Synthia Rosenfeld DestinAsian February/March 2008

when I ask fellow guests to define what set Aman apart from its increasingly decadent competition, not one person speaks of hts trendsetting aesthetics or trailblazing destinations. It’s the people, they tell me; the human touch.

“Most important for Mr. Zecha are his people,: Chawbewan Chailaipan, Amanpuri’s front office manager, tells me...Chailaipan started working here on day one in january 1988 as a waitress, and she has since traveled to each of the three Aman resorts in Bali to [teach] trainee about “the Aman philosophy.”

Zecha has been seen spotting a Trisara baseball cap...Lark “still loves Aman with all my heart. I spent 10 years there learning from the best that our success and failure in this business depend on listening to the guests.”

“Zecha’s vision,” Lark says, “was to take the little personalized inns he had enjoyed around Bali and elevate the concept as a viable alternative to big corporate hotels. We personally made sure everyone felt comfortable. We took responsibility for entertaining our guests, to help them experience the surrounding culture and environment. The only difference between being an Amanpuri guest and staying in my house was the bill presented at the end.”

Bhutan, where it now operates five lodges. A similar roll out was planned for Sri Lanka

Lark...recalls. “...certain set who wanted privacy without pomp. Remember, this was at a time when the best these world travelers could find was a big, overly decorated suite in a hotel chain.”

“What sets Aman apat is the guest experience. Other brand gives you only a hotel experience,” concurs Bill Dalton...landscape architect, which has been with the company since 1990, spends most of the year traveling around Asia to keep Aman resorts well manicured...Amanwana...longtime Aman employee named Chittima Sriudom insists I arise at tawn to have breakfast beside a waterfall, where I’m magically surrounded by amber dragonflies and turquoise butterflies. A few days later, a birthday cake awaits my arrival at Amanusa....tasteful presents at Amanbagh...Sally Baughen, the general manager, personally arranges a sunrise yoga session for me that ends with a cup of masala chai and chocolate biscuits. I wrap up my travels convinced that single women looking to be spoiled should skip the dating scene and check into an Aman instead.

how the company maintains its authentic, effortlessly casual style of service

first on-the-ground report I read after the 2004 tsunami swept across Sri Lankan coast came from Amangalla’s Olivia Richli, who managed to describe the scene amid turning her hotel into a refugee camp for hundreds within hours of the waves receding. The heritage property in Galle Fort remained a food and fuel distribution canter for weeks after the tsunami and hosted the temporary headquarters of the British High Commission.

Amanpuri...By the time I swim back to the beach, my lounger has been shifted slightly to capture maximum sun, and a tall glass of ice water glistens alongside the lunch menu.

transcript of a speech [Zecha] gave at Amanresorts’ 10th anniversary