Mr. Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship (International) from Bangkok University and an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Business Administration from De Montfort University, England. He is presently Chairman of the King Power Group and President of Leicester City Football Club, England, and OH Leuven Football Club, Belgium.
Mr. Aiyawat Srivaddhanaprabha is a new generation of executives who strives to carry on his father, Khun Wichai Srivaddhanaprabha's, aspirations. He continues to develop the King Power Group in accordance with the King Power Group's vision to make Thailand one of the world's leading tourism enterprises and to introduce Thailand's image as a country accepted worldwide. The King Power Group currently consists of four major business sectors: retail and duty-free business, tourism-related business, hotel, and social and sporting organizations, all of which complement each other's operations. There are four duty-free shops located in the city areas, namely, King Power Rangnam, Sriwaree, Pattaya, and Phuket, and in six airports: Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket, and U-Tapao. Duty-free shops serve as a gateway to Thailand for international visitors. As a result, effective management plays a vital role in the image and credibility for tourists who visit Thailand from all over the world.
Mr. Aiyawat Srivaddhanaprabha steers business in tourism administration according to changing trends in tourism by transforming the King Power Complex on Rang Nam Road into a tourism hub comprised of duty-free shops and Thai arts and cultures featured in its theater corner. It also includes street food restaurants, major hotels, and local businesses that generate income for the locals by providing knowledge to local producers from various communities in order for them to develop a unique product to meet the needs of the international market and to be used as souvenirs for Leicester City Football Club, England. Local products are also brought in to be sold in duty-free shops as an additional channel to introduce Thai products to global markets.
Additionally, Mr. Aiyawat Srivaddhanaprabha promotes tourism by launching the website www.powertravellers.com in November 2021, which contains a collection of tourism information, such as information helpful for Thai people planning to travel to foreign destinations worldwide. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand reopens to tourists from all over the world in April 2022; in order for the Suvarnabhumi International Airport to be an internationally competitive aviation hub, the airport's King Power Duty Free area has been renovated into World Junction via an online system.
Similarly, the THAILAND SMILES WITH YOU project is a public relations project for Thailand, with the project’s slogan printed on the Leicester City Football Club players' jerseys in the 2020/2021 Season through a special series of commercials showing on various media around the world. The jerseys were sold and brought in a total of 25 million Baht. Without deducting any expenses, the revenue has made contributions to projects related to the COVID-19 vaccine. King Power Group, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), supports the Phuket Sandbox project, which attracts international tourists through sports, also known as Sports Tourism. The project includes starring football players from Leicester City Football Club in the commercial film "Amazing Moments in Phuket," which has been featured and recognized in international media.
Mr. Aiyawat Srivaddhanaprabha brought his insight and industry expertise to the King Power Group. He has managed the Leicester City Football Club and OH Leuven Football Club until they have become successful and recognized all over the world. Mr. Aiyawat Srivaddhanaprabha was named an Outstanding Alumnus of Bangkok University for the Year 2015. According to the GiveMeSport website rankings, he was named the owner of the best-run football club in the Premier League, and most recently in 2022, Mr. Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha received the City of Leicester Award as Outstanding Person from the City of Leicester Council.
As a new generation of business leader, Mr. Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has a vision to apply new strategies which promote and support creative tourism, arts and cultures, and sports to attract visitors and connect Thailand to the world, making Thailand a world-class tourism destination. He clearly possesses a sterling reputation, performs good deeds, and profoundly contributes to the nation. He therefore deserves to be honored on this occasion. The Bangkok University’s Board of Trustees has recognized his precious works and unanimously agreed to confer an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Arts in International Tourism and Hospitality Management to honor his contributions for the benefit of people in Thailand.
