Hotel and elephants

"I was taught to be hands-on. My parents always told me whatever I do, I need to know how to do it before giving orders to others. Now I pass on this philosophy to my subordinates," said the 59-year-old.

In her childhood, she never thought of becoming a businesswoman. What she enjoyed the most was visiting historical sites with her father and studying languages. It was thus a great experience when she was sent to Switzerland for high school. She pursued her bachelor's degree in French from Paris University and another bachelor's in foreign languages from Washington State University.

After finishing her studies, she set up a company exporting brass deer and ceramics. Adhering to her parents' teaching, Bilaibhan was involved in every aspect of the business, including packing.

After seven or eight years, she shut down the business despite a sharp growth in profits. Then when she was in her early 30s, the family had to wind up their bus-transport company, the family's core business since the time of her grandfather. The family had to make a decision about what to do with the 30-rai area on Withayu Road that used to be the bus terminal.

The family decided to build a hotel as any other commercial development would have been impossible due to the location of the British Embassy in the vicinity and other residences nearby.

"My mother and I visited Hawaii and agreed on building a low-rise hotel."

Bilaibhan involved herself in the construction project from the start. As her mother was then about 70 years old, it was Bilaibhan who served as the construction-project manager of the Nai Lert Park Bangkok Hotel. She took charge of the procurement of construction materials: bricks, cement and sand. She was the one who picked dark-blue tiles for the swimming pool, making it stand out from other pools, which used only white tiles.

"I inherited an artistic sense from my father and business sense from my mother," Bilaibhan said.

Thanphuying Lersak, her mother, is her business mentor. Lersak, an only child, inherited all properties from her father. She is a source of inspiration to her daughter. "In her time, she built a nine-storey building on Sukhumvit Road for rent. With the construction techniques then, it would have been difficult to build a building with those window arches. But she could do that. It was the most modern building in her time," said Bilaibhan.

Bilaibhan continues to be amazed by her mother, who at 88 is still seen at the hotel almost daily, pointing her finger at this and that to ensure the perfect quality.

Like her mother, Bilaibhan is fully committed to the hotel. Although having related businesses, she spends most of her time at the hotel, which means regular social meetings.

"In the hotel business, we must be everything for the hotel, a PR and an executive. In this position, I need to meet people, invited or not. When any VIP guests arrive, I must be there to greet them."

Privy Councillor General Prem Tinsulanonda is one of them.

"Thai-owned hotels need an identity," she says.

Bilaibhan also has to take care of her family's other businesses. She is director of the Lert-Sinn Foundation, Nai Lert Co and Nai Lert Phatana.

She said that about the middle of this year, the family could reveal further plans regarding development of the remaining land near the hotel premises.

"We should not stand still. We need to be ready for changes," she said.

Despite all the hard work in managing her businesses, Bilaibhan has found time to be involved in other activities. She is president of the Treasure Our Elephants Northern Elephant Preservation Fund, vice president of the Siam Society, president of the Elephant Alliance of Thailand, a member of the Asian Institute of Technology's board of trustees and a member of the Education Ministry's Library for Children and Youth.

Surprisingly, she views all of her other responsibilities as relaxation, the same as reading magazines, watching television or reading novels.

"I can spare time for anything I like," said Bilaibhan, who has a deep passion for elephants. She has a 15-year-old "daughter": Navaporn, an elephant in Lampang that was adopted 15 years ago. The adopted elephant has brought joy to the divorced businesswoman, who has no children.

"It depends on what relaxation means to you. I'm such a lazy woman, as lazy as a pig," she laughed while looking at her oversized body. At the Siam Society, she enjoys fund-raising activities that involve trips, as well as meetings with people, particularly embassy personnel.

"It's a kind of break from the hotel business. While shopping can be a hobby for many others, it's so hard for me." As if to confirm this, she took a phone call from her secretary, who was busy finding her an item from a shopping mall. Shopping is her secretary's job.

At 59, Bilaibhan still feels energetic enough to continue all those responsibilities.

"I don't know when I should retire. I never consider anything too difficult for me. Everything is just so much fun," she concluded at the end of the two-hour interview.

Achara Deboonme

The Nation