Founder of public-listed Hotel Properties, Ong Beng Seng is a fixture in Singapore’s business scene, having long been involved in hotel investment and management, property development and retail.

The Malaysian tycoon started Hotel Properties in 1980 as a private limited company to acquire the Hilton Singapore for SG$72 million. The group steadily purchased hotels and properties at prime locations such as Orchard Road, and started to expand to countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada and the southern United States.

With his wife Christina, Ong ventured into fashion in the 1990s. They launched the Club 21 chain, which dealt in brands such as Armani and DKNY. Ong and his wife also own a 56 per cent stake in British leather-goods company Mulberry.

Among other projects, Hotel Properties is currently planning the mixed-use One Dojima Project in Osaka, Japan, a skyscraper set to include a new Four Seasons hotel. The high-rise tower will also feature condo residences by Brillia, which will act as a base for tourism and business. As part of the Cuscaden Peak consortium, Hotel Properties also acquired local media giant Singapore Press Holdings in 2022.