Banyan Tree Bangkok Launches Child Care Centre

Bangkok, Thailand, 25 March 2008 – Singapore Main-Board listed Banyan Tree Holdings Limited ("Banyan Tree" or the "Group") is a leading developer, designer and operator of top-tier hotels, resorts, spas and retail galleries worldwide. Within the Group, there are over 7,000 associates of over 50 different nationalities based in 20 countries. This diversity within the Group’s workforce creates a unique challenge, which is to ensure that all associates are able to deliver the Banyan Tree brand promise to guests.

With this in mind, Banyan Tree Bangkok – led by General Manager Mr. Bernold O. Schroeder, who is also Senior Vice President Managing Director – Hotel Operations, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts – has undertaken concerted efforts to ensure the overall welfare of the hotel’s associates and provide a conducive working environment. Following a recent survey conducted with Banyan Tree Bangkok’s associates, and in line with the management’s emphasis on family life, the hotel has launched a dedicated child care centre within its premises on 25 March 2008.

Banyan Tree Bangkok Child Care Centre
Spanning 160 square meters, the child care center is located on the 14th floor of Banyan Tree Bangkok and will render child care services from 7am to 7pm to all Banyan Tree Bangkok associates while they are at work. This service is specially developed for hotel associates’ children who are between three months to six years of age.

The facility features various functional areas such as a classroom, playground and dining room to engage the young charges with a wide range of learning opportunities in a stimulating and nurturing environment. Hotel associates will be able to work with peace of mind knowing that their children are supervised by professional and qualified babysitters, who were selected through a rigorous series of interviews.

Associate Welfare and Survey
In addition to, as part of the hotel’s human resources practices, Banyan Tree Bangkok also conducts numerous initiatives to boost the welfare of its associates. One of the three core components is the Associate Survey, which is linked to the Service Profit Chain - an operational management approach which will serve as a platform and framework to boost the welfare and quality of the Group’s associates.

Conducted twice a year as part of the company’s commitment to improve communication with the associates and to assess their needs, the results of the latest Associate Survey for Banyan Tree Bangkok demonstrate that there is a strong demand for a quality child care centre amongst the hotel associates who have young children. This request was recognised by the hotel with the inaugural launch of Banyan Tree Bangkok child care centre.

Banyan Tree Bangkok also provides support to its associates for their children’s education, which involves two categories:
1) For associates who have been with the hotel for over two years – each individual will receive Thai Baht 5,000 per child, per year
2) For associates who have worked with the hotel for over five years - each individual will receive Thai Baht 20,000 per child, per year

Mr. Schroeder adds, “First and foremost, our associates deserve to be happy and satisfied in their work environment. Satisfied associates will provide guests, and colleagues alike, with good service from their hearts. Hence, service organisations that cultivate an emotional bond between the employee and company, with a variety of consistently applied training methods, will invariably excel in service delivery.”

For more information, please telephone 0-2679-1200.