Fresh off being named “Resorts and Retreats Awards 2025: Best White Label Hospitality Management Consultancy – Asia” by LUXlife Magazine, Filoxenia Sdn Bhd (Filoxenia) successfully hosted its inaugural “Driving Hospitality to the Next Level: Next-Gen Digital Marketing & AI” forum today at the Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
The engaging half-day forum brought together hospitality leaders, Malaysian hospitality associations, tech platforms, and sustainability experts to explore how digital marketing and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the guest journey and hotel bookings.
The event started off with opening remarks from Michael van Ommen, Director & Chief Hospitality Officer of Filoxenia and welcome speeches by Datin Christina Toh, President of Malaysian Association of Hotels and Guest of Honour, Puan Norshamshida Abdul Rahman, Senior Deputy Director, Advertising & Digital Division of Tourism Malaysia.
Packed with a dynamic agenda, the forum saw renowned industry experts like Hannah Pearson, Founding Partner of Pear Anderson; Chris Cheong, Director Digital Strategies at Filoxenia; and Kingston Khoo, CEO of Eco-Steps, amongst others, moderating exciting panel discussions and sharing of insights and strategies, which captivated the audience.
The session with Hannah Pearson was a highlight, as she shared valuable insights into future trends during the “Market Outlook for remaining 2025 & 2026” presentation.
The data was further discussed with much enthusiasm during the panel session, where panelists Charles Tang, Regional Sales Manager, APAC for Lighthouse; Simon Cheah, Country Manager – Malaysia of Shiji and Kusalika Basnayake, Senior VP – Digital Marketing of emarketingeye, exchanged vibrant thoughts and opinions.
In addition, participants at the forum also gained much insight during the “Next Gen Digital Marketing & AI” session led by Chris Cheong along with panelists, Jessica Tham, Consultant with Rev-Logix; Adlina Borhan, CEO of Ab & Artho; Lewis Lee, Head Business Development – APAC of PayPal, and Vincent Kok of MVX Multiverse.
Meanwhile, Kingston Khoo led the discussion on “Trends & Opportunities in Sustainable Hospitality” which featured panelists Dr. Timmy Ho of Pragmatique; Fariz Victor, Country Director – Operational Excellence of Ascott International Management Malaysia, and Lim Aik Loong of Vireo Sustainable Certification Sdn Bhd. The AI topic also covered human resources through a compelling session – “Lead Like a Human, Adapt Like AI,” – led by Jonathan Low of Global Success Learning Academy, Global Speaking Fellow (CSP, ICF, MCC).
“As we are gearing up for the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026, which aims to achieve 35.6 million tourist arrivals, it is crucial that we future-proof our industry,” said Michael van Ommen, Director and Co-Founder of Filoxenia.
“Understanding the dynamics of AI, digital marketing, and sustainability is essential for today’s decision-makers, as these are the key drivers of visibility, guest engagement, and sustained revenue growth in a competitive landscape.”
Key sponsors STAAH, Lighthouse, Shiji, PayPal, and emarketingeye also shared their expertise, demonstrating the real-world applications of their platforms and how their solutions are revolutionising digital touchpoints for hoteliers and influencing the guest journey.
As part of its corporate social responsibility initiative, Filoxenia also extended its support to Yayasan Sunbeams Home (YSH) through a notable contribution, meant for providing underprivileged children with shelter, education, and medical care.
The forum’s success underscores Filoxenia’s commitment to empowering the hospitality industry with the tools and insights needed to navigate the future and capitalise on the opportunities presented by the digital age and upcoming national tourism campaigns.
The event also served as a vital platform for attendees to forge new connections, sparking networking, collaboration, and partnership opportunities that will undoubtedly accelerate the growth of the travel industry in Malaysia, as a whole.
