Adrian Zecha is a renowned hotelier who founded several international hotel companies including Regent Hotels, GHM Hotels, Aman Resorts, and most recently Azerai Resorts, among others in his lifetime. What is perhaps little-known is his career as a journalist and publisher, a role which he fulfilled for many years before his turn as a hotelier; Orientations, an important art magazine he founded in Hong Kong in 1969, is still in circulation today. Zecha first ventured into the world of luxury hospitality when he co-founded Regent Hotels in 1972. In 1988, Amanpuri was raised and opened on the site of a former coconut plantation in Phuket as Zecha saw the potential of the 40-key establishment when not many believed it would work. He proved them wrong when Amandari was opened a year later. A string of similarly conceived hideaways followed suit across the most remote sites around Asia. With the sharpest eyes for details, Zecha roped in brilliant designers and architects for many of his hotels from the early days, amongst them are Jean-Michel Gathy, Kerry Hill and Ed Tuttle, important names that have set the industry landscape across the continent. Adrian Zecha is truly a visionary who redefined luxury hospitality and anchored Asian refinements in the global consciousness. Well into his nineties, Zecha has continued to be involved in the industry, having founded Azerai in 2016 and Azumi Setoda in 2021. Adrian Zecha has been a journalist, publisher and all-encompassing hotel developer in a career spanning more than 70 years. He encourages all in these fields to “be different and true to your craft and treasure the lust for far away cultures”. We honour Adrian Zecha with our inaugural FHA Hospitality Landmarks “Lifetime Achievement Award” on 1 Jan 2026, in recognition of his contribution to luxury hospitality in Asia and beyond.