Our Team
At Canvas & Orchids Retreat, we consider our crew as family. Our family staff team consists of local Cambodians who are fully responsible for the operations of the lodge and restaurant. All our team members are passionate about nature, wildlife and providing you the best service possible.
As soon as you step off the boat our welcoming staff will greet you, headed by resort manager Ravy. You can expect a comfortable, personalized service every second of your stay. Never hesitate to ask for anything that you may need. Our crew oversees every single detail to ensure that you have the most amazing time possible.
Every member of our highly trained staff team shares our commitment to hospitality. They are our most precious asset and each one wants to make sure you have a comfortable and memorable experience. They are the ones who will share and brighten up your day.
The majority of the crew working at the resort originates from nearby villages or from the island itself. Before becoming employed at Canvas & Orchids Retreat, some of them practised illegal logging and poaching for a living. This means they know a lot about the forest, the river, the flora and fauna and they are keen to share this in-depth knowledge with you every day.
We also employ recent graduates from Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE) school in Phnom Penh. It’s an NGO that helps disadvantaged children by giving them the opportunity to become skilled and work in gainful employment. Most of them work with us for a few years to gain experience.
Meet the Crew
Ravy (Vy) Chea Roda
Ravy (Vy) was born in this area and joined our staff as a boat driver when he was 18. He couldn’t speak English, but it was evident from the start that Ravy was an intelligent, thoughtful, and kind young man. As we continued to build Canvas & Orchids Retreat, Ravy worked with his fellow villagers on the island to improve their facilities, helping us to create the perfect eco-lodge for both our guests and the area.
He was crucial in finding the perfect people to join our ever-growing team. He asked that we hire those who would have become illegal loggers through the lack of any alternative. By joining Canvas & Orchids Retreat, they earn a steady income in an environmentally conscious way. We have Ravy to thank for that.
His enthusiasm, loyalty, and thoughtfulness shine brightly. We feel very proud and grateful that he has become our Hotel Manager.
Darong Chittchan
Darong joined our team in 2011, having been raised in the capital city of Phnom Penh. It was clear from the start that he was a very kind and compassionate man. He is constantly looking for ways to help others and is one of the few regular blood donors in the area. He hopes to inspire others to do the same.
Darong spends his free time teaching English to the local villagers for $0.40 per hour. He chooses to charge this small payment to teach the value of both money and time.
His business-orientated brain led him to recently start a laundry business. He employs and mentors two unschooled local female villagers who are thriving under his careful guidance. We’re proud to be one of his customers – his new venture handles cleaning the delicate linens and fabrics from the hotel.
His boundless enthusiasm and energy also have him leading some of our tours, including ones on the Cardamom Mountains. He is an inspiration to us all.
Naren Sonn
Naren was born into a poor family that could not afford to send him to school. He worked at a local gas station when he was a small boy, before moving into construction. While other children his age were learning and playing, he worked hard to provide money for his family.
In 2014, he joined Canvas & Orchids Retreat as part of our construction team. Naren took it upon himself to assume the role of a translator between Valentin and the building crew. Still unable to speak English, he tried his best to guess what his boss needed and passed it onto the local team. It was a skill that proved crucial to the building of our ecolodge and we instantly knew that we had found a very special member of our staff.
Naren went on to learn English so he could converse with our guests in his other role as a Tour Guide. He loves sharing local knowledge about the area. His joyful character is contagious, and he is now married with a baby on the way.