Song Hoi-See

Song Hoi-See has legendarily transformed the airport hospitality industry by establishing the world’s first pay-in airport lounge for all travellers regardless of their airline or class of travel.

Following on from a career in investment banking, Song launched his own business which found him flying economy class without the lounge privileges he had enjoyed previously. Such travel experience was incomplete as he struggled to work effectively while on-the-go. Driven by a heartfelt desire “to do something for the majority”, he launched the world’s first Plaza Premium Lounge in Kuala Lumpur in 1998. Through his initiative and vision, Song broke the stereotype that airport lounges are for premium travellers only. Since 1998, Plaza Premium Lounge has evolved substantially into Plaza Premium Group, a global service brand with over 3,500 employees in more than 130 locations across 35 international airports, serving over 7 million passengers around the world annually.

Under Song’s leadership, the company has received over 50 awards and accolades in recent years from various airport authorities and organizations worldwide, including the International Award at the most prestigious Hong Kong Business Award 2014 and World’s Best Independent Airport Lounges 2015 by Skytrax.