William Heinecke named Thailand’s Real Estate Personality of the Decade

The 66-year-old American-born Thai billionaire – named one of Forbes top 12 richest people in Thailand – moved to Bangkok in 1963 and founded Minor Holdings three years later when he was just 17 and enrolled at International School Bangkok.

Over the next four decades his empire would evolve into Minor International Plc, which today owns and operates around 30 companies under several renowned hotel, lifestyle and restaurant, and spa brands, among them Anantara, Mandara, AVANI, Oaks, Per AQUUM, Elewana, Tivoli, Four Seasons, Marriott, St. Regis and Minor International.

A keen advocate of corporate social responsibility, he also established the Heinecke Foundation, supporting underprivileged children’s education in Thailand and to date has sponsored the education of more than 2,000 students, in addition to numerous other projects such as launching the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, and charity events including the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament.

“It is a great honour to have been chosen to receive the ‘Real Estate Personality of the Decade’ award and I think this recognition showcases Minor Hotel Group’s position as a pioneer in overseeing luxury property developments in Thailand,” said Heinecke.

“From hotel developments in Hua Hin and Pattaya more than 30 years ago, when such areas were not known as luxury development locations, to the development of branded luxury leasehold residences in Bangkok at the St Regis, when no such leasehold product of this scale existed before.”

At present, Minor Hotel Group is one of the largest luxury hotel owners and operators based in Asia, with a portfolio of almost 16,000 rooms across 126 properties in 19 countries.

In the past 10 years Heinecke’s Minor Group also developed residential real estate projects such as The Estates Koh Samui, The Residences at Four Seasons Chiang Mai, and The Residences at St. Regis.

Actively involved in the day-to-day operations of his business empire, Heinecke is overseeing the ongoing global expansion plans of Minor International to emerging markets, such as Africa, while maintaining a focus on investment opportunities in Thailand.

The Minor Group’s current luxury projects in Thailand include The Residences by Anantara Layan Phuket, which features 15 uniquely designed luxury villas that overlook the Layan Beach, on the northwest coast of the island.

“We will continue to look at opportunities alongside our hotels in the area of residential, vacation club, offices and shopping center,” said the real estate magnate, who is also an internationally published author of ‘The Entrepreneur’.

Heinecke will be presented by the editors of Property Report magazine this prestigious honour during the black-tie awards gala on Wednesday, 16 September 2015, at the Plaza Athenee Bangkok (a Royal Meridien Hotel) in the presence of his peers and other industry leaders whom he has influenced over the last 40 years.

Tickets for the exclusive, tenth anniversary event are available for sale at Ensign-Media.com.

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