Back to EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2025 award winners

Carolyn Choo​

CEO and Managing Director, Worldwide Hotels Pte Ltd​

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Hospitality Services

Carolyn Choo is a visionary hospitality entrepreneur dedicated to transforming the hospitality landscape to create meaningful experiences and making travel more inclusive. As Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Worldwide Hotels Group (WWH), she leads Singapore’s largest homegrown hotel group, which owns and manages 41 strategically situated properties with over 8,600 rooms, representing more than 10% of the country’s total hotel room supply.​

Under her leadership, WWH expanded regionally into key tourism growth markets – Australia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand – owning 11 hotels with over 2,500 rooms in strategic cities. With strong business acumen and a sharp eye for opportunity, she strategically acquired high-quality hotel assets in high-potential destinations, strengthening the Group’s global footprint.​

Carolyn pioneered the group’s “lean luxury” concept – redefined luxury for the informed, cosmopolitan traveler as showcased by the group’s landmark hotel, Mercure Icon Singapore City Centre. ​

Beyond economic success, Carolyn is passionate about empowering young people through inclusive access to education, growth, and contribution, so they can realize their full potential and thrive with confidence. She oversees the Group’s foundation, which has donated to local universities, polytechnics, and institute of technical education to provide bursaries to underprivileged students to ease their financial burdens. ​

Carolyn is a Chartered Accountant (CA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and a graduate of the Owner/President Management (OPM) program at Harvard Business School. Listed as Forbes Asia’s Power Businesswomen 2023, her growth-oriented leadership continues to propel WWHG’s expansion and innovation across Asia Pacific.​

About Worldwide Hotels Pte Ltd​

Worldwide Hotels Group (WWH) is Singapore’s largest homegrown hotel group, owning and managing 41 strategically located properties across seven brands: ICON Hotel, Hotel Mi, Hotel Boss, V Hotel, Value Hotel, Venue Hotel and Hotel 81. ​

With over 8,600 rooms, accounting for more than 10%of Singapore’s total hotel rooms inventory, WWH plays a pivotal role in shaping the mid-tier hospitality landscape. Focused on delivering quality stays at accessible prices, the Group is committed to meeting the aspirations of today’s travelers through authentic service and operational excellence. ​

Regionally, WWH owns 11 hotels with more than 2,500 rooms in key tourism growth cities across Australia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. These assets reflect its mid-tier positioning and strategy of acquiring quality properties in high-potential markets, operated by established global partners. ​

Through sustainable practices, heartfelt hospitality, and strategic expansion, WWH redefines affordable travel and contributes meaningfully to the industry and community.​

www.wwhotels.com