Page 72 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 5 | June - July 2024
P. 72

Checking





                        Into
                        theFUTURE








                                                                Yuthachai ‘Top’ Charanachitta,
                                        the CEO of ONYX Hospitality Group and Group CEO
                                           of Italthai Group, on changing with the times, and
                                                  finding tailored approaches for their guests.

                                                                       B Y  AIDEN  JE WELLE  GONZ ALE S


                      As a local player, I believe
                       we can find great synergy
                         with the Thai-Indian
                         community to create
                          something exciting.




                          he history of hospitality is fascinating: cultures
                          across history have lauded it as a virtue or
                          even a right for strangers to be welcomed and
                  have their needs met. In modern times, hospitality has    “We don’t simply want to be a place to stay, but we focus
                  grown into a thriving global industry, with unparalleled   on what the neighbourhood can offer to the guests, and
                  services and experiences offered in hotels and resorts   what activities are available.”
                  the world over. When I express this to Yuthachai ‘Top’
                  Charanachitta, the CEO of ONYX Hospitality Group   Eloquent, driven, and with a clear focus, it’s easy to see
                  and Group CEO of Italthai Group, he laughingly agrees,  that Top brings fresh perspective to both ONYX Hospitality
                  telling me that the industry is simultaneously a challenge   Group and Italthai Group, the latter of which will celebrate
                  and an unparalleled opportunity. “I encourage myself   its 70-year Anniversary next year. “Italthai Group is a family-
                  and my team by reminding ourselves of what a great and   owned, privately-held group that focuses on the service
                  profitable industry we’re in,” he says. “It’s probably one of   industry,” Top explains. “It started with trading, and moved
                  the only sectors in Thailand that’s doing well compared   to construction and real estate, then hospitality. We’ve
                  to other industries.”                        been evolving with the growth of Thailand’s economy
                                                                for the past 70 years.
                  Nevertheless, at its core, hospitality has remained the
                  same through time: it’s about the relationship between   Top started with the Group at only 24, after his dad had
                  host and guest. This is something that Top understands at   unfortunately passed away during a plane accident around
                  his core, and is something that he’s focusing on at ONYX  20 years ago. “That was the turning point for me,” he recalls.
                  Hospitality Group, which is a hospitality management  “I had to jump into the business and try to learn as quickly
                  company whose portfolio includes brands spanning Amari,  as possible.” During his tenure at Italthai Group, Top took
                  OZO, Shama and Oriental Residence, covering hotels and   the initiative to restructure ONYX Hospitality Group,
                  resorts, serviced apartments, and luxury residences. ONYX   which is under Italthai Group’s management, ensuring
                  Hospitality Group also operates additional hospitality   that they change with the times, especially in the wake
                  services across spas and F&B, spanning the likes of maai,  of industry changes after the COVID-19 pandemic. He
                  Prego, Amaya, Chom Sindh, and NILA. “We tailored   spoke to Masala further about their new focus, establishing
                  approaches to our guests for each brand, to ensure that   themselves as a strong regional presence, and the longterm
                  every single property has its own USP,” Top tells me.  partners they want to make along the way.




           72 |  MASALA MAGAZINE JUN-JUL 2024
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