Unveiling the O-Zone
Ouremployees are proud of the O-Zone – they even speak to guests about it (TorstenVanDullemen,
Hotel Manager of the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok).
As Torsten Van Dullemen, Hotel Manager, took a stroll around the newly renovated second
floor with Benjama Olarnsakul, Human Resources Director, he reflected on how to best
celebrate its transformation into the O-Zone. He thought that it would be useful to
bring together the modern aspect of the space together with traditional Thai hospitality.
An opening event would also have to illustrate the heritage of innovation. It was decided
that it would be beneficial to let the employees choose how to inaugurate the O-Zone.
Torsten Van Dullemen, together with Jan Goessing, received feedback from all departments
to design a series of events that would take place on the opening day.
The General Manager of the hotel was pondering how to honour the longest-serving
employees by paying tribute to them in the O-Zone. He thought that a theme with an oriental
fan would be interesting, since it was already used in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group for
other types of awards. To differentiate their initiative, it was decided to frame the employees’
handprints and display them at the O-Zone entrance.
Whilst the O-Zone was still under construction, the longest-serving employees were gathered
amongst the plastic-covered furnishings and sawdust. They were invited to make their
handprints in plaster on long tables covered in crisp, freshly ironed, white tablecloths in the
middle of the open floor space. There were colourful balloons scattered amongst the smiling
faces of those whose hands were covered with gray paste and powder. As each employee
imprinted their hands, there was a sense of pride and accomplishment communicated
through their facial expressions with their surrounding colleagues. The handprints were
framed, with their respective names and years when they started employment at the Mandarin
Oriental Bangkok. The morning sun gleamed through the windows and transparent plastic
sheets. The noise fromconstruction wasmuffled in the background. The creation of handprints
for the frames was an exciting event which gave a personal touch to the O-Zone launch.