A passion for service
The Sanchaya's founder, Natalya Pavchinskaya
1. Owning and running your own hotel. A long-held dream or was it something that happened by accident?
After a busy week in Singapore in 2005, I wanted to retreat from the hectic pace of the city and take in more of Asia. As such, I discovered Bintan, only a 45-minute ferry ride from Singapore. I was awed by the island's incredible beauty, akin to what you get in The Maldives.
It quickly dawned on me that this largely undeveloped island was the perfect "go-to-retreat" for people wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of Singapore and Jakarta, and as a result, my dream of The Sanchaya was born. I discovered a secluded 9.6-hectare beachfront plot on Bintan's Lagoi Bay in 2008. It was perfect.
2. Did you have previous experience of operating a hotel?
The Sanchaya marks my first foray into the hotel business and it has been such a rewarding experience. I have drawn upon my background in the arts to create The Sanchaya's representation of the South-east Asian region and its incredible diversity, through design, art, furnishings, books and other artifacts.
3. What attracted you to Bintan?
An ongoing tradition since 18th century Europe is for people to keep a dacha to retreat from the hectic pace of the city. Being based in Singapore, the tradition of leaving the city and inviting family and friends for a retreat stayed with me. Bintan immediately felt like home. I wanted my guests to embrace South-east Asia just as I have done for years now.
The Sanchaya means "collection" in Sanskrit and, for me, it is about the collection of tangible memories stemming from travel.
4. How to you market the resort and what distribution channels, including social media, do you use?
Given we are a boutique estate with niche clientele, we primarily rely on word-of-mouth and have a repeat guest rate of more than 20%.
5. How would you describe your management style?
We motivate our staff by working together with them. Trained by the British Butler Institute, the estate's private butlers - called companions - are ready to assist guests 24 hours a day. When we recruit people to join The Sanchaya team we look for passion. A passion for the highly personalised service The Sanchaya prides itself upon. A great attitude is crucial.