Creating Visionaries the Siam Piwat way towards successful development of world-class destinations
Thailand has been abuzz with activity not only because the number of international visitors has increased to nearly 20 million so far this year, but also because global business executives and leaders have also been traveling to Thailand to attend conferences and international events. Most recently, Thailand was chosen by CNBC, a leading global business news television network, as the venue for its summit CNBC Connect on the theme ASEAN and Beyond, marking the first-ever edition of the event in Asia. This event was organized with Siam Piwat Group, a leading real estate and retail developer, and ICONSIAM as venue partners.
In addition to insights from top executives of both public and private organizations about business transformation, challenges in building resilient businesses for competitiveness and growth in the future, as well as investment strategies to cope with the changing Asian economic landscape to achieve sustainability, Chadatip Chutrakul, CEO of Siam Piwat Group, joined a fireside chat on "Creating Visionaries," where she shared insights into Siam Piwat’s approach to the development of world-class landmarks, such as Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM, which have become globally recognized as must-visit destinations, despite challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which came shortly after the launch of the latter.
Chadatip stated that the development of such a large-scale project along the Chao Phraya River like ICONSIAM is akin to the creation of Manhattan in New York, a world-renowned metropolis. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that it benefits all stakeholders. As such, Siam Piwat has collaborated with various partners to transform ICONSIAM into a global landmark and an epicenter of lifestyle that brings prosperity to the neighboring communities and serves as a beacon that draws the world’s attention back on Thailand.
“We do not seek to create a global destination only for our own interests, but to also create a platform that creates opportunities and to ‘Collaborate to Win,’ which is one of our key strategies. We strive to engage every stakeholder, such as business owners along the Chao Phraya, hotels, ferry service providers, and communities. ICONSIAM owes its success to the collaboration with partners across various sectors, who have come together to develop this project and achieve the same success as Manhattan in New York,” said Chadatip at the CNBC summit, recently held at TRUE ICON HALL, ICONSIAM.
Today, ICONSIAM is a landmark that plays a vital role in stimulating tourism and the economy in the Thonburi area. It has also collaborated with both public and private sectors to develop an integrated rail-road-water transportation system, attracting visitors from across the world. Additionally, ICONSIAM has been recognized as a pioneering retail model that introduces unprecedented shopping experiences by combining Thai art and culture with innovation and world-class architecture, enabling it to successfully draw investors and retail project developers from all over the world.
Driven by an aspiration to support tourism from its early days as the developer of Thailand’s first 5-star hotel, Siam Piwat has since developed Thailand’s first world-class shopping centers that have become global destinations and prototypes for the industry – places with a heart and soul where everyone comes to experience something special. Chadatip stated that it is the top-of-mind strategy to win the hearts of customers, tenants, and business partners that distinguishes Siam Piwat's business approach other regular projects, positioning it not as a landlord but as a partner with everyone. When COVID-19 hit, Siam Piwat quickly began developing ONESIAM SuperApp as a digital platform to serve customers and support its tenants’ business as well as invited partners from various industries to join the global ecosystem. ONESIAM SuperApp became a vital tool that helped numerous businesses navigate challenging times and bounce back stronger.
Today, Siam Piwat has continued to create and deliver novel luxury experiences. Thanks to the spectacular firework display by the Chao Phraya River as part of the Amazing Thailand Countdown, ICONSIAM has established itself as one of the most iconic projects and a world-class countdown venue on the wishlist of people across the globe. With a budget of one billion dollars for 40 national-scale activities across its every shopping mall, Siam Piwat is hoping to attract more visitors to reach 30 million by the end of the year and solidify Thailand’s position as a must-visit destination.
