PENANG, 1 July 2026 – Penang has once again demonstrated its standing as one of Asia’s premier tourism and business events destinations after securing 12 prestigious awards at the Asian Tourism & Hospitality Awards 2025-26.
The awards, presented during a ceremony held on 14 May at Berjaya Times Square Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, recognised outstanding achievements across 50 categories, with Penang emerging as one of the event’s biggest winners through its strong representation in tourism, hospitality, heritage, attractions, hotels and business events.
The achievement was celebrated during a press conference held on 1 July (Tuesday) , led by Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai and Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) Chief Executive Officer Ashwin Gunasekeran, who congratulated the Penang-based recipients for their contributions to strengthening the state’s tourism ecosystem.
Wong described the awards as a reflection of Penang’s continued commitment to excellence and innovation within the tourism and hospitality industry.
“These awards are a strong testament to the quality, creativity and resilience of Penang’s tourism and hospitality industry. Each winner represents the hard work and commitment of our industry players in delivering meaningful experiences, excellent service and world-class offerings,” he said.
He added that Penang’s success reinforces its reputation as one of the region’s most vibrant destinations for leisure tourism and business events, while supporting the State Government’s ongoing efforts to expand the tourism and creative economy through stronger industry collaboration, destination development and greater international visibility.
Ashwin said the collective achievement reflects the growing strength of Penang’s hospitality and business events sectors, with industry players consistently raising standards to meet international expectations.
He noted that the awards recognise not only individual excellence but also Penang’s ability to offer world-class venues, quality accommodation, heritage experiences and professional event infrastructure that continue to attract both leisure travellers and international business events.
Among the recipients, Wong received the Outstanding State Tourism Leader – Penang 2025 award, while Ashwin was honoured with the International Business Events Leadership Award 2025, recognising a decade of transformational leadership in advancing Penang’s business events industry.
Several of Penang’s leading tourism establishments also received top honours. Entopia was recognised as the Leading Tourist Attraction of the Year 2025 – Malaysia, while Goche Corporation received the Leading Heritage Tourism Product of the Year 2025 – Malaysia award.
G Hotel Gurney secured two prestigious titles, namely Leading Luxury Hotel of the Year 2025 – Malaysia and Leading MICE Venue of the Year 2025 under the hotel category.
Other winners included Citadines Connect Bertam Georgetown Penang, which was named Leading New Urban Lifestyle Hotel of the Year 2025 – Malaysia, PICCA Convention Centre Penang as Leading Convention Centre of the Year 2025, and Holiday Inn & Suites Penang Prai by IHG, which collected three awards for Leading Business Events Destination Hotel 2025 – Malaysia, Leading Hotel General Manager of the Year 2025 – Northern Region, Malaysia, and Leading New Hotel of the Year 2025 – Malaysia.
Iconic Marjorie Hotel, Penang – a Tribute Portfolio Hotel also earned recognition as the Leading Conference Hotel of the Year 2025 – Northern Region, Malaysia.
The recognition underscores Penang’s continued growth as a preferred destination for tourism, conventions, exhibitions and corporate events, while highlighting the collaborative efforts of government agencies and industry stakeholders in enhancing the state’s competitiveness on the regional stage.
With another strong showing at the Asian Tourism & Hospitality Awards, Penang continues to reinforce its reputation for delivering high-quality visitor experiences and world-class hospitality, further strengthening its appeal to both domestic and international markets.
