8 Dec, 2016

Anthony Wong, Group Managing Director, Asian Overland Services, Malaysia

ASEAN Travel & Tourism Hall of Fame – Initiated by Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil to recognise the many veterans who helped grow and shape ASEAN tourism over the last 50 years.

Date and Place of Birth: January 13 1956, Kuala Lumpur

Marital Status: Married with four children

Education

Master of Arts (Sustainable Tourism) (Honoris CAUSA)

Presently

Group Managing Director of Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd; AOS Conventions & Events Sdn Bhd; AOS Training Centre Sdn Bhd; AOS Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd; The Jungle Lodge Alang Sedayu; Frangipani Hotels & Resorts Sdn Bhd: The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa; Anti-Oxidant Centre Sdn Bhd.

Career

1976, founded Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd (AOSTT) for Eco tourism, Adventure, Experiential Learning and Special Interest and Incentive Tours in Malaysia and around the region.

Opened Taman Negara the largest national park in Malaysia to travelers.

Started homestay program in Malaysia from Kampung Cherating and helped to develop this to the rest of the country.

1980s

Initiated the Green Guide Certification with the help of Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor the former President of Malaysia Nature Society, and later got the Government to adopt this in the late 80’s.

A regular speaker at both national and international conferences and seminars on Eco-tourism, MICE, green hospitality/environment and is regularly called upon for consultation and advice.

1990s

1990: The Jungle Lodge Alang Sedayu located at the fringe of a forest reserve area in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur now being used for summer camps, team building and motivational courses, family days and many more eco activities.

1991: Adoption of an Iban Longhouse” in Kuching,Sarawak.

Established AOS Conventions & Events Sdn Bhd (AOSCE), a destination management company and a professional conference/congress organizer, in 1990.

2000s

Developed the Executive Masterclass the world’s first integrated approach to the MICE industry in 2004. This program was  conducted throughout South East Asia from 2004 to 2010.

Took over the management of Langkawi Village Resort in late 2005 and rebranded it as The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa, a 4-star resort in southwest Langkawi, which is run entirely in line with the principles of responsible tourism. Since 2007, the resort has won 15 awards both nationally and internationally.

Built Anti-Oxidant Centre in 2006 with its objective to provide alternative health treatment using anti-oxidant/negative ion to the public at minimal cost and at certain times, free of charge.

In May 2009, formed the World Professional Conference Organizer Alliance (WPCO) with 6 professional conference organizers from Singapore, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China and in June 2010, WPCO Alliance grown to 15 members.

Other activities

Taylor’s University – Adjunct Professor-Events (January 1 2011 – present)

Universiti Utara Malaysia

– Adjunct Professor, UUM College of Arts and Sciences (Honorary Masters in Sustainability) (July 2010 – July 2014)

– Adjunct Fellow, Faculty of Tourism & Hospitality Management (October 2006 to October 2008)

– Fellow Adjunct (2006 – 2007)

– UUM College of Law, Government and International Studies – Committee member for “Pengajian Program Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pengurusan Acara Dengan Kepujian” (January 2012 – present)

– Tourism Management Education Centre, Hospitality and Environment, UUM College of Law, Government and International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia – Learning Committee Member for Event Management Baccalaureate Program with Honours (BEM-Hons) (April 1 2012 – December 31 2013)

MARA School of Hotel Tourism – Advisory Board (1994 – 1997)

Tourism Authorities

– Domestic Tourism Working Committee of Tourism Malaysia – Permanent Member (July 2011 – present)

– Board of Director in Tourism Selangor Sdn. Bhd. (July 2009 – present)

– Committee Member in Selangor State Tourism Action Council 2003/2005

– Board of Director in Stong National Park Kelantan (1995 – 1997)

Over the years, has chaired and participated in the various committees, boards and councils of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), PATA Malaysia Chapter, Malaysia Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) American Society of Travel Agents – Malaysia Chapter, Society of Incentive Travel Executives – Malaysia Chapter, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter, Malaysia Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers, EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Association, World Professional Conference Organizer, United Nations Global Compact Network Malaysia, Malaysian Nature Society, Malaysian Association Hotel Owners, Malaysian Ecotourism Association, Institution for Environmental Professionals in Malaysia, Malaysian Association of Hotels, Langkawi Business Association, and the Pantai Tengah Green Community.

Awards

Global Travel Awards, World Travel Mart 1993, for promoting Eco-tourism in the region

IMEX Academy Awards, 2003, for bringing about greater awareness of the Incentive and Meetings product within the Asia Pacific region, particularly with developing destinations

Public Citation Award, World Federation of Occupational Therapists 2006

Industry Person of the Year, AIME 2007 in Melbourne, Australia by Reed Travel Exhibitions

Best Agency Personality of the Year, TravelWeekly Asia Awards 2007, Hong Kong

ICCA Highest Honour Award (MOISES Shuster Award) 2016 by International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA)

Pingat Mahkota Perlis (PMP) conferred by Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail on His Highness 63rd Birthday on May 25 2006.

The personal awards are in addition to the numerous Malaysian, ASEAN and international awards received by the various companies under the AOS Group.

Source: Anthony Wong