Singapore – Across Asia, women from some of the region’s most prominent business dynasties are increasingly taking center stage in the hospitality industry. Their leadership in family-led hotel groups highlights a generational shift in an industry where tradition and modern demands intersect.
The latest appointment came on August 1, when Kuok Hui Kwong, daughter of Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok, was named chief executive officer of Shangri-La Asia. Already serving as executive director and chairwoman since 2016 and 2017 respectively, the Harvard graduate has guided the brand with strategic clarity. Shangri-La operates over 100 hotels across its four banners, reinforcing its position as one of Asia’s most recognizable luxury groups.
At Singapore-based Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Wee Wei Ling, daughter of late banking patriarch Wee Cho Yaw, has spent nearly four decades in hospitality. At 73, she continues to oversee asset management and sustainability initiatives, while also playing a pivotal role in community partnerships. Her experience reflects the resilience of Asia’s family-led hotel businesses.
In Hong Kong, Nikki Ng of Sino Group has blended family legacy with philanthropy. Educated at Yale, she currently serves as director of philanthropy, spearheading initiatives like the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation while steering Sino’s hospitality investments.
Similarly, Sonia Cheng, CEO of the Rosewood Group and granddaughter of New World Development founder Cheng Yu-tung, has transformed the brand into a global name. Under her leadership, Rosewood Hong Kong has earned a place among the World’s 50 Best Hotels, while the group expands with new wellness and lifestyle concepts.
South Korea’s Lee Boo-jin, daughter of late Samsung patriarch Lee Kun-hee, has helmed Hotel Shilla since 2011. Overseeing 19 luxury hotels and prominent duty-free operations, she has emerged as one of Korea’s most powerful businesswomen, ranked ninth-richest in the nation by Forbes in 2025.
From Thailand, Naphaporn Bodiratnangkura leads the fourth-generation Nai Lert Group, reinforcing Bangkok’s position as a regional hub for heritage hospitality. Her counterpart, Charintip Tiyaphorn, carries the legacy of Pimalai Resort & Spa in Krabi, integrating sustainability into the resort’s luxury offering.
Meanwhile, Ho Ren Yung, deputy CEO of Banyan Group, represents a new wave of strategic leadership, overseeing global expansion and new brand launches. In Singapore, Dawn Teo of Amara Hotels and Carolyn Choo of Worldwide Hotels Group both demonstrate how younger generations adapt family-owned businesses for a competitive international market.
Together, these women exemplify a broader trend in Asia: the rise of female leadership within legacy-driven industries. Their stewardship not only ensures continuity for family enterprises but also injects innovation into an evolving global hospitality market.
As luxury and lifestyle expectations shift, these leaders illustrate how Asia’s hotel industry is redefining itself—anchored in heritage yet attuned to the demands of a new era of travelers.
