The SHTM is delighted to announce that Mr William Heinecke, Founder and Chairman of Minor International PCL, was inducted into the SHTM Gallery of Honour on 16 May 2025. On that day, he also received the esteemed
SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award at a gala dinner held in his honour.
At the ceremony, Prof Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, highlighted Mr Heinecke's remarkable contributions as both an entrepreneur and innovator. She emphasised that his name has become synonymous with entrepreneurial success and hospitality leadership in the region and around the world. Prof Lou lauded Mr Heinecke as a stellar role model for aspiring hospitality professionals and a source of inspiration for many.
Prof Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, extended his sincere congratulations to Mr Heinecke on this esteemed honour. Dean Chon highlighted Mr Heinecke's role as a trailblazer and an accomplished entrepreneur whose exemplary achievements have not only elevated the standards of the hospitality industry regionally and globally but also transformed it through a distinctive vision. Dean Chon further commended Mr Heinecke's dedicated and passionate advocacy of hospitality and tourism education and praised his unwavering support for the SHTM, emphasising that he is a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious award.
Mr Heinecke expressed his profound gratitude for the honour bestowed by the SHTM. He shared that he believes hospitality goes far beyond simply providing a place to stay: it is about creating transformative experiences that bring people together, spark positive social change and highlight the unique warmth of every destination. He expressed hope that this recognition would inspire the next generation of hospitality leaders to push boundaries, embrace lifelong learning and strive for excellence at every turn.
Mr Heinecke's leadership of Minor International has spanned close to six decades, guiding what began as a small start-up into one of the world's largest hospitality groups. His career began at the young age of 17, when he launched his first company while still in high school. In the years that followed, he expanded what became known as Minor Hotels into a diversified global hospitality group to embrace a range of brands including Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Elewana Collection, NH Collection and Tivoli. Under his visionary leadership, Minor Hotels – which now boasts over 600 hotels in 63 countries – was an early pioneer in eco-friendly hospitality in Southeast Asia and has since established itself as a leader in sustainable tourism development.
In his role as Chairman of the Board of Minor International, Mr Heinecke also oversees Minor Food, one of Asia's largest restaurant companies with more than 2,500 outlets globally, and Minor Lifestyle which operates nearly 400 retail stores. Beyond his professional achievements, he has been actively engaged in philanthropic endeavours including setting up the Heinecke Foundation to support education for less fortunate children, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation to seek to improve the welfare of elephants, and the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation to help rejuvenate the turtle population in the Sirinat Marine National Park in Thailand. He has also been involved in the annual St. Regis Bangkok Charity Gala and Auction, contributing to the fundraising for nominated organisations under Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand.
Highly regarded for his exemplary accomplishments in hospitality, Mr Heinecke was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards in 2022 and HOTELS magazine's Corporate Hotelier of the World 2017. A recipient of the Trailblazer Award at the Asian Business Leadership Forum Awards 2013, he authored the book The Entrepreneur: 25 Golden Rules for the Global Business Manager. He was also the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand and sat on the Prime Minister's Foreign Investment Advisory Council. Mr Heinecke's contributions continue to inspire and transform the industry, making him stand out as a beacon of excellence.
The SHTM takes pride in being a leading force in hospitality and tourism education and research. The School's commitment to excellence is steadfastly supported by industry luminaries and visionaries, including Mr Heinecke. This unwavering backing from industry partners has enabled the SHTM to remain committed to cultivating bright minds who will shape the future of this dynamic global sector.
Located in the SHTM lobby, the Gallery of Honour displays portraits of outstanding SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award recipients – individuals who represent the world's most successful hospitality organisations and recognisable brands. The School created this award to honour individuals who have made substantial contributions to the development of hospitality and tourism in Hong Kong, the region and the world, as these leaders have helped to define the global hospitality landscape and drive the industry
forward.
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