Resorts World Manila proponent is Travel Entrepreneur of the Year

KUALA LUMPUR — Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman and CEO of the Genting Group, was named Travel Entrepreneur of the Year by Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Asia.

The special award pays tribute to an individual for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the tourism and travel industry in Asia. 

Just this September, Tan Sri Lim was named the most influential person in Asian gaming, being ranked No. 1 in the Top 50 most influential people in the industry, in an independent survey done by Inside Asian Gaming.

Tan Sri Lim also spearheads Star Cruises, Asia’s leading cruise operator and a recipient of the TTG’s Hall of Fame Award 2009.

Star Cruises was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2008 after having won TTG’s Travel Awards for 10 consecutive years. 

The 20th TTG Travel Awards 2009, hosted annually by TTG Asia, recognizes outstanding organizations in the travel industry in the Asia-Pacific.

The grand awarding ceremony was held last Oct. 8 in Bangkok and attended by Thailand Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-acha, leading members of the travel trade industry, media representatives and other distinguished guests.

In accepting the award, Tan Sri Lim said, “Four years ago, my father, Genting’s founder, the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, was honored as the first ‘Travel Entrepreneur of the Year’ by TTG Asia. Today, I am humbled to be considered in the same light as he. This award bears testimony to the positive role that Genting has had in defining the Asian leisure and travel industry. It is extremely gratifying to know that my ongoing efforts to set higher standards for the leisure and travel industry have been well received and acknowledged.”

He added: “My aim is to steer Genting to greater heights as the leading Asian conglomerate at the forefront of global business, developing world-class leisure brands like Resorts World and ultimately, to increase Asia’s appeal as the world’s choice destination for travel and tourism. Genting will continue to give its best to the leisure and hospitality industry, creating ‘must-visit’ resort destinations. Resorts World Genting in Malaysia, Resorts World Manila and Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore (opening in early 2010) are set to be exciting, dynamic and iconic integrated resorts that Asia can be proud of.”

Here in the Philippines, Tan Sri Lim’s Genting Group is a leading proponent of Resorts World Manila through its affiliate, Star Cruises.

This highly anticipated tourism enclave in Newport City gives foreign tourists high-style shopping, dining and leisure choices right across NAIA’s new Terminal 3.

Its five-star Marriott Hotel Manila has just conducted a soft opening, while its six-star Maxims Hotel is set to open soon.

Tan Sri Lim’s business partner at Resorts World Manila, Alliance Global Group Inc. chairman and taipan Andrew Tan, said, “I congratulate Mr. Tan Sri Lim for this much deserved award, as he has done so much for tourism within Asia. We both look forward to making the Philippines a prime tourist destination in Asia through our new Resorts World Manila and in the next few years, our joint venture in Pagcor’s Bagong Nayong Pilipino Integrated Resort City project.”