Prof. Kaye Chon received an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Prince of Songkla University in Thailand, a distinction that acknowledges his decades-long influence on hospitality and tourism education. The award was conferred by Princess Chulabhorn Walailak during the university’s graduation ceremony in Hat Yai on 22 September 2026.
The institution highlighted the professor’s “lifelong dedication and application of expertise in hospitality and tourism management” as a driving force behind advances in education and sustainable tourism development. The citation referenced Prince Songkla’s guiding principle, “Our Soul is for the Benefit of Mankind,” showing the alignment between the honor and the university’s mission.
Since joining The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2000, the dean has guided the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) to a series of top-rankings. Under his stewardship, the school has held the number-one spot globally in hospitality and tourism management for ten straight years in ShanghaiRanking’s subject rankings. It also secured the leading position in the University Ranking by Academic Performance for eight years and achieved a runner-up placement in the 2026 QS World University Rankings for hospitality and leisure management.
A hallmark of his career is the creation of Hotel ICON, a teaching and research hotel launched in 2011 that set new benchmarks for industry collaboration. The establishment functions as a real-world laboratory where students practice operational skills while scholars conduct applied research. In the same year, the educator was honored with the Ulysses Prize from UN Tourism, an accolade often described as the “Nobel Prize in Tourism,” recognizing his lifetime contributions to tourism scholarship.
Beyond administrative duties, the scholar ranks among the top 2% of global scientists in sport, leisure, and tourism based on citation metrics. His textbook, Welcome to Hospitality, has been adopted by more than a hundred hospitality programs around the world, shaping curricula across continents. He also leads the Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing as Editor-in-Chief and founded the Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, both of which serve as important platforms for disseminating new knowledge.
The school’s faculty includes over 90 members from 21 countries and regions, offering programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. Hotel ICON remains an integral component of the school’s educational model, supporting teaching, learning and research.