Current CHA’s president for the mandate (July 2021 – June 2023)
Dear CHA members and colleagues,
Cambodia Hotel Association (CHA) would like to inform you that Mr. Somethearith DIN was elected to be the new CHA’s president for the mandate (July 2021-June 2023).

Mr. Somethearith Din, a self-established entrepreneur who has founded the Frangipani Villa Hotel Chain, which has been claimed the first proudly Cambodian-owned Boutique Hotel chain. Later on he founded a very famous holiday home and resort project, Phumi Phka Trakoun and a township estate, Mongkul Villa. He was an architect, having graduated Master Degree of Urban Environmental Management (UEM) from the prominent university, The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, and served as a Country Manager of United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) after spending more than ten years in urban development, architecture, housing, land management, and human settlements field. He also used to serve as a Part Time Lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, Norton University. He is now an honorable visiting lecturer at Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre (CJCC) for an entrepreneurship course.

Mr. Somethearith is no ordinary architect, an urban expert but also an outstanding entrepreneur and public speaker who has grown his successful boutique hotel and real estate businesses with a very small capital. Apart from his business, he also used to serve the role as President of Cambodia Hotel Association (CHA), Vice-President of ASEAN Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHRA), a Founding Member of Cambodia Tourism Federation (CTF), a Co-Founder of Young Entrepreneur Association of Cambodia, Siem Reap Chapter, the first ever President of BNI Cambodia (CEO Chapter), and an Advisory Member of Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC).

Mr. Somethearith DIN,
President of CAmbodia Hotel Association (CHA),
Chairman of Forsee Group,

Former CHA’s president for the mandate (May 2019 – June 2021)

Dear CHA Members and Hospitality Colleagues,

Cambodia is a remarkable destination both for international and domestic visitors. One of the opportunities that makes it ‘the destination’ is the diversity of the accommodation available. Cambodia offers choices from backpacking through five star plus luxury accommodation. Stay at one of our international award-winning hotels. Visit an eco-lodge. Trek to a highlands retreat. Play on the shores of our World’s Best Beaches. Experience the living history of the Angkor period complex in Siem Reap.

This next year we need to continue to strengthen, develop and expand the ‘experiences’ we have to offer. Part of that is the involvement of all hotels. We need to focus on one-voice. We need to look at marketing opportunities for Cambodia. Working with the restaurant and chefs’ associations through the umbrella of the Cambodia Tourism Federation, we can better represent Cambodia tourism interests.

We also need to continue to focus on training and developing our staff. Cambodia has taken a lead in the implementation of the ASEAN Training Standards. This has created a good platform to add to the professionalism of our staff. Working in the hospitality industry is a career, not just a job.

Come join the Cambodia Hotel Association in moving into the future of Cambodia as ‘the destination’.

Mrs. CLAIS Chenda
President of the Cambodia Hotel Association

Owner, Terres Rouge Collection