Willem Niemeijer

Biography

Willem is the CEO of YAANA Ventures, an owner, partner and operator of entrepreneurial travel and hospitality ventures in Asia. Through YAANA, Willem builds brands that share real experiences that are grounded in the cultural richness of Asia. More importantly, Willem drives each venture to champion the triple bottom-line: to nurture the people with whom YAANA works, to sustain the planet we all share, and to pursue profits to expand YAANA’s mission.

Willem founded Khiri Travel in 1993 with a vision of creating a travel company delivering Thailand and Indochina as “4 countries, 1 destination”. He created Khiri Reach, Khiri Travel’s dedicated foundation, which adopted projects that aid underprivileged communities, promote animal welfare, protect local heritage and steward the environment. Over the following years, he expanded Khiri Travel into Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and the Maldives. Willem then turned his eye to transplanting the seeds of success to the businesses that today form the core of YAANA Ventures: Anurak Community Lodge, GROUND, Khiri Travel, Cardamom Tented Camp and HMP

Willem lives in Bangkok and is married with two daughters. He speaks Dutch, English and Thai fluently.