Renowned hotelier Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, founder of Dusit International, receives SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award

Renowned hotelier Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, founder of Dusit
International, receives SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award

Accolade marks 70 years of hospitality excellence.

Bangkok, 2 July 2018 – Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, Founder and Honorary Chairperson of Dusit International, one of Thailand’s foremost hotel and property development companies, has received the prestigious SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).

Ranked among the top 3 “Hospitality and Leisure Management” institutions globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 and 2018, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field.

Established in 2016, SHTM’s annual awards are designed to honour outstanding personalities who have contributed substantially to the development of hospitality and tourism in Hong Kong, the region and around the world. This year, the recipient was selected in accordance with the theme ‘Celebration of Women in Leadership.’

Thanpuying Chanut established Dusit International in 1948 and opened her first property in Bangkok, Princess Hotel, in 1949. It was one of the first properties in the city to feature a swimming pool, an elevator, and air conditioning.

Determined to open a five-star hotel offering luxury hospitality with a distinctively Thai touch, in 1970 she achieved this aim with the opening of the flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok – then the city’s tallest, grandest building – which has been a true icon ever since.

Building on the success of this property, Thanpuying Chanut opened more five-star hotels in major tourism destinations in Thailand and overseas, and branched out into hotel and culinary education with the Dusit Thani College in 1993, and Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School, a joint venture with Le Cordon Bleu, in 2007.

For her efforts in hospitality and related education, on 5 May 2000 His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand conferred upon Ms Piyaoui the highest royal decoration for a civilian: Knight Grand Commander (Second Class, Higher Grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao. And with this, the right to bear the title “Thanpuying,” the equivalent of “Dame.”

The SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Thanpuying Chanut, now 97 years old, in Bangkok in February 2018. A ceremony was held in her honour at Hotel ICON in Hong Kong on 22 June 2018, where she was represented by her son, Mr Chanin Donavanik, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Dusit International.

“Throughout her life my mother has worked tirelessly, and unselfishly, to promote and develop Thailand’s tourism industry overall, and she is delighted and honoured to be recognised with this prestigious award,” said Mr Donavanik. “Since opening her first hotel 70 years ago, my mother has always believed in Asia’s potential to become the epicenter of the tourism and travel industry, and she is delighted that, in the SHTM, we have a kindred spirit in Hong Kong which not only shares these sentiments, but whose dedication to developing young talent mirrors our own values and efforts in Southeast Asia.”

Mr Chan Tze-ching, Chairman of the PolyU Council, said, “Our awardee, Thanpuying Chanut, is a legend and pioneer in her industry. Her exemplary accomplishments have not only played an important role in raising the level of the regional and global hospitality business but also helped transform it through a distinctively Asian focus.

“Throughout the years, she has contributed generously to charitable causes and royal projects, in both personal and professional capacities. Thanpuying Chanut provides a truly inspirational role model, demonstrating to practitioners around the world what can be achieved with foresight, tenacity, and a giving heart, while being an especially significant figure to women in this region.”

Previous winners of the SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award include Mr Adrian Zecha, founder of Aman Resorts, and the Honourable Sir Michael Kadoorie.

-End-

Photos caption

Photo 1 – Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, Founder and Honorary Chairperson, Dusit International.

Photo 2 – Mr Chanin Donavanik, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Dusit International, proudly represented his mother at the event in Hong Kong.

About Dusit International

Dusit International was founded in 1948 by Honorary Chairperson Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, whose first hotel was the Princess on Bangkok's Charoenkrung Road. Today the company is a leader in hotel management and hospitality education and comprises a unique international portfolio of distinctive hotels and resorts operating under four brands: Dusit Thani, dusitD2, Dusit Princess and Dusit Devarana. ASAI Hotels, an affordable lifestyle brand aimed at millennial-minded travellers, is set to open its first property next year.

Dusit International currently operates 27 properties worldwide and has over 50 confirmed projects in the pipeline in key destinations such as Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Kenya, Myanmar, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, and UAE.

The company also operates the signature Devarana Spa and has a fast-growing Education Division. The latter, established in 1993, comprises Dusit Thani College, which offers vocational and postgraduate hospitality degrees at campuses in Bangkok and Pattaya; and Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School.

For more information, please visit www.dusit.com.

About PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management

For close to 40 years, PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Rated No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category according to ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2017, placed No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism” subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017 and ranked among the top 3 “Hospitality and Leisure Management” institutions globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 and 2018, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

With 75 academic staff drawing from 22 countries and regions, the School offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees. In 2012, the SHTM was bestowed the McCool Breakthrough Award by the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (I-CHRIE) recognising its breakthrough in the form of its teaching and research hotel – Hotel ICON – the heart of the School’s innovative approach to hospitality and tourism education. A member of the UNWTO Knowledge Network, the SHTM is also the editorial home of Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism and Journal of China Tourism Research.