A Field Trip to Sofitel Phokeethra Hotel
By Andrew Millar, ACE Teacher
Tourism is one of Cambodia’s fastest growing industries, with nearly 6 million overseas visitors in 2018 and almost USD $4 billion generated in revenue, according to the Ministry of Tourism. The hospitality industry is increasingly training more and more local staff and providing worthwhile careers to young Cambodians. For the second successive year, Diploma Program English for Tourism students had the great pleasure of visiting the Sofitel Phokeethra in Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh. Opened in 2010, this five star establishment with over 200 luxurious guest rooms has led the field in providing not just high end accommodation, but the finest conference and leisure facilities for local residents and international visitors alike. Learning & Development Manager, Sokunthea Sok, Director of Talent & Culture, Sorphea Sam and General Manager, Charles-Henri Chevet, gave us a warm welcome and looked after us during a presentation and a tour of every corner of the hotel’s public and private areas.
After the visit, our students had the opportunity to explore and learn more about the field of tourism and the operations of hotels in Cambodia. These are their thoughts on the study tour to the Sofitel.
“During the tour, I noticed my knowledge of many different themes increased, such as business, management, tourism and hospitality”.
Seang Vilya
“We saw famous buildings and French-inspired interior design, and we toured underground to see the kitchen and laundry areas that most visitors do not get to see”.
Lim Nidakanayatepy
“The best thing about this hotel was the view. I could see a large place that was full of trees and flowers, and whenever I walked into a guest room, I could smell fragrant lemongrass in the air, which made me feel fresh and delighted”.
Yin Prostoch
“Each floor has a different fragrance, and some parts of the buildings and rooms are divided for in-house guests and visitors from outside”.
Chea Srey Pin
“I learned a lot about the tourism sector. A charming smile and a warm welcome from the hotel employees, who are known as ‘heartists’ (a combination of heart and artists), encourage tourists to happily come back”.
Lim Vittra
“The ‘heartists’ looked genuinely happy with their duties, which brought smiles to their lovely faces. It made the whole atmosphere more natural and free, because no-one was being forced to be what they were not”.
Nil Nun
By the end of the trip, our students had gained not only enhanced knowledge of the tourism industry, but also hands-on experience as well as a behind-the-scenes view of the inner workings of this five star hotel.