Luxury in Asia doesn’t just come with a price tag—it comes with a pedigree. Behind some of the region’s most exquisite resorts are families whose names carry the weight of empires, whether in real estate, industry or longstanding influence. These aren’t just hospitality ventures; they are passion projects with infinity pools, heritage architecture and private-island privacy. From tropical hideaways to hotel empires, here are the families turning personal legacy into five-star escapism.
1. The Kwee family (Singapore)
The Kwee family, through the privately held Pontiac Land Group, has established a legacy of luxury hospitality that spans continents. In Singapore, their portfolio includes iconic properties such as The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Conrad Centennial and Capella Singapore. Their international ventures encompass developments like the Fari Islands in the Maldives, featuring The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Patina Maldives and the upcoming Capella Maldives. With a commitment to architectural excellence and bespoke experiences, the Kwee family’s influence in the luxury hotel industry is profound and far-reaching.
2. The Ongpin family (Philippines)
As far as hotel empires go, this one is more modest but just as impactful. The late tycoon Roberto Ongpin’s legacy lives on in Balesin Island Club, developed under Alphaland Corporation. This exclusive, members-only island features themed villages—from Mykonos to Phuket—offering a jet-set fantasy without leaving the Philippines. The Ongpin family’s eye for indulgent, hyper-curated detail turned Balesin into a byword for elite escape.
3. The Oberoi family (India)
The Oberoi family, through the illustrious Oberoi Group, operates the most iconic luxury hotels across India and beyond. Think The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, a lakefront fantasy of domes and marble; The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra, which offers every room a view of the Taj Mahal; and The Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur, an opulent retreat that channels royal Rajasthan. These properties are synonymous with impeccable service, heritage-rich design and the kind of hushed elegance that whispers old money.
4. The Lagdameo family (Philippines)
Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Davao is owned by the family of Anton Lagdameo Jr, husband to actress Dawn Zulueta. Once a pearl farm, it’s now a premier destination marrying Mindanao’s cultural depth with refined relaxation. Think Maranao-inspired architecture, world-class diving and thoughtful heritage preservation wrapped in island-luxe comfort.
5. The Kadoorie family (Hong Kong)
The Kadoorie family owns and operates The Peninsula Hotels through The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH). Established in 1866, HSH is a publicly listed company in Hong Kong, with the Kadoorie family holding a significant stake. The Peninsula name is shorthand for quiet power and timeless luxury—flagship properties like The Peninsula Hong Kong and The Peninsula Tokyo continue to set the standard for urban glamour.
6. The Hoshino family (Japan)
The Hoshino family has been at the helm of Hoshino Resorts since its inception in 1904. Once a forestry business, it evolved into a hospitality group that redefined traditional ryokan and eco-luxury. Now led by fourth-generation Yoshiharu Hoshino, the brand’s portfolio—from Hoshinoya Tokyo to nature-forward resorts like Kai and Risonare—merges deep Japanese sensibilities with modern sustainability.
7. The Tata family (India)
Through the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), the Tata family operates Taj Hotels—a cornerstone of India’s luxury hospitality. Their crown jewel, The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, has hosted royalty, rockstars and revolutionaries since 1903. Across palaces-turned-resorts and contemporary five stars, the Tata family’s influence is an enduring thread in the fabric of South Asian elegance.
8. The Acuzar family (Philippines)
Visionary developer Jose “Jerry” Acuzar turned heritage into hospitality with Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. This open-air museum and resort features transplanted and restored ancestral homes from all over the Philippines—an ambitious feat of cultural preservation. Operated by Marivent Resort Hotel Inc, Las Casas is a love letter to Filipino architecture, wrapped in five-star treatment and visual poetry.
9. The Hartono family (Indonesia)
They’re better known for clove cigarettes and high finance than scented candles and spa menus, but when Indonesia’s richest family gets into hospitality, they commit fully. The Hartonos, via their Djarum Group, operate the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta, a grand dame of Southeast Asian luxury and a fixture in the capital since the 1960s. Nestled within the Hartono-owned Grand Indonesia complex, this hotel isn’t just a place to check in, it’s a statement of national prestige and private opulence.
Unlike legacy hoteliers, the Hartonos treat hospitality as part of a wider empire: from tobacco to tech and now, high-thread-count sheets. Still, when your name is on the most iconic hotel in Jakarta, you’ve more than earned your seat at the table, even if you didn’t start with bellhops and bathrobes.
10. The Siriphatrawan family (Thailand)
Thailand’s Siriphatrawan family has quietly maintained a hospitality lineage for over two decades. With Earp Siriphatrawan at the helm, the family continues to run properties such as the Amora Hotel Jamison in Sydney. Refusing to be absorbed by conglomerates, their independent operations are a statement of boutique autonomy in a globalised industry.
11. The Tiu family (Philippines)
Under Discovery World Corporation, the Tiu family continues to elevate the Philippine resort experience. From Discovery Shores Boracay, a mainstay on luxury travel lists, to the upcoming Kip&Kin Siargao (opening 2027), designed to appeal to millennials and Gen Z, their projects are trend-aware yet tasteful. Chairman John Y Tiu Jr’s leadership signals a next-gen focus: fresh, tech-savvy and attuned to millennial wanderlust.
12. The Hadiprana family (Indonesia)
The Hadiprana legacy lives on at Tanah Gajah in Ubud, Bali—once the private estate of renowned architect Hendra Hadiprana. Today, the resort preserves his artistic vision with sculpture gardens, Balinese pavilions and galleries. Managed by his descendants, Tanah Gajah offers an immersive stay that feels both personal and patrician.
13. The Tan family (Philippines)
Andrew Tan, founder of Megaworld Corporation and Alliance Global Group, has significantly influenced the Philippine hospitality landscape. Under his leadership, the family developed Newport World Resorts in Manila, a premier integrated resort complex. Additionally, through Global-Estate Resorts Inc, they have established luxury destinations like Twin Lakes in Tagaytay and Boracay Newcoast, fusing upscale living with tourism.
14. The Cheng family (Hong Kong)
Apart from the renowned Chow Tai Fook Jewellery, the Cheng family operates Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, which controls New World Development, the property company that has been instrumental in shaping Hong Kong’s luxury real estate and hospitality sectors, as well as Rosewood Hotel Group, which manages high-profile properties like the Rosewood Hong Kong and Rosewood Beijing. These establishments are renowned for their sophisticated design and exceptional service, embodying the family’s dedication to excellence.
15. The Kuok family (Malaysia)
The Kuok family, through the Shangri-La Group, has built one of the world’s most recognisable luxury hospitality brands. Founded by tycoon Robert Kuok, the group’s portfolio spans more than 100 hotels and resorts across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. In addition to flagship properties like the Shangri-La Singapore and Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong, the brand has expanded with new concepts such as Kerry Hotels and Hotel Jen, targeting younger and more lifestyle-driven travellers. The Kuok family is known for combining Asian hospitality with world-class service.
By Sarah Lim
