New Meliá Pattaya Hotel Appoints Thaneht Naovarat as Executive Chef

PATTAYA (Feb. 25, 2025) – A seasoned professional with three decades’ luxury hospitality experience with some of Thailand’s biggest hotel names and a passion for teaching and mentoring others has been named Meliá Pattaya Hotel’s executive chef.

Thai national Thaneht “Keng” Naovarat has joined the 234-room Meliá Pattaya Hotel in the heart of vibrant Pattaya to oversee its rich culinary landscape that pays homage to Pattaya’s ethnic diversity.

In addition to its Lay Beach Club on Beach Road fronting Pattaya Beach, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and bar, Yitong Chinese Restaurant & Sky Bar, that serves Cantonese cuisine with some Sichuan choices, all-day dining restaurant Sanehh Sarae that specialises in fresh, locally sourced seafood, and Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei restaurant Den are among venues under his stewardship.

Before joining Meliá Pattaya Hotel, Naovarat was the executive chef at Marriott Chiang Mai and Holiday Inn Chiang Mai. He was also the culinary director at W Hotels Bangkok, and has worked as a consultant chef for establishments such as The Firm Club and Restaurant and The Cured Chamber in Bangkok.

His career path took him to North American and Europe where he worked for major cruise lines preparing a wide range of international cuisines. Upon his return to his native Thailand, he rose up the ranks at various five-star properties and became the first Thai culinary director at a Starwood property in Thailand.

“Keng’s many talents include his exceptional ability to create a one-of-a-kind experience that truly connects guests to the local culture through food,” . “He takes pride in using locally sourced ingredients, ensuring our dishes reflect Pattaya city's rich heritage and in supporting local farmers and sustainable seafood farming practices.”

Javier Gimeno Meliá Pattaya Hotel’s General Manager 

“I place a strong emphasis on fostering creativity and collaboration among my team; the kitchen is a place where all team members contribute ideas, and everyone is encouraged to experiment and innovate while staying mindful of our ecological footprint,”

 Thaneht Naovarat