – Jing teas are presented from the least to most oxidized, that is to say from the most delicate to more pronounced tastes. Their rare subtleties and refinement have made them the sole supplier to Harrods for all teas from China, Japan and Taiwan.
As many people are moving away from alcohol these days, we can possibly look forward to tea tastings and tea dinners, complete with a tea sommelier, adding another personal touch to the vibrant Bangkok social scene.
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Westin Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok
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