Major Leadership Expansion at Minor Hotels as Kanruethai Roongruang Takes Charge of Avani+ Hua Hin Resort Strengthening Thailand’s Competitive Coastal Hospitality Market

Written By: Ricky Acharjee

Ricky Acharjee

I am travel writer at Travel And Tour World with 3 years of experience covering global tourism, aviation, hospitality, and destination news. Dedicated to accurate reporting and compelling storytelling, Ricky explores the trends, innovations, and developments shaping the international travel industry while delivering engaging insights for travellers and industry professionals.

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June 24, 2026 11:10 GMT+5:30

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Minor Hotels, a globally recognised hospitality group with an extensive portfolio of more than 640 properties spread across 66 countries, has officially announced the appointment of Kanruethai Roongruang as the new General Manager of Avani+ Hua Hin Resort in Thailand. The appointment marks a significant leadership transition for the beachfront property as it continues to strengthen its position within Thailand’s competitive leisure hospitality market.

The group, known for its diverse brands and strong presence in key international tourism destinations, continues to expand its leadership bench strength by placing experienced professionals in strategic operational roles. The selection of Kanruethai reflects this approach, bringing a seasoned hospitality expert into one of its prominent resort operations in Hua Hin, a long-established coastal destination known for its blend of cultural heritage, royal history, and modern tourism infrastructure.

Kanruethai Roongruang originates from Phuket, Thailand, one of the country’s most prominent tourism hubs. With more than 25 years of professional experience in the hospitality industry, she has developed a deep understanding of both domestic and international hospitality environments. Her career spans a wide spectrum of disciplines, including resort operations, wellness and spa management, commercial strategy, business expansion, and leadership within luxury hospitality brands. This diverse background positions her as a well-rounded executive capable of steering complex resort operations in highly competitive markets.

Before joining Avani+ Hua Hin Resort, Kanruethai served as Chief Executive Officer of Island Escape Burasari and Burasari Residences in Phuket. In this senior leadership role, she was responsible for defining and executing the overall strategic direction of the properties. Her responsibilities included overseeing daily operations, ensuring high service standards, and managing commercial performance across multiple business units.

During her tenure, she played a central role in strengthening the brand positioning of Island Escape Burasari, located on Coconut Island, one of Phuket’s emerging luxury leisure destinations. She supervised both operational and developmental aspects of the resort, ensuring that guest experience remained at the core of business strategy. Her leadership approach focused on aligning operational efficiency with personalised guest service, a key requirement in today’s evolving hospitality landscape.

In addition to operational oversight, she was actively involved in business development initiatives, working to enhance market visibility and revenue growth. Her experience in managing residential hospitality assets such as Burasari Residences further added depth to her understanding of long-stay guest segments and hybrid accommodation models, which are increasingly relevant in modern tourism trends.

Kanruethai’s career also includes significant leadership roles within the Banyan Group, one of Asia’s most respected luxury hospitality organisations. Throughout her tenure with the group, she held multiple senior positions across Thailand and the Maldives, gaining valuable exposure to diverse resort environments and international guest expectations.

One of her most notable assignments was her appointment as General Manager of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru in the Maldives. In this role, she was entrusted with the management of a unique dual-island resort concept, requiring coordination between two separate properties operating under a single integrated hospitality framework. This complex operational structure demanded strong leadership, meticulous planning, and consistent service delivery across both islands.

Under her management, the focus was placed on ensuring seamless guest experiences, efficient inter-island coordination, and maintaining the high standards associated with the Banyan Tree brand. Her ability to manage remote luxury properties in a highly competitive island destination further strengthened her expertise in resort operations, sustainability practices, and premium guest engagement strategies.

Her appointment at Avani+ Hua Hin Resort comes at a time when Thailand’s hospitality sector continues to experience strong demand from both domestic and international travellers. Hua Hin, in particular, remains a key destination for leisure tourism due to its accessibility from Bangkok, long beachfront stretches, golf tourism appeal, and growing reputation as a family-friendly resort town.

At Avani+ Hua Hin Resort, Kanruethai is expected to oversee all aspects of the property’s operations. Her responsibilities will include driving guest satisfaction, enhancing operational performance, leading commercial strategies, and ensuring sustainable growth for the resort. A strong emphasis is also expected on team development, as Minor Hotels continues to prioritise talent development and internal capability building across its global portfolio.

Her leadership is anticipated to further strengthen the resort’s positioning within the Avani brand, which is known for delivering contemporary, design-led hospitality experiences tailored to modern travellers. The integration of wellness offerings, family-oriented facilities, and lifestyle-driven services will likely remain central to the resort’s strategic direction under her guidance.

With a proven track record in luxury hospitality, island resort management, and multi-property leadership, Kanruethai Roongruang brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Her appointment reflects Minor Hotels’ ongoing commitment to appointing highly skilled leaders capable of enhancing operational excellence while delivering memorable guest experiences across its global network.

Commenting on the appointment, Nicholas Smith, Vice President Operations – Asia, Minor Hotels, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kanruethai to Avani+ Hua Hin. Her extensive operational expertise, proven commercial leadership and deep experience in wellness and resort management make her exceptionally well placed to lead the property into its next chapter.”

Kanruethai Roongruang, General Manager of Avani+ Hua Hin Resort, said: “I am honoured to join Avani+ Hua Hin Resort and become part of the Minor Hotels family. Avani is a dynamic and innovative brand with a strong commitment to delivering meaningful guest experiences. I look forward to working closely with the team to build on the resort’s success, create memorable moments for our guests and continue driving sustainable growth for the business.”

Situated in one of Thailand’s long-standing coastal holiday destinations, Avani+ Hua Hin Resort delivers a modern beachfront stay featuring generously sized rooms, suites and private villas. The property includes a range of dining outlets, the AvaniSpa, AvaniWell wellness facilities, and thoughtfully designed family-friendly spaces, along with convenient access to nearby leisure and recreational attractions.

In his role as General Manager, Kan will be responsible for leading the resort’s overall operations. His remit covers enhancing guest experience, driving commercial performance, and strengthening ongoing team development to support the property’s long-term growth and service standards.