Robin Dannhorn

Robin Dannhorn abandoned a successful career in advertising and public relations because he fell in love – with Asia, with travel and with adventure.

Robin first arrived in Bangkok from his native England in 1968, to help create a worldwide public relations operation for THAI, the national airline of Thailand. His job took him all over THAI’s route network in order to help promote THAI’s exotic, but then little known, pioneering destinations such as Bali and Kathmandu. It was an exciting time to be involved with the early days of expanding tourism into the region. Few could then imagine how this would boom over coming decades, but Robin contributed to that dynamic growth.

After three-years with THAI, Robin joined Grants, a leading advertising agency in Bangkok, where he set up a public relations department and acted as Assistant Manager. During that time he handled PR campaigns for many local and international clients, also winning and running the first ever joint ASEAN worldwide tourism promotion campaign for the, then, six member countries.

But Robin’s love of travel proved to be greater than his commitment to public relations, so he quit, to become a freelance writer. He never worked in a corporate office again. His writing activities were extensive and varied. For almost two decades he was regional editor and contributor for Fodor’s Guides of New York. The books for which he was responsible included annual revision and/or writing of their guides covering Southeast Asia (Thailand plus six other countries); India/Sri Lanka/Nepal; plus new local guides for Hong Kong and Singapore. For Fodors, he explored every corner of those fascinating destinations.

Over the past 40 years, his main activities have included the writing of corporate and promotional brochures, annual reports, advertising and editorial assignments, particularly on travel and tourism, hotels and aviation subjects. He ran a syndicated SE Asia travel news service for various leading trade media worldwide, also contributing regularly, with his own photographs, to various trade and consumer newspapers and magazines in Asia and Europe. He attended international travel industry conferences (PATA, ASTA etc.) as featured speaker, or correspondent for such publications as Travel Management Daily of New York.

Books he has written include “Scandinavians in Siam”, covering the history of those nations’ long involvement with Thailand; “Arts & Crafts of Thailand”; and “50 Golden Years”, recording the growth and success of THAI’s first five decades. His latest book, “Travels & Adventures of Robin Dannhorn”, published online through Wolfenden, describes some of the memorable experiences, on land and sea, he has enjoyed during an eventful life.

He is currently working on another book “Or Bust ! Singapore to London by Mini Moke”, which records his triumphs and almost disasters during a record-breaking 20,000-mile solo drive, covering 17 countries, in a small, open-topped mini-jeep.