**Get to Know the Mother-to-Child Business Model: Wrapping Up Mother's Day Month with "Aana Villa"**

Introducing the successful mother-to-child business model through "Aana Villa," a resort on Koh Chang that was the island's first to feature a swimming pool. The business has since expanded to include "Sri Trat," a restaurant that brings Trat's local cuisine to Bangkok with the slogan "From Mangroves to the Metropolis," and "Ban Ta Kluay," a restaurant focusing on local ingredients and fresh seafood. This seamless blend of business across two generations—mother and child—showcases a remarkable integration of traditional values and modern business practices.

**Rose Unni, the owner of Aana Resort, Sri Trat, and Ban Ta Kluay, shares her story.** 

Rose is the eldest daughter who joined her mother, Srirat Sripinyon, in building their resort about 20 years ago. Initially, her mother was a hardworking individual who saved up to create Aana Resort. Rose and her siblings only learned about the resort when they returned from abroad. One day, her mother asked, “I’ve built a resort. Can you help me?” Rose decided to join her mother, leaving her job in advertising to become the resort's sole employee at the time.

Aana Villa, located on Koh Chang, was the island's first resort to feature a pool constructed from wood. Marketing in those days involved a lot of learning; they invited agencies to visit the resort, which led to positive feedback. International customers were impressed by the all-wood construction and began reserving and visiting continuously. The natural beauty of Koh Chang, with 75% of the island being protected forest, attracted customers, particularly from Scandinavia, proving that the market could grow.

However, the resort faced significant challenges, including airport closures and the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to frequent closures. During this period, employees collected wild fruits to sell, which the resort processed into sweets like "jelly from wild fruits" sold at Ban Ta Kluay.

As business recovered, the resort faced another major challenge when 30-40 air conditioners failed. This led to a strategic shift, focusing on improving the restaurant into "Ban Ta Kluay," where Srirat could showcase her beloved local dishes from Trat.

Srirat Sripinyon revealed that her father had a restaurant and fishing boat, and growing up in a business-oriented family sparked her interest in food. Trat’s local cuisine, rich in herbs like cardamom, mangrove leaves, and homemade shrimp paste, has always been her passion.

"Sri Trat," which brings Trat's local dishes to Bangkok, was inspired by her youngest son’s comment that her food was delicious and deserved to be available in the city. This idea led to opening the restaurant with the slogan "From Mangroves to the Metropolis." The restaurant, operating for about a year, aims to offer authentic Trat flavors to urban customers.

The restaurant's focus is on presenting the authentic taste of Trat and Koh Chang, using fresh seafood from Ban Ta Kluay. Srirat ensures that the unique flavors remain true to their origins, even adapting the spiciness level to accommodate different preferences.

The dynamic between the two generations is well-defined. Srirat manages the resort, creates new dishes, and experiments with menus, while Rose handles business operations, marketing, and branding. This collaboration exemplifies a successful blend of skills and roles across generations.

Looking forward, the restaurant aims to expand within Thailand before considering international markets. Rose believes that Thailand’s diverse food culture offers vast growth potential, and with government support, the restaurant industry can thrive both domestically and abroad.

Rose values the lessons learned from her mother’s approach: immediate action, continuous learning, meticulousness, patience, and perseverance. Despite challenges, reflecting on her mother's experiences helps Rose overcome obstacles.

Operating three businesses simultaneously requires a commitment to quality and attention to detail. Rose, inspired by her mother’s unwavering dedication, continues to build on their legacy with Aana Villa, Sri Trat, and Ban Ta Kluay, aiming to capture and delight their customer base.

**Contact Information:**

Facebook: AANA Villas Koh Chang, Ban Ta Klua, Sri Trat Restauraunt & Bar