This International Women’s Month, we’re spotlighting the women of The Luxe Nomad — from founder and CEO Stephanie Chai to the women shaping our guest experience, hotel operations, and regional growth across the business.
Behind every thoughtful stay is a cast of women leading with instinct, intelligence, and care. From guest services and hotel operations to regional management — women are driving progress, leading teams, nurturing communities, and redefining what modern hospitality can look like.
This International Women’s Month, CEO Stephanie Chai joins women across The Luxe Nomad to reflect on work, leadership, motherhood, ambition, and the everyday realities of being a woman in the travel and hospitality industry.
Read also: Women of Niseko: Meet Tash Sarmiento, The General Manager Curating Unforgettable Stays
Letter from Our Founder
This International Women’s Day’s theme, ‘Give to Gain,’ is hits close to home. At The Luxe Nomad, I believe in always hiring the best person for the position. I’m incredibly proud that more than 60% of our workforce is female. At the group level, half of our Heads of Department are women, and in Japan, 50% of our hotel managers are women, too (which is still rare in both the hospitality industry and the country). These statistics aren’t engineered for optics — they are simply the result of believing that opportunity should be based on talent, commitment, and character, regardless of gender.
It’s a privilege to lead a company where capable women are shaping the business every day — from operations and guest experience to finance, marketing and leadership. Seeing that progress unfold across our teams is something I’m deeply grateful for.
Of course, progress rarely happens overnight. I still remember investor meetings early in my entrepreneurial journey where questions were directed to my male colleague — who was a consultant — rather than to me as the founder. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and thankfully the world is steadily moving in the right direction.
I’m also grateful to be growing this company from Singapore, which continues to be one of the best places in the world for women to live, work and lead. Interesting fact: Singapore ranked 8th in the world and 1st in Asia-Pacific for low gender inequality in the United Nations Gender Inequality Index.
My hope is that we continue to see more glass ceilings broken — not just today, but every day — and that the next generation of women will find the path a little easier because of the progress being made now. Thank you to all the incredible women across The Luxe Nomad who make this company what it is.
– Stephanie Chai | Founder and CEO of The Luxe Nomad
Read also: Women of Niseko: How Yuko Takai Of Milk Kobo is Preserving The Taste of Tradition
Meet the Women of The Luxe Nomad
Sophie Solon | Guest Services & Team Development Director, The Luxe Nomad
“Being a working mom has taught me that success is also about presence. I’m grateful for a remote role that lets me work with an incredible team and be present for my two kids. The flexibility of working remotely allows me to contribute meaningfully to my teams while being hands on with my children as they grow.”
Tomoko Timsiline | Hotel Manager, The Vale Niseko
“Since last October, I have been taking on new challenges as a hotel manager. I strive each day to maintain a broad perspective and a flexible mindset, creating a comfortable environment for our guests as well as for the staff I work with. I will continue to lead our team in delivering the spirit of Japanese hospitality I have long cherished, sharing it with every guest through the gentle attentiveness and warmth that women uniquely bring.”
Katie Komang | Area Manager, The Luxe Nomad – Bali
“I am a proud mother of two beautiful daughters, a hardworking woman balancing home, family, and life’s many responsibilities. No matter how challenging the days may be, I never give up, because they are my greatest strength and my reason to keep going.”
Rachel Chan | Head of PR, The Luxe Nomad
“This International Women’s Day’s theme, ‘Give to Gain,’ makes me think about what this means as a mother and for gender equality in the workplace. At The Luxe Nomad, flexibility isn’t a favour. It’s how we operate. Remote working, autonomous schedules (so I’m able to do my second job as a mother), and results-based evaluation are givens — these aren’t perks, they’re smart business practices that allow talented people to do their best work in return. It allows me to gain both at work and at home.
If your job involves promoting experiences to families, then your company had better understand what families actually need. Here’s to workplaces that understand motherhood isn’t a limitation, and creates a more diverse work community.’”
Watthana Panprom (Khun Tar) | Executive Assistant Manager, The Luxe Nomad – Thailand
“I feel grateful to be part of a community where many talented women bring strength, creativity, and vision to everything we do at The Luxe Nomad. In hospitality and travel, women play an important role in shaping meaningful experiences, building connections, and inspiring the journeys of others.
For me, being a woman in this role represents both opportunity and responsibility — the opportunity to grow and collaborate in an industry that values diverse perspectives, and the responsibility to help create a supportive environment where other women can thrive. With opportunity, women transform vision into action, drive meaningful change, and redefine what’s possible.”
Yvonne Renner | Hotel Manager, Fenix West and Fenix Furano
“Being able to serve in this role as a woman is something I am deeply proud of. It does, at times, come with a unique set of challenges; however, I always remind myself how important it is that we continue creating opportunities where everyone can grow regardless of gender. I would also like to recognize the incredible women I have the privilege of working with every day — both face-to-face and remotely — who inspire me with their strength, quiet determination, and leadership.”
From boardrooms to brunch meetings, site visits to school runs, these women reflect the many dimensions of leadership at The Luxe Nomad. Celebrating the strength, resilience, and perspective they bring to their work, we wish all women a very Happy International Women’s Day.
