DATAIANS UNITE!
occasion. Silence descends between us as our gaze simultaneously travel towards a corner of the room where a number of blue-robed graduates are indulging in good-natured ribbing.
The youngest programme participant was 19 years of age; the oldest was 50. During The Datai’s closure, they had a total of 370 associates. “Today we have 148 graduates. After this, it’ll truly be a renewed Datai!” exclaims Liza before excusing herself to join the heaving mass for a rowdy photo-op.
When it comes to the “hardware”, the award-winning The Datai is second to none. Located in an enviable location, in the heart of the rainforest and ensconced within a unique biodiversity, it’s easy to see why it has been the proud recipient of numerous awards of excellence over the years, from being voted 2nd best hotel (out of 25) in TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Awards 2017, to coming in second in Conde Nast Traveller UK’s Reader’s Travel Awards 2016 for the category, The Best Hotels in Asia and The Indian Subcontinent. In fact, the whole of last year, the hotel won a slew of awards it can be proud of.
But ask its genial General Manager, Arnaud Girodon and Human Resource Director of Human Resource Johan Abdullah.
Director, Johan Abdullah what they consider to be their biggest asset and indeed, achievement, they’ll tell you that holding pride of heart is the Dataians themselves — the staff. In other words, their precious ‘software’.
“Do you know in 2016 The Datai won the Customer Excellence Award from British Airways Holidays? (This was in recognition of consistently high Reevoo score of 9.5 out of 10, as rated by British Airways Holiday customers). And it’s not surprising. A big part of our unique DNA is our people!” begins Girodon in his thickly-accented English.
The down-to-earth Frenchman, an industry veteran of 24 years, has been with the property for more than four years, following stints in Vietnam and Thailand. And it’s apparent that he’s well-loved judging by the camaraderie that he enjoys with his ‘associates’ here.
It’s actually a little surreal to observe the tall and elegant Mat Salleh good-naturedly getting “in there” with his staff, obliging the numerous requests for wefies that are lobbed his way. It’s like it’s something he does every day.
The word ‘family’ immediately comes to my mind.
“Datai really is family!” exclaims Johan, the soft-spoken HR team leader whom I duly discover is so fatherly that you just want to adopt him! The realisation that he’d just uttered what had been floating in my mind all along is pretty surreal too.
Looking dapper in his light blue Baju