CHAI LAI ORCHID: THE ELEPHANT HOTEL THAT COMBATS HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Job training and employment are key to fighting the intergenerational poverty that puts young women at risk of trafficking.
Because tourism is the largest industry in Thailand, it was only natural that our vocational training program be focused on hospitality. In 2012 when we were looking for rentable hotel properties to start our program, we fell in love with a space that also was home to 9 beautiful Asian elephants, and saw an opportunity to create both a safe space for at-risk women and ethical tourism with elephants. And so the idea for the Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Hotel was born!
At Chai Lai, all of our hotel staff are at-risk ethnic minority women and Burmese refugees. Trainees are paid a living wage to learn all aspects of the hotel industry. Over the course of approximately 9 months, trainees learn housekeeping, concierge, cafe management, English and Chinese language, basic computer skills and accounting. Our graduates have gone on to management positions at Chai Lai, to work at 5 star hotels in Chiang Mai, to become trekking guides, and even to start their own trekking companies and homestays!
We also believe that tourism can be a force for good. While other tourism companies send profits back to large corporate offices, every penny of our work goes back into our local community and to fund Daughters Rising’s initiatives. In addition to staying in our hotel we also offer incredible treks and tours, all of which are run by local indigenous guides from the Karen Hill Tribe. These treks offer not only once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, but help preserve indigenous culture by educating guests on how to live in harmony with nature the Karen way.
Nukul, a member of the Karen community from the local Thai village of Nong Tao, began her journey as a trainee in the Daughters Rising Vocational Training Program. After learning English in just three months, Daughters Rising supported her to get her guide license in order for her to found her own company Chai Lai Sisters—the first tourism company in Northern Thailand owned and operated by Indigenous women. In 2024, with the support of an interest-free loan from Chai Lai Orchid, Nukul opened Zen Farm Homestay on her family’s farm. Today, her thriving business supports her entire family, shares authentic Karen culture with visitors from around the world, and has become a beloved destination for Chai Lai guests.
Cha, a member of the Karen community from Mae Hong Son, discovered her passion for hospitality through the Daughters Rising Vocational Training Program. After graduating, she received an interest-free loan from Chai Lai Orchid to open her own business, Lazy Mango Homestay, on her husband’s land. An avid cat-lover, Cha’s homestay also features a cat cafe for rescued cats, and is home to two rescued elephants. Combining warm Karen hospitality with her love of animals, Cha has created one of the most popular stays for Chai Lai guests.
Lurn, a member of the Shan community from Myanmar, began her journey as a trainee in the Daughters Rising Vocational Training Program. Through her determination, resilience, and natural leadership, she rose to become Hotel Manager at Chai Lai Orchid and now leads the entire Vocational Training Program, mentoring the next generation of Indigenous and refugee women. Inspired by the opportunities that transformed her own life, Lurn dreams of opening a Shan restaurant and community center in Chiang Mai—a welcoming space where refugees can find employment, celebrate their culture, and strengthen community ties.
Mida, a member of the Karen community from our local village of Mae Sapok, discovered her confidence and leadership through the Daughters Rising Vocational Training Program. After learning English and graduating from the program, she went on to become the Director of Baan Sukhito, Daughters Rising’s Safe House for girls at risk of trafficking, where she mentored and cared for some of the organization’s most vulnerable young women. With the support of an interest-free loan from Chai Lai Orchid, Mida later launched her own laundry business, which now provides services for the hotel and generates a sustainable income to support her family.
Bo, a member of the Karen community from Mae Wang, is one of the most driven graduates of the Daughters Rising Vocational Training Program. After mastering English in record time, she earned her professional trekking guide license with support from our Scholarship Program. Combining her entrepreneurial spirit with her family’s farm, Bo launched a thriving business supplying fresh fruit for Chai Lai Orchid’s popular Elephant Happy Hour. Today, her business provides sustainable income for her family while allowing her to share the flavors and traditions of her community with visitors from around the world.
Soe, from the Karen community of Nong Tao, is a talented artist and has a passion for hospitality that she transformed into a successful tourism business. After graduating from the Daughters Rising Vocational Training Program we went on to earn her trekking guide license, and later opened her own Nong Tao Homestay on her family’s land. Her successful business is incredibly popular with guests, allowing her to support her family while creating new economic opportunities for her local indigenous community.
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