FORMER Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts’ joint managing director and senior vice president marketing, Edwin Yeow, died this morning after battling cancer.
A ferocious marketeer who helped put the Banyan Tree brand on the map in its early years through his professional relationship with international tour operators and the media, Yeow fought as tenaciously for his life as he went through bone, brain and lung treatments in the last few years.
Ho Kwon Ping, founder and executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings, said: “Edwin was truly at the creation of Banyan Tree, and helmed the sales and marketing team, the brand positioning and marketing communications for more than a dozen years, until he retired to return home to Kuala Lumpur. He was an excellent marketeer but behind the very charming and articulate exterior was a very shy and deeply private man. His profound faith in his Christian beliefs and his loving family sustained him through the multiple cancers which should have taken his life years earlier, but gave him some bonus years.
“Edwin helped to establish the DNA of Banyan Tree and all of us remember him with great affection. He was a mentor to many, and a close friend and fellow traveller on the Banyan Tree journey. I shall miss him deeply.”
Yeow’s former team members at Banyan Tree also expressed their sadness.
Maisy Koh paid tribute to Yeow’s legendary fighting spirit, quirky humour, big vision and equally big heart. “Thank you for the wonderful memories, for being the person we were so proud to call our boss and showing us that despite the steely exterior, you have a heart of gold.
“In these couple of years since his diagnosis, he often gave us hope that miracles are possible. In typical Edwin fashion, he never gave up. His perseverance is nothing short of miraculous.”
“We had so many quirky, witty, animated and fond memories of Edwin,” said Jeannette Ho, now vice president revenue management and analytics at Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. “He will be remembered as larger than life.”
Yeow worked with Banyan Tree for 16 years and returned to Kuala Lumpur in 2008. He also joined YTL Hotels & Properties as executive vice president focusing on strategy and global marketing and was an advisor to Destination Resorts & Hotels.
