Sunanthee Kanchanawat

Instructor, School of hotel and tourism management (Food & Beverage Department), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Integrated Gastronomy Design Advisor, Thailand Gastronomy Network

Sunanthee graduated with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management in 2005, followed by a master’s in Tourism Management in 2007. She began her teaching career in 2012 as a part-time lecturer, contributing to curriculum development in tourism education. Her love for food inspired her to open a bakery in 2013.

Her journey in gastronomy started at Perfect Link Consulting Group, a sustainable tourism consultancy in Thailand, where she worked closely with national tourism organizations. This experience revealed to her the significance of gastro- tourism in preserving culinary traditions and nurturing local pride.

In 2018, Sunanthee moved to Hong Kong to join the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, specializing in Food and Beverage subjects. She leverages her extensive gastronomy background to inspire students, emphasizing food as a tool for cultural education and connection. Sunanthee promotes food literacy, encouraging students to understand their food, develop ethical perspectives, respect diversity, and protect culinary heritage. Offering the educational trips as a part of learning experience, she has designed educational gastronomy trips for students, focusing on food biodiversity, food literacy and culinary heritage. Her itineraries incorporate sensory experience design and neuro-gastronomy concepts, offering hands-on activities, farm-to-table experiences, interactions with local producers, food-related art projects, and expert knowledge sharing.

Since 2025, recognised as an Expert for IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism), Sunanthee also serves as Integrated Gastronomy Design Advisor for the Thailand Gastronomy Network and is currently pursuing doctoral studies. Her thesis focuses on revisiting the definition of gastro-tourism and exploring how itinerary design can enhance engagement and create memorable experiences.