Minor Hotels, a global hospitality leader with over 550 hotels, resorts and residences in 56 countries, announces the appointment of Simon Beaumont as the new General Manager of Avani+ Khao Lak Resort, effective July 2024. In his new role, Beaumont will oversee operations at the resort leveraging his extensive experience and strategic vision to elevate guest experiences and drive business growth.

During his 35 years in the hospitality industry, Beaumont has held various food and beverage and senior leadership positions across his native Australia, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Most recently, he served as Interim Chief Executive Officer at Azerbaijan's Absheron Hotel Group, where he oversaw 14 internationally branded properties, spearheading strategic growth and operational excellence.

Beaumont's mid-career years were most notably shaped by thirteen years with Marriott International, where he developed his culinary and operational expertise, significantly contributing to the success of numerous high-profile properties throughout Asia and Europe. From 2012 to 2015, Beaumont served as Marriott's Senior Director of Culinary for Europe, overseeing 370 hotels in more than 30 countries, followed by stints as Hotel Manager at W Doha in Qatar and as Director of Operations at JW Marriott Absheron Baku in Azerbaijan.

“In the industry, Simon is known for his profound knowledge of the operational side of hotel management, steering properties to their full potential,” said Puneet Dhawan, Head of Asia at Minor Hotels. “With this latest appointment, he will be tasked with reaffirming Avani+ Khao Lak's position as one of the most exciting resorts in the area. I am delighted that he has stepped into this new role and confident in his ability to deliver great value for all stakeholders and successfully drive Minor Hotels' purpose forward in the region.”

“Khao Lak is poised to establish itself as one of Thailand's premier resort destinations,” said Simon Beaumont. “I am thrilled to join the team at this vibrant resort, which offers a wide range of family-friendly and wellness-focused amenities, and contribute to its rise as a top property in the Andaman region.”

Beaumont holds a bachelor's degree in hospitality and additional qualifications from Cornell University.