Chanut Piyaoui facts for kids

Than Phu Ying Chanut Piyaoui (born May 15, 1922 – died May 3, 2020) was a famous Thai businesswoman. She started the well-known hotel group called Dusit International. Chanut led Dusit International as its managing director and chairperson from 1970 to 2014. Later, she became the honorary chairman.

Chanut's Early Life and Dreams

Than Phu Ying Chanut was born in Bangkok, Thailand. Her father owned a saw mill, and her mother ran a rice mill. In 1946, Chanut traveled to the United States. She hoped to study at Columbia University.

However, her English skills were not strong enough at first. So, she attended an English school in New York City. After her studies, she explored the country. She was amazed by the modern hotels she visited. She loved their great services.

Building Her First Hotel

Chanut returned home in 1947 with a big dream. She wanted to build a hotel like those in the US. But her hotel would also have a special Thai touch. In 1948, she opened her first hotel. It was called the "Princess" on Bangkok's New Road.

This hotel had only 30 rooms. Yet, it was special because it had Bangkok's first modern swimming pool. For many years, flight crews from Pan American Airways (Pan Am) stayed there.

Chanut even joined Pan Am's "80 Days Around the World" program. This trip helped her learn many new ideas about hotels. She used these ideas to make her own business even better.

Growing the Dusit Hotel Group

In 1970, Chanut opened a luxury hotel called the Dusit Thani Hotel. It was near Lumphini Park in Bangkok. This hotel became the main hotel of the Dusit Group. It was Bangkok's first luxury hotel.

The Dusit Thani quickly became very popular. Both local people and visitors from other countries loved it. With 510 rooms, it was the tallest building in Bangkok for several years. The Dusit Thani helped bring many tourists to Thailand. By 1983, tourism became the country's top way to earn money.

Expanding Across Thailand

After starting the Dusit Thani Group, Chanut continued to lead it. In 1987, she bought a hotel and turned it into the first resort. This was the Dusit Thani Pattaya. Then came another beach resort in Phuket, the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket.

In 1989, a polo club and resort opened in Cha-am. The 1990s saw even more growth. Four new luxury hotels opened in Thailand. These included the Royal Princess Chiang Mai and Dusit Island Resort Chiang Rai.

Chanut faced a challenge in the 1990s. A new subway system was being built near the Dusit Thani Hotel. It needed some of the hotel's land.

Going Global

Chanut took the Dusit brand international in 1995. She bought the Dusit Hotel Nikko Manila in the Philippines. It was then managed by Dusit Thani Hotels & Resorts. In 2001, the group opened its first hotel in the Middle East, in Dubai.

Later, Dusit hotels opened in India, China, the United States, and the Maldives. In 2001, Chanut also started the Devarana Spa. These spas are now in 10 Dusit properties.

Today, the Dusit group has grown a lot. It runs 13 hotels and resorts in Thailand. It also has 18 properties around the world. These hotels operate under five different brands.

Training Future Hoteliers

In 1993, Chanut started Dusit Thani College. She wanted to train people to work in hotels. This college helped Dusit International grow even more. Now, the Dusit group has two hotel schools in Thailand. They offer degrees in hotel and restaurant management.

There is also a cooking school. It is a joint project with Le Cordon Bleu, started in 2007. In 2009, Dusit Thani College began a program with Lyceum University in the Philippines. A new hotel school with its own hotel opened in Manila in 2017.

Later Years and Legacy

In 2014, Chanut retired as managing director. She passed the role to her son, Chanin Donavanik. She then became the honorary chairperson of Dusit Thani Group.

Chanut passed away on May 3, 2020, at the age of 97. She died due to heart problems. Later that year, Princess Royal Sirindhorn attended her royal cremation.

Awards and Special Recognition

Chanut received many honors for her work in the hotel industry. She was given the title Than Phu Ying. This is a very special royal title in Thailand. She also received several honorary degrees. These included degrees from Johnson & Wales University and Mahidol University.