Co-Founder & Owner of The Slate
Krystal Prakaikaew Na-Ranong is the co-founder and owner of The Slate, the multi-award-winning beachfront resort in northwest Phuket that was designed by Bill Bensley and inspired by Phuket’s tin mining heritage.
A Thai national who was raised in Phuket, Krystal’s personal story is woven into the fabric of the island. Following four generations of tin mining heritage, her father moved into the hotel business and her family is credited with putting Phuket on the world tourism map.
A graduate of the University of Buckingham in the UK and the highly-acclaimed École Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland, Krystal has gained extensive international hospitality experience. Her career has spanned the globe, covering three continents – Europe, North America, and Asia – and allowing Krystal to hone her skills in all aspects of hotel and resort operations, from the heat of the kitchen to the pressure of the executive office. She has worked with some of the industry’s biggest brands, starting at InterContinental Place Vendôme in Paris, one of the French capital’s top hotels, before moving to Switzerland to perfect her food & beverage skills with Mövenpick, and spreading her wings to Hawaii where she learned the art of sales & marketing with Outrigger. Krystal then moved back to Thailand, working with Hilton and Four Seasons in Bangkok before returning to her cherished home island to take over the reins of The Slate, a member of the prestigious Design Hotels collection. Krystal is not only focused on creating outstanding guest experiences; she also strives to show the world how the “Pearl of the Andaman” became a vibrant industrial center and later evolved into one of Asia’s most desirable destinations. She empowers visitors from all countries to explore her homeland’s rich heritage through authentic art-inspired experiences, immersive activities, and community-orientated initiatives.