MalaysiaAsia Tourism Awards
Over the years, I never set out to win awards. I started Malaysia Asia back in 2007 simply because I loved travelling, writing, and sharing what I found on the road. But somewhere between the long bus rides, the jungle treks, and the countless hours spent in front of a laptop typing up destination guides, a few people in the tourism industry took notice.
To date, I have won three major tourism awards across three different bodies — Sabah Tourism, Tourism Malaysia, and the Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Awards. Each one came as a surprise, and each one meant something different to me at the time.
Here is the full story of how it all happened.
Sabah Tourism Awards 2011 — Best Online Media
The first award I ever won came out of nowhere — quite literally.
The Sabah Tourism Awards (STA) are held every two years and are among the most prestigious events on Sabah’s tourism calendar. The black-tie ceremony has been running since 1997, inaugurated to celebrate the achievements of Sabah’s tourism industry and recognise commitment to excellence. It is held at the Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu, and nominees span every corner of the industry — from hotels and resorts to front-liners, agencies, and the media.
I was invited to attend the sixth STA ceremony, but I was told nothing more than that — just an invitation to a black-tie event. It wasn’t until I landed in Kota Kinabalu after a flight from Kuala Lumpur that my designated guide picked me up from the airport and casually informed me that I had actually been nominated under the Award for Best Tourism Article and Documentary on Sabah in the Online Media category.
You should have seen my face.
I had no idea. And I had about a few hours to process that before I was walking through the doors of the Magellan Ballroom, dressed in a black suit with a gold tie, surrounded by some of the most prominent names in Sabah’s tourism industry.
The night was full of energy. Local celebrity Che’Nelle — the Malaysian-Australian singer known internationally for her hit I Fell In Love With The DJ — performed three numbers that got the crowd excited. And then, to close out the night, the Sabah Tourism Board staff came out in their suits and gowns and performed the Shuffle to LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem, right there on the stage. Some guests even joined in on the dance floor.
When my name was called for Best Online Media, I honestly could not believe it. This was my first actual physical award for Malaysia Asia — three and a half years into travel blogging —, and I had not expected it for a single moment.
At the end of the night, I was introduced to Sabah’s Tourism Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun, by the STB General Manager, the late Datuk Irene Benggon, and had my photo taken with him. It was one of those moments I will not forget. Read my main article about winning the Sabah Tourism Awards.
Tourism Malaysia Awards 2012/2013 — Best Tourism Article for Blog
The second award came three years later, and it was accompanied by one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.
The Malaysia Tourism Awards are widely regarded as the “Oscars” of Malaysia’s tourism industry — 48 prestigious awards presented to the top players across every sector. The 2012/2013 ceremony was held on 20th February 2014 at the Grand Ballroom of KLCC, and was attended by VIPs, industry leaders, and a judging panel of 59 judges.
What made this particular award significant was that 2013 was the very first year the Ministry of Tourism introduced a blog category. I had submitted one of my articles back in June 2013 and then, to be honest, completely forgot about it. I was on the road as usual — travelling around Malaysia and across Asia — and it slipped my mind entirely.
In mid-January 2014, I received an invitation to attend the gala dinner in Kuala Lumpur. There was no mention of being a finalist or nominee. I replied yes and carried on with my work. It wasn’t until two days before the event that I received a final reminder.
The dress code was strictly black tie, which meant a rare night in a suit for me. Walking into that rainforest-themed ballroom at KLCC, mingling with VIPs and old friends I hadn’t seen in years, I felt genuinely refreshed — I’m usually at these kinds of events as a member of the media, not as a guest.
Malaysian Idol winner Jaclyn Victor performed after dinner, and then the award presentations began. When the MC announced that there were 82 nominees across the media categories, I told myself there was no chance. Sitting at my table as the winners were called one by one — Best Magazine, Best English Article, Best Chinese Article — I had moved on entirely. I was busy cutting into my Charred Beef Tenderloin and had just put a piece in my mouth.
Then the MC announced:
“Best Tourism Article for Blog — David Hogan Jr, Malaysia Asia.”
My heart just dropped. I grabbed my napkin, wiped my mouth, stood up, and made my way to the stage. It was only halfway there that I realised I still had a chunk of tenderloin in my mouth. I was chewing as fast as I could while walking up toward the Tourism Minister, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri. I managed to swallow just before reaching him, apologised for chewing, shook his hand, and he congratulated me.
Standing on that stage, with Janice photographing from below and a sea of television cameras behind her, I was completely speechless.
It was probably one of the proudest moments of my life — and simultaneously one of the most embarrassing. A huge thank you to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and Tourism Malaysia for this award, and to all 59 members of the judging panel who made it possible. Read the full article about me winning the Best Tourism Article on Malaysia.
Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Awards 2015/2016 — Best Tourism Online Article
The third award came in November 2017 at the Imperial Hotel in Kuching, Sarawak.
The Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Awards (SHTA) is the state’s most prestigious tourism industry recognition, held every two years. First introduced in 2003, it recognises individuals and organisations whose contributions have driven the development of Sarawak’s tourism sector. For the 7th edition covering the 2015/2016 period, 28 winners were selected from across various categories after a thorough judging process, along with 6 Special Recognition awards.
I had been actively writing about Sarawak for five to six years by this point — covering destinations from the Kelabit Highlands to the coast, from longhouse stays to the rainforests of Malaysian Borneo. I was invited as a finalist under the Best Tourism Online Article Published on Sarawak category.
The winning article was my piece on Ba’Kelalan, a remote highland area in northern Sarawak, published in 2016. It was selected from among submissions that also included photography and printed media work.
The event was a black-tie affair attended by dignitaries, including the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari, who also once served as Sarawak’s Tourism Minister. In his opening speech, he spoke about new tourism products being launched and encouraged industry players to embrace the digital age — something that felt particularly meaningful given that my win was in the online category.
When my name was called for Best Tourism Online Article for Sarawak, I was ecstatic. Sarawak has always held a special place in my travels, and to be recognised by the state itself for the work I had put into writing about it over the years meant a great deal.
I want to thank the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, the Sarawak Tourism Board, and all the friends and acquaintances I have made over many years of travelling to Sarawak. The hospitality of the people there is what keeps me coming back. Read my individual article on winning the Sarawak Hornbill Awards.
A Note on What These Awards Mean
Three awards from three different tourism bodies. None of them was planned, none of them was campaigned for, and honestly, none of them was expected.
When I started Malaysia Asia in 2007, the idea was simple — write about Malaysia and Asia in a way that was useful and honest, based on real experience. The awards have been a reminder that doing that consistently, over years, does get noticed.
To everyone who has read Malaysia Asia, shared articles, left comments, or simply found the site helpful when planning a trip — thank you. These awards belong to you as much as they do to me.
I will keep writing.
— David Hogan Jr, Founder and Editor, Malaysia Asia
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