Wantanee Suntikul, Ph.D., has joined the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism as an instructional associate professor, bringing nearly two decades of international experience in gastronomy, sustainable tourism and the social dimensions of travel to the department.
Suntikul earned her master’s degree in tourism marketing and her doctorate in tourism management from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom.
Wantanee Suntikul, Ph.D., brings nearly two decades of international experience in tourism, gastronomy and sustainable tourism to her new role at the Texas A&M Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism. (Texas A&M AgriLife)
Before coming to the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, she held academic posts at Macau University of Tourism, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University of Cincinnati.
Her career has also taken her to Bhutan, Laos, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand and Vietnam for fieldwork.
A career rooted in curiosity
Suntikul said she was drawn to tourism studies because she is fascinated with the unique cultures and characteristics of different destinations and how they can shape experiences for travelers.
“Travel can open us up to different cultures, different ways of seeing the world, and sometimes can even help us discover ourselves,” Suntikul said, recalling a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro that tested her more than she expected.
Her curiosity grew into a research focus on food, festivals and the communities behind them. Suntikul studies what she calls “gastro-diplomacy,” the idea that food and culinary experiences can foster cross-cultural understanding and create meaningful connections between people and cultures.
“Food can become a platform for cultural understanding,” she said. “Through food, celebrations, traditions and events, visitors experience a place in ways that are personal, authentic and memorable.”
Her work also examines the challenges that come with tourism development and the impacts of tourism growth, from water scarcity to social benefits.
Texas A&M’s attraction
Texas A&M’s emphasis on service and its ambitions for the Aplin Department of Hospitality drew her to Bryan-College Station, Suntikul said.
“I was drawn to the strong sense of community and the idea of being a force for good,” she said. “This department has momentum, and I am excited to be a part of where it’s headed.”
Within the department, she will teach courses in event management and the visitor economy with plans to keep her curriculum current with emerging industry tools, including AI.
“My goal is to work closely with the hospitality industry, understand its evolving needs and bring those insights into the classroom to prepare our students to become the next generation of hospitality leaders,” she said. “I want students to leave here with great confidence, ready to explore and stay open to different perspectives.”
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