FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (APRIL 2012. Penang, Malaysia)

The prestigious INPenang Awards 2012 honoured 15 organisations and an outstanding individual for excelling in their respective fields while contributing towards the success of Penang’s tourism industry. Hong Kong starlet Petrina Fung Bo Bo, who topped the list to accept the INPenang Honorary Award 2012, was awarded for her role in promoting Penang to the world after making the state her home recently. The other recipients, consisting of organisations from the hospitality, healthcare, travel, interior design, F&B, education and property development sectors, were carefully selected from a long list of nominees based on their performance and exceptional roles in contributing towards Penang’s tourism industry.

The award recipients, who each received a framed certificate and an INPenang Awards Trophy, were as follows: 1. IN PENANG Top Hotels Award 2012 –  Eastin Hotel (Business); E&O Hotel (Heritage); G Hotel (The Preferred Hotel) 2. IN PENANG Top Developers Award 2012 – Eastern & Oriental Berhad; Island LandCap Properties Group; Ivory Properties Group Berhad 3. IN PENANG Best Interior Design House Award 2012 – Splendid Interior Décor 4. IN PENANG Top F&B Hubs Award 2012 – Auto-City; Penang Times Square 5. IN PENANG Top Hospitals Award 2012 – Gleneagles Medical Centre Penang; Island Hospital; Loh Guan Lye Specialists Centre 6. IN PENANG Best University Award 2012 – University Sains Malaysia 7. IN Penang Top Travel Agents Award 2012 – BMC Travel; Discovery Overland Holidays

The award recipients were feted to a grand celebratory INPenang Awards Gala Dinner at G Hotel on Friday (April 20) organised by CHTNetwork. The glittery event, with the theme British Malaya, was officially launched by YB Ng Wei Aik, the political secretary to the Penang Chief Minister, who represented the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Amongst the dignitaries who attended the grandiose event were Japanese Consul-General Tetsuro Kai, the Honorary Consul of Bangladesh Shaik Ismail Allaudin and state assemblymen YB Koay Teng Hai and YB Sim Tze Tzin. Attended by only the elite and the who’s who in Penang as well as Malaysian society, the magnificent décor of the event, sponsored by Focal Concepts, immediately transported guests to the British Colonial era. An intricately carved castle façade complete with cannons and a drawbridge welcomed perfectly coiffured and fashionably dressed guests to the inner sanctum of British Colonial elegance of plush cream and white. A total of 300 guests were treated to a sumptuous 6-course Western meal while the programme for the evening included sterling performances by gifted singer Ocean Teh and the multi-talented and humorous MC, Dato’ Leonard Tan. One of the highlights of the evening include a bridal fashion show by Anovia Bridal that saw models sashaying down the stage in spectacular gowns in between the presentation of the awards to the 16 recipients. This is followed by the official launch of the coffee table book “Penang Elite” (Faces of Tourism), a special publication highlighting the history and background of Penang and the people who have built this state to be the pride of the nation. This special edition hardcover coffee table book is a colourful depiction of the very essence of Penang through photography and brief tidbits about the heritage, culture and people of Penang. The winners of the INPenang Awards 2012 were also prominently featured in a section of this book. An auction was also held where a painting by 9-year-old savant Delwin Cheah, a latest Fuji X-Pro 1 camera set with all interchangeable lenses by Fujifilm and a carpet by Nasim Carpets were auctioned off to the highest bidders.

Finally, the evening ended with three winners being presented with gift certificates, sponsored by Anovia Bridal, for being selected as the Best Dressed people for the evening: Ch’ng Suat Ping, Datin Jenny Oon Ah Nooi and Petrina Fung Bo Bo, all of whom were impeccably dressed in accordance to the theme of the gala event. The INPenang Awards 2012 was established to acknowledge outstanding organisations and individuals who have tirelessly contributed towards Penang’s tourism industry. The award winners represent the best of those who have reached the pinnacle of their achievements in their respective fields. INPenang Awards 2012 was brought to you by CHTNetwork and in collaboration with INPenang magazine. The event was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Malaysia and Penang Global Tourism. It was also proudly sponsored and supported by Rado, Fujifilm, Anovia Bridal, Focal Concepts, G Hotel, Nasim Carpets, One East Museum and UOB bank.

” Thank you…for a wonderful and memorable dinner event.The whole evening from accommodation, reception, drinks, dinner, your MC and the guests and table arrangements, The Penang Legends book, and many more, followed by the G Spot, was truly an international quality and unforgettable time – I don’t know how anybody could top that…!” by Jonathan Main, Executive Director Of Investments, Merrill Lynch Int’l Bank Ltd., Singapore