From Amsterdam to Bangkok: This is Kris’ Life at Agoda
- Kris Schimmel
- Senior Manager, Public Relations, Marketing
- Living in Bangkok, Thailand since 2023
Before joining Agoda, I worked as a Communications Manager for ESPN in the Netherlands. The team at ESPN felt like family (a very talented one) and being the host broadcaster of Dutch football meant I was closely connected to the sport I love. I couldn’t imagine myself in another job in the Netherlands. However, many trips to Thailand had planted a pipe dream in the back of my mind: to one day live and work in Bangkok. It felt like an impossible goal, especially as a non-native English speaker in a communications role.
Still, I kept “Communications jobs in Bangkok” in my LinkedIn filter, just in case. After five happy years at ESPN, the role at Agoda appeared on my feed, and I figured I had nothing to lose. That decision turned out to be life changing.
A Day in a Life in the Communications team at Agoda
A typical day as a PR professional at Agoda will contain a mix of content creation, collaboration, and learning. Drafting a press release and syncing up with the team in the morning, lunch with colleagues at the unparalleled ‘Hug Thai’ food court, WIP calls with PR agencies across Asia in the afternoon, more content creation, and wrapping up the day with a department-wide ‘meet and learn’ session. And often, there are social activities in the evening, like a pub quiz, movie night, or team dinner.
Why Agoda is an Exciting Workplace
What I love about Agoda is the constant drive to learn and improve. We strive to be front of the pack when it comes to innovation. Gen AI is a great example. I imagine that in many companies it would be left to the Tech department to figure out use cases, but at Agoda every department was encouraged to experiment with Gen AI. As a PR team, we created several Gen AI assistants to help us craft content in multiple languages, and we’re currently experimenting with an AI-powered media trainer.
Agoda is also incredibly diverse. The communications team alone consists of 14 colleagues from seven different nationalities. This diversity creates endless opportunities to learn from one another, both professionally and personally.
Career Growth at Agoda: Taking Control of Development
Before joining Agoda, my approach to career development was quite naive. I thought it would all happen automatically. You take on a new project every other quarter, you do an annual performance review, and that’s it. My department head, in particular, opened my eyes to how much control you can actually take of your own development. Agoda has a dedicated learning team that constantly introduces new courses. And being part of Booking Holdings, there are opportunities to learn from colleagues from other brands around the world. We have quarterly learning sessions, and an annual BHI Comms meetup.
There are online training courses available to learn pretty much any skill. I never thought I would use SQL on a regular basis in a comms role, but now I’m pulling travel trends straight from the databases and use it to craft stories that are published in about eight different languages. How cool is that!
Relocating to Bangkok: A Dream Come True
From my very first visit as a tourist in 2010, Bangkok felt familiar. It was my first time in Asia, and while many things were overwhelming, I had an inexplicable belief that I would always find my way here. Over the years, I visited many times, made close friends, and my bond with Bangkok grew stronger.
When I got the Bangkok-based job at Agoda, there was no doubt in my mind whether I should take it, even though I had just bought a new house in Amsterdam the year before. Agoda’s relocation team made the process seamless, handling everything from visa applications to paperwork. The few tasks I had to complete myself, like booking a one-way flight and choosing accommodation for the first month (both paid for by Agoda), felt more like planning an exciting trip than a chore.
The Bangkok Lifestyle: More Than a Tourist Destination
If you’ve never visited Bangkok or only experienced the city as a tourist for a few days on the way to one of the many beautiful islands, I can assure you that the image you have of it is wrong.
Bangkok is so much more than a tourist destination. Yes, the constant traffic, durian smells, and April’s heatwave can be overwhelming, but look beyond those first impressions and you’ll find a city that’s not only rich in traditions but also cutting-edge modern.
Every neighborhood is waiting to be explored and has so much to offer, from the latest trendy live jazz bar to a hidden rooftop cinema. You’ll learn that traffic jams are quite easily avoidable if you take public transport or a bike.
And that Bangkokians love sports and recreation and fill the parks to run, play pickle ball or listen to (free!) concerts by the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.
I haven’t even mentioned the nightlife, the hidden gems in Talad Noi and Ari, the lure of many great destinations (from island to city to mountain) that are just a 1hr flight away. Bangkok has something for anyone to fall in love with.
Community and Settling In: Finding My Bangkok Family
Because of my previous visits to Thailand, I was lucky to already have a social network here when I joined Agoda. Agoda’s international environment also made it incredibly easy to make new friends within the company as well.
I remember attending AgodaFest, Agoda’s annual party, just four months after joining the company. It felt like a festival back home, with food, music, and familiar faces everywhere. If you’re open to it, making new friends at Agoda is easy. There are plenty of activities to help create connections, from department events to the running club.
Bridging the Distance: Staying Connected with Family and Friends in the Netherlands
One of the great things about Agoda is the Remote Work Program. Twice a year, you have the flexibility to work from pretty much anywhere in the world for a couple of weeks. For the past two years, I opted to split it between two weeks in a new location in Asia and two weeks back home. It’s a great way to be around friends and family without having to use up too much annual leave to visit places you already know well.
Apart from the annual trip back home, I’m lucky enough that most of my friends and family love to visit Bangkok. And WhatsApp video calls make it easy to stay in touch in between visits. My appreciation for daylight saving time in Europe has grown by a lot, because in summertime the difference is just five hours. Makes it easier to watch the games of my favorite football team AZ as well.
Cost of Living in Bangkok: High Quality at a Lower Cost
The quality of life in Bangkok is incredibly high, partly thanks to the lower cost of living compared to the Netherlands. For the rental fee that would get me a small room in a shared apartment back home, I can rent a comfortable private condo here for around 650 euro per month, complete with a pool, gym, and more, right in the heart of the city!
The best part is that I haven’t cooked once in the past few years. The food available for pick-up or delivery is not only cheaper than cooking but also much more delicious. A typical street food meal, including delivery and a tip for the driver, will cost between 3 and 5 euros. And dining at an average restaurant will typically cost between 10 and 20 euros. Although with trendy, high-quality restaurants popping up pretty much every week, it’s very easy to splurge as well. That’s the great thing about Bangkok, there are great options in any budget range.
Final Thoughts: Why Consider Agoda?
One of the most rewarding moments of my journey at Agoda was being part of an interview panel and hearing candidates share their excitement about potentially moving to Bangkok. I looked out the window, saw Wat Arun in the distance, and felt an overwhelming sense of joy that I was living my pipe dream of working and living in Bangkok.
My advice? Do yourself a favor and apply for the job. Living and working in Bangkok has been an amazing experience from day one, and I promise you won’t regret it.
