Song Hoi See
Founder & CEO, Plaza Premium Group
Song Hoi See is the visionary Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Plaza Premium Group (PPG), the global leader in airport hospitality services which touches over 30 million passengers annually across 150 countries. After a successful career in investment banking, Mr. Song embarked on his entrepreneurial journey, and he would travel economy class. He realized that only 15% of air passengers, those flying in business or first class had access to airport lounges. To address this gap in the market, he launched Plaza Premium Lounge, the world’s first independent airport lounge, in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur in 1998 democratizing lounge access for all travellers. Through his pioneering vision, Mr. Song revolutionized the airport hospitality experience worldwide.
The company has grown to 14 diverse brands in over 600 international and domestic airports in 150 countries. PPG has won over 177 accolades, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to service excellence. Notably, the group has received the prestigious “Best Independent Airport Lounge” award at the World Airline Awards by Skytrax for nine consecutive years from 2016 to 2025. With over 28 years of experience, Mr. Song has been instrumental in transforming the global airport hospitality landscape. Plaza Premium Group is now recognized as the world’s largest provider of airport hospitality services, integrating innovation and technology to deliver a 360° award-winning travel experience. This includes lounges, airport terminal hotels, dining concepts, concierge services, and a digital travel experience platform. The group employs 7,000 professionals from more than 80 nationalities, reflecting its global reach and commitment to diversity.
Mr. Song has been conferred the honorary title of Datuk Wira by the Government of Malaysia in 2025. The award was officially bestowed in recognition of his outstanding contributions to entrepreneurship, the global travel and hospitality industry, and his dedication to raising Malaysia’s profile on the world stage. The title Datuk Wira is one of Malaysia’s distinguished federal honours. It is accorded to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service, leadership, and achievement that bring pride and benefit to the nation.
Mr. Song’s contributions have not gone unnoticed; he has received numerous accolades including: Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and Master Entrepreneur of the Year for Malaysia in 2018, as well as the Business Excellence Person of the Year at the Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards in 2017.
In 2024, he was honoured with the “Malaysia-China Outstanding Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award,” co-presented by notable organizations including KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific. In addition to his role at PPG, Mr. Song serves as a founding member and Chairman of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong & Macau). His leadership continues to drive PPG’s mission of making travel better for all, ensuring that every passenger enjoys a seamless and enriching airport experience.
ABOUT PLAZA PREMIUM GROUP
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) is the global leader in integrated airport hospitality and passenger service solutions, operating the largest network of airport lounges worldwide and offering a 360-degree airport hospitality experience with 14 brands under its portfolio, operating in 150 countries across 600 international and domestic airports and serving 30 million passengers annually.
With a mission to Make Travel Better, the group introduced the world’s first independent airport lounge concept in 1998. Plaza Premium Lounge, Plaza Premium First - award-winning airport lounges, Aerotel - the world’s largest airport transit hotel chain, Refreshhh by Aerotel, ALLWAYS - airport passenger services, airport dining concepts, Smart Traveller - innovative digital experience and rewards platform, and One Travel Experience Ecosystem (OneTECO), the group is at the forefront of transforming airport experiences for the better through innovative and human-led solutions. PPG’s commitment extends beyond its brands, as it also provides lounge management and hospitality solutions to leading airlines, alliances, and corporations worldwide. Plaza Premium Group has over 177 accolades, demonstrating its exceptional achievements and commitment to service excellence. Notably, the group has received the prestigious “World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge” award at the World Airline Awards by Skytrax for nine consecutive years from 2016 to 2025. With a team of over 7,000 dedicated professionals worldwide, and through a continuous pursuit of innovation and excellence, the group is experiencing exponential growth globally.
To learn more: https://www.plazapremiumgroup.com/
