Azvil Aziz

Azvil Aziz is a hospitality marketing professional with over two decades of combined experience in hospitality leadership. He currently directs hospitality management and development initiatives for a Malaysian-based brand.

His career encompasses diverse roles including General Manager at a Bangkok property, Vice President of Marketing and E-Commerce overseeing a portfolio of seven Malaysian hotels, and various positions in sales, marketing, and revenue management across both urban and resort properties.

Dr Simon Lee

Dr Simon Lee began his career joining the Malaysian Police Force in 1975, completing tactical training before being stationed in Ulu Kinta, Ipoh. He advanced through the ranks to Sub Inspector while balancing police duties with academic pursuits.

Maintaining a commitment to continuous learning, he earned a law degree from the University of Wolverhampton in 1995, an MBA from Universiti Utara Malaysia in 2005, and completed his DBA in 2015, with a doctoral thesis focused on human resource management within the Penang Police and the organisational impact of corruption.

Following his police career, Dr Lee has undertaken teaching and consulting roles with major corporate clients. He has received recognition from multiple government agencies, including the “Bentera Pasukan Polis” medal from Malaysia’s King in 2014 and the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara in 2019.

Safian Omar

Safian joined the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1984 as a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Malay Regiment, serving until 1992 as an Army Captain. During his service he held various positions including Platoon Commander and Battalion Artillery Commander, and completed specialised training in Artillery and Bomb Specialist studies in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Following military service, he transitioned to hospitality, joining Impiana Resort Cherating in 1993 where he became Chief Security Officer, before periods in private security and the financial sector managing security operations and fraud prevention.

Returning to hospitality, he served as Groups Security Manager for Gula Perak Berhad, Director of Safety & Security at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi (2004–2017), and Director of Loss Prevention at The Andaman, A Luxury Collection Resort Langkawi (2017–2021). He currently serves with the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu.

Satiyasilan Maniam

Sati is an experienced hotelier who began his career as a pre-opening F&B Waiter at Penang Mutiara Hotel in 1988, a member of Leading Hotels of the World. He advanced through various roles while gaining cross-regional exposure in Singapore before reaching Assistant Food & Beverage Manager.

He subsequently pursued international experience at a luxury Maldivian property and with the Savoy Group of Hotels & Spa in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, managing F&B operations for a 1,000-room property with 18 dining establishments and a team of 180 associates.

After nearly five years abroad he returned to Malaysia as Director of Food & Beverage for a pre-opening luxury property in Langkawi, then managed an Eco Lodge at Taman Negara National Park as Resident Manager. This role deepened his commitment to sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda.

Kingston Khoo

Kingston Khoo brings over two decades of hospitality expertise to his current role at Mutiara Taman Negara, an ecotourism resort situated within Asia’s largest national park. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Technology Management from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and maintains a licence as a tourist guide in Malaysia.

Prior to his current position, Khoo spent more than a decade as a product manager with a leading Malaysian destination management company, where he developed deep knowledge of experiential traveller preferences. His professional focus centres on knowing and understanding the needs and wants of the discerning experiential traveller.

A dedicated advocate for ecotourism’s role in conservation, Khoo demonstrates a commitment to Malaysia’s natural heritage preservation. His expertise extends to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals framework and its application to tourism, positioning him to advance responsible and sustainable tourism practices throughout the region.

Chef Zack Zaihari Zainol

Chef Zaihari Zainol, known professionally as Chef Zack, brings over 35 years of culinary experience to his role as Executive Chef at The Westin Langkawi. Throughout his career he has worked with prestigious international hospitality brands including The Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, The Nikko, and IHG properties.

His expertise extends beyond hotel operations to international culinary promotion, having participated in events promoting Malaysian cuisine in countries such as Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, China, and various cities in India.

His achievements include recognition from the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Bailliage de Malaisie (1991 Best Commis Chef Rôtisseur), finalist status in Inter Chef 92, and a gold medal at The Emirates Salon Culinaire in 1993. In his current phase, Chef Zack prioritises mentorship, remaining passionate about developing local talent to step up and take on bigger roles in the culinary field.

Susan Verghese

Susan Verghese is a leading educator and consultant who brings over 35 years of industry experience across hospitality establishments, academic institutions, and consultancies. She has collaborated with MAHTEC (the Malaysian Association of Hotels Training & Education Centre) and Aariana Hospitality International throughout her career.

Her professional credentials include CHT (Certified Hospitality Trainer) certification from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. She serves as the lead facilitator for CHT programmes and has conducted multiple certification sessions for Malaysia’s hospitality sector, with qualifications spanning Switzerland, America, India, Malaysia, and ASEAN-level certifications.

Throughout her career, Verghese has consistently earned strong evaluations from training participants and remains committed to advancing the hospitality industry through education and professional development initiatives.

Alan Wong Yew Loon

Alan Wong is a Malaysian culinary leader with over two decades of progressive kitchen leadership across some of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands. Currently serving as Culinary Director his career trajectory across Shangri-La, Marriott International, W Hotels, Waldorf Astoria, and Hilton Worldwide reflects both the depth of his craft and his ability to operate at the highest levels of international luxury hospitality.

Alan began his culinary journey in Singapore in 2001, where he rose from service staff to Sous Chef a progression that speaks to his foundational discipline and passion for the kitchen. He subsequently took on corporate management trainee responsibilities across Shangri-La properties in Singapore, Penang, China, and the Philippines, before stepping into Executive Chef and Director of Culinary roles in Malaysia, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. His experience encompasses pre-opening kitchens, fine dining operations, Chinese and Japanese restaurant concepts, large-scale banquet operations, and F&B revenue strategy.

As an Industry Advisor with Asianhotelier.Org, Alan brings the perspective of a Malaysian culinary professional who has built an outstanding international career, demonstrating that world-class culinary excellence knows no borders. His insights into kitchen leadership, food and beverage innovation, and operational standards make him a compelling voice for hospitality professionals aspiring to grow their careers across the region and beyond.

Padmaraaj Marudadorai

Padmaraaj Marudadorai is the Loss Prevention Manager with Marriott International. Reporting directly to the Property General Manager, he leads a cross-functional team spanning assistant managers, supervisors, health and safety officers, and outsourced security personnel.

Padmaraaj brings a notably diverse career background to his security leadership role, having previously served as Cluster Assistant Human Resources Manager. This combination of HR and loss prevention experience gives him a rounded understanding of hotel operations, people management, and compliance.

A graduate of B.H.M.S. Lucerne, Switzerland, and Olympia College Kuala Lumpur, Padmaraaj is also an HRD Corp Accredited Trainer and Certified Departmental Trainer for Marriott Properties. As an Industry Advisor with Asianhotelier.Org, he represents the emerging generation of hospitality professionals — versatile, compliance-driven, and committed to building safe, well-managed hotel environments.

Sashimenon

Sashimenon is the Complex Director of Event Management overseeing banquets, event services, event technology, and the full event planning team. His career spans over two decades of progressive growth in food, beverage, and events; beginning as a banquet waiter at Sunway Hotel Penang in 2002. Advancing through supervisory and management roles at various hotels and subsequently was appointed as the Senior Sales Manager with full responsibility for catering revenue, budgeting, and team development.

A diploma holder in Hotel Management from Olympia College, Sashimenon brings to his role as Industry Advisor with Asianhotelier.Org the rare credibility of someone who has worked every level of the banquet and events operation making him a valuable guide for hospitality professionals navigating the path from frontline service to senior management.