PolyU Scholar Prof. Kaye Chon Conferred Honorary Doctorate

PolyU Scholar Prof. Kaye Chon Conferred Honorary Doctorate - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, October 6, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Prof. Kaye CHON, Dean of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), and Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy (honoris causa) by Prince of Songkla University in Thailand in recognition of his lifelong contributions to advancing hospitality and tourism education and promoting the development of the global hospitality and tourism industry.

The honorary degree was presented to Prof. Kaye Chon by Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Walailak during Prince of Songkla University’s graduation ceremony held in Hat Yai, Thailand, on 22 September.

According to the Prince Songkla University, the award recognises Prof. Kaye Chon’s “lifelong dedication and application of expertise in hospitality and tourism management to advance education and sustainable development of tourism”. The University noted that his achievements exemplify its guiding principle, “Our Soul is for the Benefit of Mankind”, and that the honour stands as a lasting tribute to his distinguished contributions.

“I am deeply honoured to receive an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy (honoris causa) from Prince of Songkla University,” said Prof. Kaye Chon. “To be recognised by such a prestigious university and to receive this honour from Princess Chulabhorn Walailak is both meaningful and humbling. The recognition has given me renewed inspiration to continue contributing to the advancement of hospitality and tourism education and to support the ongoing evolution of our dynamic industry.”

Prof. Kaye Chon joined PolyU in 2000. Under his leadership, the SHTM has risen to become one of the world’s leading institutions in hospitality and tourism management. The School has been ranked No. 1 in the world in ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects for ten consecutive years and has maintained the top position in the University Ranking by Academic Performance for eight successive years. In 2026, the SHTM was also ranked second globally among comprehensive universities in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

A strong testament to Prof. Kaye Chon’s vision and commitment is the establishment of Hotel ICON, the SHTM’s pioneering teaching and research hotel, in 2011. Through Hotel ICON, the School has redefined hospitality and tourism education and set new standards for the global sector. In the same year, Prof. Kaye Chon received the Ulysses Prize from UN Tourism (formerly the United Nations World Tourism Organisation). Widely recognised as the “Nobel Prize in Tourism”, the award is presented annually to a scholar in recognition of lifetime contributions to the creation of new knowledge in tourism.

A highly sought-after speaker at international conferences, Prof. Kaye Chon is ranked among the top 2% of the world’s scientists based on research citations in the field of Sport, Leisure, and Tourism. A prolific scholar, he has authored or edited 12 books, including the co-authored textbook Welcome to Hospitality, which has been adopted by more than 100 hospitality education programmes worldwide. In addition, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing and is the Founding Editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research.

About PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management
For more than four decades, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world for the tenth consecutive year in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category in the 2026 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects; placed No. 1 globally for eight years in a row in the “Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services” category in the 2024/2025 University Ranking by Academic Performance; rated No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism” subject area by the 2017 CWUR Rankings by Subject; and ranked No. 2 globally among comprehensive universities in the “Hospitality and Leisure Management” subject area in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

The SHTM is driven by its mission to shape the future of global hospitality and tourism through pioneering education and impactful research that advance industry excellence and societal well-being. With a strong international team of over 90 faculty members from 21 countries and regions around the world, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School’s groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and an integral part of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM advances teaching, learning and research, inspiring a new generation of passionate and pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.

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