Mr Gwee Lian Kheng, President and Chief Executive Officer of publicly listed company, Hotel Plaza Limited, and also President and CEO of United Overseas Land Limited, was presented with the "Asia Pacific Hotelier of 2002" award at the 6th Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference held at the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore.

The prestigious accolade is a tribute to Mr Gwee's dedication, achievements and commitment to the hotel industry in Asia Pacific. The fourth recipient to be bestowed this honor, Mr Gwee is also recognised for being the driving force behind Hotel Plaza Limited's foray into the hospitality industry since 1973. Over the years, Mr Gwee has built a strong asset management team and today, this has grown into a portfolio of 13 hotels with over 4,000 rooms in Asia Pacific with total assets of more than USD 470 million. Hotels owned include the Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour in Sydney, Sheraton Perth Hotel, Novotel Garden Plaza Saigon in Vietnam, Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers in China and Grand Plaza Parkroyal Hotel in Myanmar. In addition, Hotel Plaza acquired rights to the Parkroyal brand name in South East Asia, Indian subcontinent and North Asia from Six Continents Hotels in 2002. The Parkroyal is a distinctive brand in Asia Pacific region and presently, 5 of the Group's hotels carry the "Parkroyal" brand.

An accountant by training, Mr. Gwee is credited for taking Hotel Plaza from a single hotel to a leading commercial and hotel developer. Mr Gwee's other portfolio includes that of United Overseas Land who owns commercial properties of some 2 million square feet and built some of the high quality residential developments in Singapore.

The Hotelier of the Year award was first presented at the 3rd Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference in 2000. Past award recipients were Mr Kwek Leng Beng, Executive Chairman of Hong Leong Group, Dr Hair Harilela, Chairman of The Harilela Group, and Mr Richard Hartman, Managing Director of InterContinental Hotels Groups, Europe and Middle East. This year's award a signature limited edition pate-de-cristal piece entitled "Reigning in Success" depicts a pair of horses which has been described as ‘Speed, unsurpassed, Grabbing at every opportunity, resilient strength, creating a historical scene, together the pair of horses", very apt words to describe this year's award winner.

Held annually in Singapore, the by-invitation-only event is firmly established as the premier forum for the Asia Pacific hospitality industry and attracts about 300 CEOs, Managing Directors and CFOs of hotel owning and operating companies as well as major financial institutions. The 6th Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference is hosted by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels together with sponsorship support by Accor Asia Pacific, Baker and McKenzie, Bintan Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, Raffles International, Singapore Tourism Board, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and The Leading Hotels of the World.