Dr Ho Kwon Ping, founder and Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings, was honoured with the
APacCHRIE Lifetime Achievement Award by the Asia-Pacific Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (APacCHRIE) at a ceremony held at Sofitel Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia on 2 June 2017.
Sponsored by the SHTM, the APacCHRIE Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a distinguished individual with outstanding contributions to the hospitality and tourism industry and education in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to APacCHRIE.
One of Singapore's most eminent business figures, Dr Ho received his higher education in Singapore, Taiwan and the US. During an early career in broadcast and print journalism he worked in Hong Kong for the Far Eastern Economic Review before returning to Singapore in 1981 to lead his family's business. He then founded Banyan Tree with a single hotel in Phuket and developed it into a highly successful publicly listed conglomerate that now includes hotels, resorts,
residences, spas, retail galleries and golf courses. The group's success is driven by its signature blend of romantic settings and environmental consciousness, backed by Dr Ho's vision of promoting social and economic progress through sustainable tourism that supports local communities.
Dr Ho actively contributes to the community in his country as well as in the region. Under Dr Ho's leadership, Banyan Tree works actively to preserve, protect and promote the natural and human
environments in which the resorts are located. The group seeks to be a catalyst for social and economic development through responsible and sustainable tourism.
A pioneer, Dr Ho champions the vision of the Asian paradigm in the hospitality industry through his innovative approach to business. He spares no effort in cultivating talents for the industry and recognises the importance in developing Asian leadership. A firm believer in education, Dr Ho has long been an ardent supporter of
many hospitality and tourism schools, including the SHTM. He is currently Chairman of the Singapore Management University.
In receiving the prestigious award, Dr Ho thanked APacCHRIE for bestowing the honour on him. He said that tourism is a driver for economic growth and also a means of connecting the world. In striving to advance the global development of hospitality and tourism in a sustainable manner, he urged everyone to continue to work together as a united group to nurture all
the bright young minds who will become employees, and hopefully future leaders, in the industry.
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