PolyU scholar Prof. Kaye Chon conferred honorary doctorate
In recognition of lifetime contributions to advancing hospitality and tourism education and industry
PolyU's SHTM Dean Prof. Kaye Chon received an honorary doctorate from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, honoring his lifelong contributions to hospitality and tourism education.
Photo by Hong Kong PolyU
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. 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
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.