Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui
*Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui was born to hardworking parents: her father owned a saw mill while her mother ran a rice mill. From an early age, her parents taught her the value of diligence, persistence and sheer hard work to make a dream - or one's ambition in life - come true. After studying briefly in the United States, Thanpuying Chanut became inspired ever since by her travels in the US and the happy, carefree hotel staff she has met and would never forget. Returning home, she asked her parents for a loan to construct the first Princess Hotel, which opened in 1949, and was the only hotel in Bangkok to have a swimming pool! Among the hotel's regular guests was the Pan Am air crew. On one occasion, Pan Am sponsored an '80 days around the world' tour, whereby Thanpuying Chanut was able to visit and see first-hand the five-star hotels around the world and the courtesy and efficiency of the staff working at the hotels. One hotel in particular, the Okura Japan, impressed her immensely and inspired her to return to Bangkok and build her first Thai-style, five-star hotel. It was in 1970, and after much perseverance and years of planning and against all the odds that she had to face in raising the money to fulfill her goal of completing her landmark hotel project, Thanpuying Chanut was amply rewarded with the grand opening of The Dusit Thani Bangkok. In many ways her 'dream' hotel lived up to its name - Dusit Thani means 'Town in Heaven.' In the 1990s, rapid expansion and development not only with the Dusit brand but also the Royal Princess brand, occurred in Thailand and overseas, firmly establishing the hotelcompanies under Thanpuying Chanut's successful leadership as hospitality industry and market trend-setters. Thanpuying Chanut received the highest royal decoration - Knight Grand Commander (Second class, higher grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao, known by the most esteemed title of Thanpuying and bestowed upon her by HM the King on the 53rd Coronation Day Anniversary, 5th May 2000. Throughout her highly successful professional career, Thanpuying Chanut has consistently contributed to various royal projects. She spearheaded and chaired numerous charitable causes, which were either her personal or corporate contributions of the companies under the Dusit umbrella. |
|
|||||
|
||||||
