He believes future industry leaders will be those who deliver commercial performance with sustainability and stakeholder impact.
Thailand's tourism and hospitality sector has long been recognised as one of Asia's most dynamic success stories. Having world-renowned beach destinations, thriving urban centres and wellness offerings, the country has built a tourism ecosystem that attracts travellers and investors alike.
For Eric Levy, Managing Director of Tourism Solutions International (TSI), Thailand's evolution represents decades of strategic development, resilience, and market sophistication.
Levy has more than 40 years of experience in tourism, hospitality investment, and real estate, spanning advisory, investment, asset management, and hotel development. Prior to returning to TSI, he served as Senior Vice President for Growth and Development at Pan Pacific Hotels Group, where he held global responsibility for expanding the company's portfolio through acquisitions and third-party management agreements.
Levy also served as executive vice president at Colony Capital Asia Pacific, where he spearheaded the firm's hotel investment activities throughout Asia, and as a senior partner at Horwath Asia Pacific and Founder and President of Horwath Hotel Partners.
In addition to his investment and advisory work, Levy is one of the region's most active expert witnesses in hospitality-related litigation support.
Levy’s expertise in investment, operations, advisory, and asset management makes him a respected voice in the travel and hospitality industry, being a valuable addition to the judging panel of the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2026 - Thailand.
Thailand's enduring competitive advantage
Thailand's success, as discussed by Levy, has been built on strategic policymaking, strong infrastructure, and the country’s ability to adapt.
Over the years, national initiatives and continued investment in key gateways such as Bangkok and Phuket have supported the country's growth. More recently, further strengthening tourism is the government's effort to disperse tourism demand to secondary destinations and specialised segments.
"Thailand's tourism and hospitality story is one of remarkable growth, diversification, and increasing sophistication, and it is now entering a more disciplined, ESG-driven investment phase that will reward long-term, hands-on capital," Levy said.
He noted that Thailand's resilience has repeatedly been tested by natural disasters, political disruptions, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these setbacks, the industry has consistently returned to growth because it is supported by strong air connectivity and is equipped with competitive pricing and swift recovery strategies.
The country is currently focusing on higher-value tourism segments, particularly wellness and medical tourism, which significantly contribute to visitor spending.
Levy believes in Thailand’s scale, diversified demand, and investor-friendly fundamentals, which make it a standout within Asia.
He also underscored that beyond strong operating performance, the country benefits from a mature tourism ecosystem comprising experienced operators, skilled talent, robust infrastructure, and long-standing government support for the sector.
New investment landscape
Hospitality investment patterns evolve in the Asia Pacific, hence investors, Levy pointed out, are becoming increasingly selective.
Whilst transaction volumes remain strong in the region, investment decisions are now shaped by more conservative assumptions and long-term value creation. Investors are now pursuing value-add opportunities through asset repositioning, brand enhancements, space optimisation, and the introduction of higher-margin offerings such as wellness and food and beverage concepts.
Along with these changes, there are also environmental, social, and governance considerations that have become central to investment strategies.
"ESG has moved from a 'nice to have' to a mainstream investment filter," Levy explained.
Rising operating costs, regulatory pressures, and changing guest expectations are encouraging owners to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. Properties with established ESG credentials are also becoming more attractive from a financing perspective.
Levy expects the gap between future-ready assets and legacy properties to widen as disclosure requirements, climate-related risks, and social impact considerations become increasingly important.
Looking ahead, he believes hospitality owners and operators must prepare for a more complex operating environment. This will include guests becoming more discerning and digitally empowered, which will make differentiation and service excellence even more critical, and emerging travel behaviours that will require greater flexibility in product design and asset management.
As he brings his expertise to the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2026 - Thailand, Levy will evaluate nominees with a focus on their resilience, innovation, sustainability, and long-term stewardship.
"In this environment, award-worthy performance is no longer defined solely by occupancy and rate; it is about how thoughtfully an operator or owner aligns commercial success with innovation, ESG, and stakeholder impact," he said.
The strongest nominees for him are those with resilient financial performance, measurable sustainability and community engagement initiatives, and distinctive guest experiences rooted in Thailand's unique cultural and lifestyle strengths.
Equally important for Levy is disciplined governance, transparent ESG reporting, investment in people, and thoughtful capital expenditure.
With his extensive understanding of tourism investment and market evolution, Levy will help identify organisations that are on the right path to success and are also shaping the future of Thailand's tourism and hospitality industry.
