Asia's Tourism Titans Crowned at ATH Awards Amid Record-Breaking Growth

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – May 19, 2026 – The elite of Asia's tourism and hospitality sector gathered in Kuala Lumpur on May 14 for a spectacular gala night, celebrating a year of unprecedented recovery and innovation at the second Asian Tourism & Hospitality Awards (ATH Awards) 2025-26. Organized by TIN Media, Malaysia's first independent travel trade media, the event at Berjaya Times Square Hotel honored over 50 winners from a pool of 250 nominees, painting a vibrant picture of an industry not just recovering, but setting new global standards.

The ceremony served as a powerful testament to the resilience and dynamism of a region that is rapidly reclaiming its position as a global tourism powerhouse. Recent data shows international visitor arrivals across the Asia-Pacific in 2024 reached 91.9% of pre-pandemic levels, with projections showing continued robust growth into 2027. The awards night captured this optimistic spirit, recognizing the leaders, destinations, and innovators driving this remarkable resurgence.

A New Benchmark for Asian Excellence

Now in its second edition, the ATH Awards has quickly established itself as a credible and transparent platform for recognizing achievement across a diverse industry. The organizers emphasized a rigorous, multi-faceted evaluation process designed to ensure that only the most deserving nominees took home the coveted trophies.

This process was built on four independent pillars: extensive public voting that garnered over 100,000 votes from 10 countries; a meticulous review of claims point metrics; comprehensive online reputation assessments; and finally, a thorough evaluation by an independent jury of senior industry practitioners from Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

YBhg. Dato' Khoo Boo Lim, Head of the Jury and Vice President of the Malaysian Association of Hotels, underscored the demanding nature of the judging. "Tonight's winners were not selected easily," he stated. "Behind every trophy presented this evening are years of hard work, sacrifice, dedication, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment towards elevating the standards of Asian tourism and hospitality. Recognition inspires industries. Recognition motivates teams. Recognition creates benchmarks." His words highlighted the core mission of the awards: to create a trusted benchmark that reminds the world of Asia's leadership in hospitality excellence.

Malaysia at the Forefront of a Regional Renaissance

The evening was a significant showcase for Malaysia, which not only hosted the event but also saw its key leaders and organizations receive top honors. This reflects the nation's strategic push to position itself at the center of Asia's tourism future, spearheaded by the ambitious Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.

YBhg. Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, the recently appointed Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, received the prestigious Tourism Transformation Leadership Award 2025. The award recognized his pivotal role in shaping Malaysia's tourism strategy and his leadership of the VM2026 initiative, which aims to attract 47 million visitors. In his keynote address, he emphasized the synergy between the awards and national goals, stating, "Tonight is more than just an award ceremony. It recognises, celebrates, and appreciates the excellence of the industry. It delivers the message that: 'We see you. Your efforts matter. Your contributions matter'."

History was also made with the recognition of YBhg. Datin Christina Toh, President of the Malaysian Association of Hotels, who was honored as Asia's Most Inspiring Woman Leader in Hospitality of the Year 2025. The award celebrated her landmark achievement as the first-ever female National President in the association's nearly 50-year history. Another key win for Malaysia was the International Business Events Leadership Award for Mr. Ashwin Gunasekeran, CEO of the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), celebrating a decade of transformational work that has grown Penang's business events sector into an industry with an annual economic impact of over RM 1.9 billion.

Celebrating Resilience in a Transforming Industry

The ATH Awards took place against a backdrop of profound industry transformation. The post-pandemic era has accelerated trends in digitalization and sustainability, and the evening’s winners reflected this shift. Awards for the Leading Hospitality Technology Solution Provider (Core System Technologies Sdn Bhd) and Leading Green Hotel of the Year (Zenith Hotel Putrajaya) highlighted the growing importance of innovation and environmental responsibility.

This focus aligns perfectly with the goals of Visit Malaysia 2026, which prioritizes sustainable and high-value tourism in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The recognition of state tourism bodies like the Sarawak Tourism Board (Excellence in State Tourism Board Leadership), Langkawi Development Authority (Outstanding Island Tourism Authority for Resilience & Impact), and Tourism Pahang (Most Impactful State Tourism Organisation) further demonstrated a commitment to developing diverse, responsible, and high-quality tourism experiences across the country.

The celebration of these achievements is especially significant given Malaysia's record-breaking performance, having welcomed 10.6 million international tourists in the first quarter of 2026 alone—a 5.4% increase over the previous year. The awards serve not only as a reward for this success but as a powerful motivator for the entire sector as it navigates ongoing geopolitical challenges with a unified and resilient approach.

A Tapestry of Winners Showcasing Asia's Diversity

While Malaysian entities featured prominently, the awards celebrated the rich diversity of the entire Asian continent. The winner list reads like a guide to the region's must-visit destinations and experiences. Indonesia's Jatiluwih Village was crowned the Leading UNESCO Cultural Landscape Tourism Destination, while Singapore's spectacular Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony was named Leading Tourist Attraction of the Year.

The breadth of categories showcased the multifaceted nature of modern tourism. Winners ranged from unique wellness retreats like Malaysia's FELDA Residence Hot Springs to luxury city icons like G Hotel Gurney in Penang and Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The awards also dug deeper to recognize individual excellence at every level, honoring General Managers like Nick Ng of Holiday Inn & Suites Penang Prai and Sachin Tyagi of Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur for their outstanding leadership.

From the Leading Lifestyle Resort Brand (Wings by Croske Resort Langkawi) to the Best Authentic Indian Restaurant (Malabar Palace Restaurant Sdn Bhd), the ATH Awards 2025-26 successfully captured the vibrant and varied fabric of Asia's hospitality industry. As the night concluded, it was clear that the awards were not just a reflection of past success, but a catalyst for the next chapter in Asia's remarkable tourism story.