HAPA® Awards 2026 Concludes Landmark Three-Series Celebration,Championing People, Integrity and the Future of Hospitality
The HAPA® Awards concluded its landmark 2026 programme with the HAPA® Awards 2026 Series 3 – Hospitality & Tourism Awards Gala Dinner on 28 October 2026 at the Grand Lagoon Ballroom, Sunway Resort Hotel. Held in conjunction with The Hospitality Celebration 2026, the evening brought together 300 hospitality and tourism leaders, award nominees, judges and industry partners to recognise excellence across hotels, resorts, destinations, attractions, service and leadership.
The gala marked the culmination of HAPA®’s first three-series awards programme: the HAPA® Entrepreneur Awards for Excellence on 8 February 2026, the HAPA® F&B & Culinary Awards for Excellence on 28 April 2026, and the Hospitality & Tourism Awards for Excellence finale on 28 October 2026. Together, the three platforms celebrated the entrepreneurs, culinary talent, establishments and professionals who shape the industry.
EXCELLENCE BEGINS WITH PEOPLE
In the Founder’s Address, Adjunct Professor Jennifer Ong, Founder of HAPA® Group and HAPA® Awards, placed the spotlight on the people behind every memorable guest experience — from front-of-house teams to housekeepers, bellmen, chefs and other often-unseen service professionals.
“Some people spend their entire careers making others feel special, without anyone ever making them feel special themselves,” Ong said, recalling the inspiration behind establishing HAPA® Awards in 2002. “I wanted them to have their moment. To be seen. To be recognised.”
Ong also urged industry leaders to value the dedication of their teams and recognise that excellence is not the absence of mistakes, but the way people respond, take responsibility and consistently deliver care. “Hospitality isn’t simply about what we do. It’s about how we make people feel,” she said.
A COMMITMENT TO CREDIBLE RECOGNITION
Central to HAPA® Awards’ philosophy is that recognition must be earned. Nominated establishments are evaluated through independent mystery audits and assessments by two judges at different times, with 90 marks and above representing the benchmark for HAPA® Awards for Excellence. The assessment process is designed not only to recognise high performance but also to encourage participating establishments to understand their strengths and identify opportunities for improvement. “HAPA®
Awards was never created to be sold. Never have we sold an award. Never will we,” Ong affirmed.
TOURISM MALAYSIA HIGHLIGHTS THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE The Guest of Honour, Mr Mohd Akbal Setia, Deputy Director General (Promotions) and Head of Secretariat VM 2026–2027, Tourism Malaysia, attended on behalf of Mr Mohd Amirul Rizal, Director General of Tourism Malaysia.
In his address, Mr Mohd Akbal highlighted that Malaysia’s tourism appeal extends beyond its attractions: the quality of customer service and hospitality is central to visitors’ experiences. He recognised the role of platforms such as HAPA® Awards in encouraging tourism operators to strengthen service standards, enhance guest experiences and showcase the warmth of Malaysian hospitality.
He also noted that Malaysia recorded 28.8 million international visitor arrivals from January to August 2026, up 1.8% from 28.2 million in the corresponding period of 2025. With Malaysia seeking to attract visitors and encourage return journeys, he emphasised the importance of consistently delivering pleasant, memorable experiences as a team.
BEYOND THE AWARDS STAGE
Ong reflected on HAPA®’s evolution from Hospitality Asia Magazine, established in 1994, to HAPA® Awards in 2002, and subsequently into events and training through HAPA® Events and HAPA® Academy. She said the organisation’s ambition extends beyond celebrating excellence to helping the industry develop it through people development, stronger service standards and potential workforce partnerships.
She also recalled HAPA®’s longstanding charitable initiatives, including more than RM500,000 raised for children battling cancer, alongside support for orphanages, people with disabilities and communities in need.
Looking ahead, HAPA® Awards is exploring the possibility of alternating future awards year themes between F&B and Culinary Excellence and Hospitality and Tourism Excellence, supported by showcases, experiences and talent-development opportunities. The organisation also hopes to expand its regional engagement and bring hospitality communities from across Asia together in Malaysia. These plans remain under exploration. “Because the future of HAPA® isn’t simply about recognising more excellence. It’s about helping more people achieve it,” Ong said.
The evening also acknowledged the contributions of the Sunway Resort Hotel team, participating students from Taylor’s University and Le Cordon Bleu, the independent judges, sponsors, partners and the HAPA® team whose collective efforts made the celebration possible.
HAPA® AWARDS 2026 SERIES 3
WINNERS LIST
HAPA® TOURISM DESTINATIONS & TOURIST ATTRACTIONS CATEGORIES
HAPA® TOP SPA & WELLNESS
1. HAMMAM SPA ISETAN
2. HERBALINE FACIAL SPA, MALAYSIA
3. KECHMARA SPA & WELLNESS, BERTAM RESORT
4. ROCK SPA, HARD ROCK HOTEL PENANG
HAPA® TOP MICE VENUE
1. AICB CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE – MICE VENUE
2. MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND EXHIBITION CENTRE (MITEC) – MICE VENUE
HAPA® TOP THEME PARKS
1. GENTING SKYWORLDS THEME PARK – THEME PARK & THEMED ENTERTAINMENT
2. LOST WORLD OF TAMBUN – THEME PARK
3. SUNWAY LAGOON THEME PARK – THEMED ATTRACTION
HAPA® TOP ATTRACTIONS
1. SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGES @ MANUKAN ISLAND, KOTA KINABALU – ISLAND HOPPING & DISCOVERY
2. SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGES @ PORING HOT SPRING, KOTA KINABALU – MOUNTAIN CLIMBING & HIKING
HAPA® TOP GOLF CLUBS
1. KOTA PERMAI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB – GOLF
2. KUALA LUMPUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB – GOLF
3. TASIK PUTERI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB – GOLF
4. TROPICANA GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT – GOLF
HAPA® TOURIST RECOMMENDED
1. CAROUSEL & CO. KUALA LUMPUR – COMPETITIVE SOCIALISING
2. SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGES @ KINABALU PARK, KOTA KINABALU – MOUNTAIN CLIMBING & HIKING
3. SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGES @ LABAN RATA, KOTA KINABALU – MOUNTAIN CLIMBING & HIKING
4. SIIKAT HEAD SPA, SETIA ALAM
HAPA® HOSPITALITY PERSONALITIES AWARDS CATEGORIES
HAPA® TOP LEADERSHIP IMPACT AWARD
1. AR. PRATHEEP NAIR SINNASAMY, WINGS BY CROSKE RESORT LANGKWI
2. DONOVAN FUNK, SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGES @ KINABALU PARK KOTA KINABALU
3. EVA ECHAGUE, SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGES @ MANUKAN ISLAND KOTA KINABALU
4. SUHAIMI DANIN, SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGES @ LABAN RATA KOTA KINABALU
5. SUHEINI BINTI JALIMIN, SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGES @ PORING HOT SPRING KOTA KINABALU
HAPA® TOP DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP AWARD
1. TEW LIANG TZE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ZENITH HOTEL PUTRAJAYA
HAPA® TOP STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AWARD
1. DAPHNE YUAN, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, HOTEL ROYAL SIGNATURE
2. MICHAEL VAN OMMEN, GROUP CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, TRINIDAD HOSPITALITY
HAPA® TOP 10 GENERAL MANAGERS
1. ADAM CHRISTOPHER CALVERN, KUALA LUMPUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
2. DANIEL BURSTEIN, THE WESTIN KUALA LUMPUR
3. MELVIN OOI, THE PRESTIGE HOTEL PENANG
4. MICHAEL SMEETON, ROCK SPA @ HARD ROCK HOTEL PENANG 5. MICHAEL GRIMMER, ALOFT KUALA LUMPUR SENTRAL
6. MICHAEL HANRATTY, G HOTEL GURNEY, PENANG
7. PAUL CUNNINGHAM, KIMPTON NALURIA KUALA LUMPUR
8. SONAL MALIK, LE MERIDIEN PUTRAJAYA
9. SUNDRA KULENDRA, SAMA-SAMA HOTEL KL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 10.TILL MARTIN, HYATT REGENCY KUALA LUMPUR AT KL MIDTOWN
HAPA® TOP DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
1. KELVIN HIEW VUN FON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, LUMA HOTEL KOTA KINABALU
2. GREG PEARN, HEAD OF NEW CONCEPTS, CAROUSEL & CO, MALAYSIA 3. SHAHRIL BIN ABDUL SALAM,EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TROPICANA GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT
HAPA® COO OF THE YEAR
1. ABDUL SAIL JAMALUDIN, COO, BORNEO RAINFOREST LODGE
HAPA® CEO OF THE YEAR
1. ALEX CASTALDI, CEO, SUNWAY HOSPITALITY GROUP
HAPA® TOP HOTELS & RESORTS AWARDS CATEGORIES
HAPA® TOP 10 HOTELS (2-tie scores)
1. BANYAN TREE KUALA LUMPUR – 5-STAR
2. HYATT REGENCY KUALA LUMPUR AT KL MIDTOWN – MICE
3. ICONIC MARJORIE HOTEL, PENANG – 5-STAR
4. IMPERIAL LEXIS KUALA LUMPUR – 5-STAR
5. KIMPTON NALURIA KUALA LUMPUR – LUXURY
6. PENANG MARRIOT HOTEL – 5-STAR
HAPA® GROUP SDN BHD (564376-H) www.hapa.asia
7. PUTRAJAYA MARRIOT HOTEL – MICE
8. SAMA-SAMA HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – 5- STAR
9. THE PRESTIGE HOTEL, PENANG – 5-STAR
10.TRADERS HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR – 5-STAR
11.W HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR -5-STAR
HAPA® TOP 10 RESORTS
1. BERJAYA LANGKAWI RESORT – FAMILY & RECREATIONAL
2. BERTAM WELLNESS SPA & VILLAS – VILLA
3. BORNEO RAINFOREST LODGE – ECO/GREEN
4. CROCKFORD’S HOTEL, RESORTS WORLD GENTING – 5-STAR
5. DASH RESORT LANGKAWI – 4-STAR
6. HARD ROCK HOTEL DESARU COAST, JOHOR – 5-STAR
7. LEXIS HIBISCUS PORT DICKSON – FAMILY & RECREATIONAL
8. RESORTS WORLD AWANA – ECO/NATURE
9. SUNWAY RESORT HOTEL – 5-STAR RESORT
10.THE DANNA LANGKAWI RESORT & BEACH VILLAS – 5-STAR
HAPA® RECOMMENDED HOTELS & RESORTS
1. ALOFT BY MARRIOTT KUALA LUMPUR SENTRAL – MICE HOTEL
2. ALOFT BY MARRIOTT LANGKAWI PANTAI TENGAH – 4-STAR HOTEL
3. BERTAM RESORT & WATER PARK PENANG – 5 STAR RESORT
4. G HOTEL GURNEY, PENANG – 5-STAR HOTEL
5. LE MÉRIDIEN PUTRAJAYA – 5-STAR HOTEL
6. PALM GARDEN HOTEL, PUTRAJAYA – 5-STAR HOTEL
7. THE WESTIN KUALA LUMPUR – 5-STAR HOTEL
8. THE LISBON MELAKA, TRADEMARK COLLECTION BY WYNDHAM 9. WOLO KUALA LUMPUR – BOUTIQUE HOTEL
HAPA® GROUP SDN BHD (564376-H) www.hapa.asia
HAPA® SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS CATEGORIES
1. HAPA® SPECIAL RESORT AWARD
– MANDAI RAINFOREST RESORT BY BANYAN TREE, SINGAPORE
2. HAPA® SPECIAL SPA AWARD
– BANYAN TREE SPA AT MANDAI RAINFOREST RESORT BY BANYAN TREE, SINGAPORE
3. HAPA® ICONIC HOTEL DESIGN AWARD
– THE LUMA HOTEL, KOTA KINABALU
4. HAPA® ICONIC HERITAGE HOTEL AWARD
– BABA HOUSE MELAKA
HAPA® SPECIAL AWARDS CATEGORIES
1. HAPA® OUTSTANDING INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTION AWARD – YY CIRCLE SDN BHD
2. HAPA® CULINARY EDUCATION EXCELLENCE AWARD
– SUNWAY LE CORDON BLEU
3. HAPA® CULINARY EDUCATION EXCELLENCE AWARD
– TAYLOR”S CULINARY INSTITUTE, TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY –
4. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
– DATUK DR. REDZUAWAN BIN ISMAIL (CHEF WAN)
HAPA® GROUP SDN BHD (564376-H) www.hapa.asia
HAPA® TOP 10 SERVICE EXCELLENCE CATEGORY
HAPA® TOP 10 SERVICE EXCELLENCE
1. BERJAYA LANGKAWI RESORT – FAMILY & RECREATIONAL
2. BORNEO RAINFOREST LODGE – EC0/GREEN RESORT
3. CROCKFORD’S HOTEL, RESORTS WORLD GENTING – 5 -STAR RESORT
4. ICONIC MARJORIE HOTEL, PENANG – 5-STAR HOTEL
5. IMPERIAL LEXIS KUALA LUMPUR – 5-STAR
6. KUALA LUMPUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB – GOLF CLUB
7. SUTERA SANCTUARY LODGES @ MANUKAN ISLAND, KOTA KINABALU – ISLAND HOPPING & DISCOVERY
8. SUNWAY RESORT HOTEL – 5-STAR RESORT
9. THE PRESTIGE HOTEL PENANG – 5-STAR HOTEL
10.THE DANNA LANGKAWI RESORT & BEACH VILLAS – 5-STAR RESORT
ABOUT HAPA®
HAPA® began with Hospitality Asia Magazine in 1994 and introduced HAPA® Awards in 2002 to recognise and encourage excellence across hospitality, food and beverage, and tourism. Its wider activities include HAPA® Events and HAPA® Academy, supporting industry engagement, experiential events, training and people development in the Hospitality, F&B, Culinary and Tourism industries. HAPA® Awards are grounded in independent assessment and merit-based recognition.
