THE FIRST WINNERS’ NIGHT OF ASIA HOSPITALITY AWARDS - RECOGNIZING INNOVATIVE AND BOUNDARY-PUSHING PROJECTS
(Seoul, South Korea - July 25, 2025)
The inaugural Winners’ Night of Asia Hospitality Awards (AHA), under the theme “Vibrant Asia” - hosted by Asia Awards Organization (AAO) - made its grand debut at The Shilla Seoul, South Korea, bringing together a distinguished gathering of leaders in hospitality, design, gastronomy, and tourism from 12 Asian countries.
The inaugural Asia Hospitality Awards (AHA), hosted by the Asia Awards Organization (AAO) with the theme “Vibrant Asia”, officially took place on July 25, 2025 at The Shilla Seoul - one of Asia’s most iconic urban resorts. For the first time, the spotlight turned exclusively toward the hospitality sector, honoring the brilliance, creativity, and dedication of individuals and organizations shaping the future of travel and guest experience across the region.
This landmark evening gathered together many hospitality leaders, including CEOs, brand directors, hotel general managers, executive chefs, leading restaurateurs, cultural curators, and cruise innovators from 12 countries, all in celebration of the pioneering minds behind Asia’s most memorable stays and journeys.
Kicking off the Winners’ Night, Mr Tan Quee Peng, General Director of RSP Vietnam, Chief of Judge of the Asia Awards Organization, reflected on AAO’s expanding legacy and emphasized the intertwined legacies of hospitality and architecture in Asia: “We proudly present the very first Asia Hospitality Awards. The award aims to spotlight people and places that make Asia one of the world’s most inspiring travel destinations”.
After eight months, AHA received an overwhelming response from across the region, with over 484 registered accounts on the official website, over 319 successfully submitted projects, and 74 projects advancing to the finals - selected through a rigorous judging process with both international expertise and deep regional understanding.
“As Chief of Judge, I have had the opportunity to review truly exceptional submissions from across the region. The level of talent, innovation, and commitment we’ve seen is truly inspiring”, Mr. Tan added
At the heart of the night was the long-awaited Award Ceremony for the 2025 Asia Hospitality Awards, honoring 33 exceptional winners across 5 disciplines: Special Achievement, Hotel, Resort, Cruise & Yachts and Special Achievement.
Among the standout winners of the 2025 Asia Hospitality Awards were Etro Residences Phuket by The One Atelier, praised for its refined lifestyle positioning and architectural sophistication. Ambassador Cruise secured accolades in both River and Dinner Cruise categories for elevating luxury cruising with cultural depth and scenic storytelling. In the City Hotel category, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore was recognized for advancing urban hospitality through sustainability and wellness, while Vietnam’s Army Hotel was commended for its heritage value. HOMA Cherngtalay in Thailand and the Five Senses Experience Suite reimagined the serviced apartment model with design-forward, lifestyle-centric living.
Special Achievement honorees included Duyen Nguyen, General Director of Nam Hung Travel Investment, and Executive Chef Kong Kok Kiang of Sentosa Golf Club, both recognized for their visionary leadership and industry impact.
A particular highlight of the evening was Dragon Pearl Cave in Quang Ninh, Vietnam - a new cultural destination fusing natural wonder, live performance, and fine dining. Celebrated for its innovation and experiential depth, it was officially named the host destination of the 2026 Asia Hospitality Awards, marking its emergence as a new icon in regional hospitality.
Beyond celebration, 2025 AHA served as a dynamic platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and strategic collaboration. It connected hoteliers, restaurateurs, cruise pioneers, travel innovators, and brand leaders from 12 countries. The event laid the foundation for a stronger, more interconnected Asian hospitality community built on shared vision, excellence and innovation.
As the awards ceremony drew to a close, the Asia Hospitality Awards (AHA) promised to return in 2026 with a powerful new theme: “Influential Asia”. 2026 AHA will spotlight 30 categories across 5 key disciplines that capture the evolving landscape of hospitality in the region: Hotel, Resort, Lifestyle & Wellness, Cruise & Yacht and Special Achievement.
2026 AHA aims to recognize bold concepts, exceptional guest experiences, and influential figures who are reshaping the hospitality landscape across Asia. Marking a strategic shift toward one of Asia’s most dynamic tourism markets, Vietnam has been announced as the next host destination. At the core of this momentum is Dragon Pearl Cave in Quang Ninh - a groundbreaking cultural tourism project recently honored as 2025 Asia’s Finest New Cultural Destination for its vision of naturally and culturally experience-driven travel. Its recognition has catalyzed industry-wide interest and collaboration, leading to its official selection as the venue for the 2026 Asia Hospitality Awards and Asia Architecture Design Awards.
With a strong focus on creativity, sustainability, and cultural storytelling, Asia Hospitality Awards continues to elevate the region’s reputation as a global leader in travel and hospitality.
2026 AHA is now open for registrations. For more information, visit https://ahawards.co/ or contact hello@ahawards.com.
