The newly launched Meliá Pattaya Hotel has announced the appointment of Peter Laird as its Director of Food and Beverage. With over two decades of experience in the hospitality sector across Asia and Europe, Laird brings a wealth of expertise to lead the 234-room hotel’s dynamic culinary team.

An Irish and British national, Laird has been working in Thailand since 2018 and most recently served as the Director of F&B at Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort. He has also held leadership roles at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, where he played a key role in opening Belga Rooftop Bar & Brasserie, and has managed food and beverage operations across various venues in the UK.

At Meliá Pattaya, Laird will oversee the hotel’s diverse dining outlets including Yitong Chinese Restaurant & Sky Bar, known for its Cantonese and Sichuan offerings; the seafood-focused all-day dining restaurant Sanehh Sarae; and the Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei concept, Den. His responsibilities will span culinary concept development, menu creation, team training, performance analysis, and revenue management.

“Peter is a results-driven and versatile professional with a track record of bringing remarkable projects to fruition, pinpointing sales opportunities, and encouraging positive efforts from his entire team,” said Javier Gimeno, General Manager, Meliá Pattaya. “He will undoubtedly thrive in making our F&B landscape Pattaya’s most desirable place to dine.”

Commenting on his new role, Laird said, “You’re only as good as your team, and I have a history of developing my teams and promoting from within. When we hire the right team and nurture their talent effectively, we are in a prime position to promote from within.”

His appointment is expected to strengthen Meliá Pattaya’s positioning as a top culinary destination in the region.