Resorts World Genting successfully wrapped up the second edition of Genting Sustainbiz 2025, a premier sustainability summit designed to shape the future of the hospitality and tourism industry.
The two-day event at the Genting International Convention Centre (GICC) was officiated by YBhg. Datuk Nor Yahati Binti Awang, Deputy Secretary (Environmental Sustainability), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES). She highlighted the importance of collective action to achieve Malaysia’s green goals and reaffirmed the government’s support for platforms that spark collaboration, innovation, and long-term stewardship.
MoU with MATTA: Driving Sustainable Tourism
A major milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA). This partnership makes MATTA the Strategic Partner for Genting Sustainbiz 2026, with its Malaysia Ecotourism Sustainability Initiative (MESTI) as a key feature. The collaboration strengthens Malaysia’s position as a leader in sustainable tourism.
Last year’s inaugural edition saw RM12 million worth of MoUs across plant-based F&B, plastic reduction, upcycling, and local agriculture. This year, Genting Sustainbiz expanded its commitments, fostering an ecosystem where global expertise meets local action.
From Conference Halls to Rainforests
The programme blended knowledge-sharing with immersive experiences. Attendees engaged in panel sessions, keynotes, business-matching, and showcases of sustainable innovations. Highlights included:
- Golf Networking Session – connecting leaders in a relaxed setting.
- Awana Trail Nature Immersion – a guided rainforest walk to deepen appreciation of biodiversity.
- Future Forward: Sustainable Innovation Challenge – held in partnership with Sustainable Food Asia, spotlighting startups and advancing sustainable food-tech solutions.
Leaders Call for Action
Spencer Lee, Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing & PR at Resorts World Genting, said:
“Sustainability is more than reducing our footprint, it is about
creating long-term value in a rapidly changing world. At Resorts World Genting, we view it as both a responsibility and an opportunity to shape a better future. Through Genting Sustainbiz 2025, we demonstrated how sustainable practices can drive innovation and resilience, while supporting the aspirations of Truly Malaysia 2026 and reinforcing the nation’s position as a forward-looking leader in sustainable progress.
Nigel Wong, President of MATTA, added:
“Sustainability should be viewed as both a responsibility and an opportunity to transform the way tourism is experienced. As we head towards Visit Malaysia 2026, our mission is crystal clear: we will ensure that Malaysia’s tourism not only welcomes the world, but does so with respect for our environment, our communities, and our future.”
World-Class Speakers and Global Perspectives
The summit hosted a global roster of sustainability leaders across hospitality, tourism, energy, food, design, and ESG. Notable speakers included:
- Assoc. Prof. Dr Daniel Chong (Sunway University), Jeffery Smith (Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas), Ailynn Seah (The Lumiere Consultancy), Issac Raj (Malaysian Association of Hotels), Jarut Treesookkasem (SGS Malaysia), Liew Yu Wei (WEIL Hotel) and Darren Yeo (Resorts World Genting) on sustainable hospitality.
- Linda (Heejung) Lee (Hirsh Bedner Associates), Sasha Tan (The Brand Shaper) and Arthur Huang (Miniwiz) on sustainable design and architecture.
- Dato’ Davis Chong (Solarvest Holdings), Danny Wong (FatHopes Energy), Jason Ng Yan Fu (Genting Power), Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi (ASEAN Centre for Energy) and Satoshi Umino (Sustainable Food Asia) on energy and climate solutions.
- Jean Tan (Atoz CarbonCycle) and Hiroyuki Hirano (IMP3GNO LLP) on sustainable agriculture.
- Jarod Ho (Pos Malaysia), Muhammad Shafiq Mohd Taib (MRANTI), Toby Berger (Unravel Carbon) and Muhammad Rizal Azmi (Bursa Malaysia) on sustainability and ESG.
- Dr Ong Kian Ming, former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, on governance and regulatory pathways.
Through these discussions, Genting Sustainbiz 2025 reinforced Malaysia’s role as a hub for sustainable innovation, collaboration, and ecotourism leadership.
