Opened in 2009, Luang Prabang View Hotel is among the luxury hotels operating in the province. Its location is outstanding, placed on top of a peak that overlooks the town with clientele attracted to surrounding views of the town and province.

Williams came here two and half years ago.

“We are one of biggest hotels in the province and our hotel is unique in the province because we have such a good view. Meanwhile, the hotel is designed as an eco-hotel and we just received an Asian standard award for green hotels,” he said.

Making it green fits the character of the city, which attracts a large number of visitors each year. The province is now in third place nationally for registered hotels, followed by Vientiane with 208 and Champassak province with 62, according to the official 2015 statistics contained in a report on tourism in the country. Indeed, hotels in Luang Prabang, totalling 61 in 2015, have their own characteristics that feature the culture and tradition of this most well preserved ancient city in Laos.

Williams noted that the concept of a green hotel was chosen for Luang Prabang View because it was part the local culture and a philosophy supported by the owner, a Lao national who owns a construction company.

“As per the green hotel concept, we have begun recycling our garbage, we manage grey water using three ponds, and down to the land where we have our garden for planting flowers and vegetables.

“Meanwhile, we also raise pigs and ducks, which consume leftovers from the hotel that we feed them.” “Furthermore, one of the main objectives is that we must take care of our staff and develop their skills.

“I have worked all around the world for the last 35 years – in Thailand, Saudi Arabia, France and other countries.”

“As I travelled in many countries I wanted to give back my experiences to the staff so they can learn and become very professional in hospitality.

“I believe they can be very good at their work and ensure hospitality which is very important for the hotel to best serve its customers,” he said.

He added the staff also had the chance to attend training courses offered by a Lanith project in the province which trained them in hotel operations and hospitality standards.

The hotel also pays staff well and they can benefit from medical coverage for their health and receive extra income from overtime and service charges, he said. Williams said the hotel currently has 128 staff working in the hotel which boasts some 74 rooms. The hotel had welcomed diverse travellers including groups from various public private organisations and worldwide travelers from as far as Mexico, UK, Europe and other parts of Asia.

“Our hotel has still a way to go. We also plan to upgrade it to become a five star hotel in the near future. We are currently a four and half star hotel,” he said.

Despite the competition, he believes a cooperative approach remains key to selling the destination.

“We have to sell the whole of Luang Prabang. People don’t know only one hotel. We cannot just sell our hotel individually; we need to sell the whole of Luang Prabang and what it has. If people don’t like my hotel they have the option of looking at other hotels,” he said.

“If we want to be greedy and sell only the hotel it doesn’t work. “Luang Pabang has to be sold as one destination and everybody can get a piece of the pie”.

“We need to share to make Luang Prabang more fruitful. It is not just a hotel taxi drivers know, it is also the people selling from the streets.”