Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2022
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Current

Employment History

• Amankora Bhutan; Trisara Phuket Thailand; Six Senses Yao Noi and Phang-nga Thailand; Six Senses Sanctuary Phuket Thailand  

Education

• Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy), Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Chulalongkorn University; Master of Science (Sports Medicine), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; Master of Science (Management), Graduate School of Advanced Technology Management, Assumption University

Birthplace

• Chaiyaphom, Thailand 

Languages Spoken

• English, Thai  

Saowapa Thumapun – nicknamed Goy – is no newcomer to the world of luxury spa, health and wellness. Her tenured career in the hospitality industry has been a steady progression, beginning with physiotherapy and fitness training, and advancing with naturopathy and therapeutic interventions. Having begun her career in hospitality at the Six Senses Sanctuary Phuket in 2010 as naturopath, she was soon promoted to assistant spa manager and naturopath at the Six Senses Koh Yao Noi. She returned to Phuket for a four-year stint as spa manager for the Trisara Resort. Saowapa followed the mountains’ call to Amankora, Bhutan, where she was spa manager for a little more than two years.

For Saowapa, wellness is a larger, more comprehensive concept, that integrates lifestyle choices with healing practices. By incorporating the various aspects of wellness that she has studied and practiced, she is focused on developing a holistic experience, where guests’ wellbeing requirements are assessed independently, and a wholesome program to further their wellness journey is be crafted.

“Learning is a life-long journey - whether it is through education, practice or self-awareness, it is crucial to growth,” she says. Starting out with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy and a Masters of Science in Sports Medicine (both from Chulalongkorn University), she continued to further her knowledge of wellness with an Advanced Diploma in Nutritional Medicine from the Australasian College of Natural therapies in Sydney, Australia, and more recently, through a Masters of Science in Management so that she can could augment her role as Director of Spa.

At Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Saowapa is poised to deliver a culmination of all her learning and practice through a transcendent spa philosophy that encompasses all areas of healing and healthy living. At the threshold of launching a full-fledged wellness program that has been developed over the past five years, her varied experience comes to the fore as she switches hats and uses her culturally diverse experience to innovate in the different services. Allowing team members to share their ideas, new ways of thinking and thoughts openly without fear of criticism and rejection is what defines her leadership style. “I strongly believe that embarking on a journey to wellness is all about embracing a lifestyle that leads to optimal health and happiness. This applies to everyone, including the team,” she smiles.

Saowapa’s interest outside of work are varied too, with a focus on a healthy way of life - running, cooking, yoga, and of course learning new skills. “From sleeping well, to eating fresh and organic foods, to living a ‘life in balance’ everything adds up to a happy and hearty sense of wellbeing,” she indicates. “As the world of health and wellness is increasingly centred here in the tropics, this is the perfect opportunity for us to position ourselves as a renowned sanctuary of a life in balance.”