What is your full name and age?
My name is Pipat Patthananusorn and I have now passed my half century and reached the ripe old age of 51
What is your current Job Position?
Since March 2018, I have had the pleasure of being the General Manager of this beautiful resort, Dusit Thani Hua Hin, close to the Cha-am / Hua Hin border.
How long have you lived in Hua Hin or been coming to Hua Hin?
Three years ago I was honoured to be given this prestigious assignment to run this legendary resort, which I had heard referred to as The Grande Ol’ Dame of Hua Hin.
Before taking up the post, I had only really scratched the surface of Hua Hin’s special charms as a visitor passing through.
What did you know about Hua Hin before you moved here?
As a visitor to the city and as a longstanding hotelier I had learnt that Hua Hin was, of course, one of the kingdom’s top tourist destinations, particularly it being nicknamed or known as the Thai Riviera, especially in our domestic market. The city has its own unique charm, spending mornings watching the sun rise on the horizon over the Gulf of Thailand and then in the evenings set over the Tanaosri range of hills separating us from Myanmar. So we can offer an eclectic mix of mountain scenery, beautiful relaxing beaches, golfing paradises, authentic Thai food and local lifestyle amongst other things.
What do you like most about your profession?
In my profession, being in the hotel business means every day is different. You have the opportunity to meet and interact with so many people who come from different backgrounds and walks of life, not only your guests but also colleagues and team members. It’s true that you do learn something new every day, sometime good, sometimes bad, but without exception always invaluable.
What do you like least about your profession?
If I didn’t love it I wouldn’t be a hotelier! However, perhaps there are a few parts of the job than I like a little less that others. I am often amused when I drive past some small Thai hotels that advertise they are open 24 hours a day! One of the first things I remember learning was the entrance of the hotel was unlocked 24/7 – therefore it was a huge shock when we had to lock our doors for a few weeks in 2020 due to the pandemic. It can be a long hard day and you always have to be approachable, never off duty. As I have said, you have to really love what you are doing.
What do you like most about Hua Hin?
Well, Hua Hin is a truly family destination. She is still green, not just environmentally but in an innocent way. By that, I mean unspoilt commercially, which in turn gives you a reassuring sense of safety when travelling around.
What is your favorite restaurant and why? (please don’t promote your own restaurants) I personally like a neighborhood restaurant in the Cha-Am area called “Baan Kiang Mai” where you can taste authentic district food and get real exposure to the ambience of local life.
What do you like to do in your free time and why?
I will spend the time with the family as much as I can, especially valuable moments with my teenage daughter. I try my best to manage and juggle being both a good leader as a General Manager and family man.
What would you recommend to new-comers to do in Hua Hin and why?
I said earlier, that exploring Hua Hin is still a very safe experience so I would definitely recommend walking the backstreets or getting off the beaten track on foot to discover the genuine friendliness and hospitality that the locals still show to total strangers.
There are many over hidden gems that you might stumble across this way.
Otherwise, Monsoon Valley offers first-time visitors a great setting and opportunity to sample the surprising qualities of Thai wine that might otherwise be passed by if they saw it on a wine list in their hometown.
Golfers too will have a great time on the diverse choice of top-quality championship golf courses in the area.
Tell us a surprising fact that the public might not know about you?
As a teenager, I was fortunate to spend some time in the United States and hoping to get some work experience and pick up the language, I volunteered at a nursing home. Unfortunately, I didn’t get all the opportunities to chat that I had hoped because I was given the job of a postman, so it was more ‘Good morning. Is everything alright? Your mail. See you tomorrow!”. I was disappointed at my tender age, but still learnt a lot that has stood me in good stead.
What is the most outlandish thing you have ever done and why?
I won a President Club incentive trip from Thailand and travelled to Marrakech, that’s the city in Morocco and not the hotel in Hua Hin. When I get there, I unintentionally signed up for a challenge activity and inadvertently found myself doing zip-lining across the Atlas Mountains!! It was really scary when you saw what it entailed and realized that you were about to fly off the cliff and over some valley at a ridiculous height.
However, you like all outlandish experiences, you quickly learn something and in this case it was that you cannot face your fear without looking at it.