In 1999 financier Narong Pattamasaevi founded Montara Hospitality Group, owner of award-winning Trisara in Phuket, one of Thailand’s most prestigious resorts. While Narong still helms the family business as chairman, in recent years his 33-year-old son Kittisak Pattamasaevi has stepped up as CEO, overseeing Trisara, Praya Palazzo—a boutique hotel situated in a stunning Chao Phraya riverside mansion acquired in 2017—and Prince Theatre Heritage Stay in Bangrak.
Armed with a bachelor’s degree in science from Columbia University, where he graduated cum laude, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Kittisak is an ambitious businessman. Though he dabbled in banking and engineering before officially joining Montara Group around seven years ago, he says he always knew he would work for the family firm one day. “I spent the first four years in sales and marketing helping to drive revenue and as time went on my responsibilities expanded to include acquiring properties for investment and here I am now as the CEO.”
Taking up the hot seat and burnishing the legacy created by his parents was a daunting challenge and the executive admits he had to make adjustments following his appointment two years ago. “I have been very lucky though to have a lot of people helping to guide me and the wisdom of my mum and dad to call on. I learned quickly that I needed to change the way I looked at things. Coming from a numbers-focused background full of excel charts and spreadsheets, I realised I had to concentrate more on the level of service we want to offer and understand that each customer has their individual preferences and needs.”
The Pattamasaevis have always been big fans of wellness and Kittisak is excited about the group’s latest undertaking, Tri Vananda, an ultra-luxurious advanced integrated wellness centre in Phuket set to launch in 2023. “Encompassing 298 solar-powered villas and amazing facilities for health diagnostics and treatments spreading over 600 rai, the Tri Vananda community will even incorporate a wetland nature reserve to recycle and store water. The idea is to have enough water to sustain our project with a surplus to distribute to surrounding communities,” the CEO explains.
In fact, doing business in a socially conscious manner has always been a central tenet of Montara Group’s ethos and why Kittisak also serves as a director of the Niyom Pattamasaevi Foundation, which sponsors scholarships and supports rural education in northern Thailand. “Growing up I always felt fortunate,” he says. “My father earned a scholarship to study in Bangkok and later in the US, after which he worked incredibly hard to build everything we have today. He put his children through very good schools too, so my siblings and I began professional life with choices and opportunities. I am aware that many do not have the luxury of choice so I try hard to pay my good fortune forward.”
Working with family and being able to spend time with his parents is something of a bonus for Kittisak. He and wife Sirinya have a daughter, Lily, who turns two soon and he appreciates being close to both. “The downside, however, is that there doesn’t seem to be an off button,” he laughs. “Honestly, I can’t remember when I last had some me time.” When he does catch the odd hour to himself, the fan of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings sagas will probably be found working on bucket-list plans for a trip to New Zealand where much of the fantasy epics were filmed. “I have a professional interest too because as a country New Zealand has done a fantastic job in policing its tourism to conserve its environment. I think we can learn a great deal from its example.”
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