KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 18): Some 600 members of the who’s who list from Malaysia and abroad, attended Genting Group’s 50th anniversary celebrations last Saturday (Aug 15) which saw them treated to a weekend of good food, drinks, music and fine collections.

Themed “Forging Ahead”, the highlight of the festivities was a black-tie gala dinner held at the Grand Ballroom of the Genting Convention Centre, read a release from the group today.

“Today we celebrate Genting’s 50th Anniversary. It is the founder Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong’s vision and ideas that propelled us in all our achievements.  

“It is him who has firmly shaped Genting’s corporate DNA and laid a strong foundation for the Genting and Resorts World brand to gain its worldwide recognition,” said Genting Group chairman and chief executive Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay in his speech that evening.

He said Genting Group has grown from a modest beginning with a 200-room hotel in Genting Highlands to being a global player now that operates diversified businesses in more than 10 countries across three continents.

“It has created employment for more than 60,000 employees around the world and in addition to leisure and hospitality, its businesses include plantations, property development, biotechnology, oil and gas, power generation and leisure cruising,” Lim said.

He also said Genting’s economic contribution today is not only confined to Malaysian shores, as the group has presence in the UK where Resorts World Birmingham will soon be the first integrated resort there.

In South Korea, the company is also developing Resorts World Jeju that will offer world class integrated resort, which is inclusive of serviced apartments and residential villas.

This year, Genting has also broken ground to build Resorts World Las Vegas, he noted.

The gala dinner was graced by Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai as the guest of honour.

Also present were: Genting Group deputy chairman Tun Mohamed Hanif Omar, Genting Group president and chief operating officer (COO) Tan Kong Han, Genting Malaysia Bhd president and COO Datuk Seri Lee Choong Yan, Genting Plantation president and COO Yong Chee Kong, and Genting Singapore president and COO Tan Hee Teck.

Guests were also entertained by multiple Grammy winner David Foster, and his friends, namely Jackie Evanho, Natalie Cole, Boyz2Men, Ruben Studdard and Peter Cetera.

“The celebrations left a lasting impression on privileged guests, and were a taste of things to come not only at Resorts World Genting, but across the entire globe,” read the statement.