The CEO Masterclass 2025, held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), brought together Sabah’s top entrepreneurs to discuss how to navigate the “Death Valley” of business.
Kenji Yeo, founder of SabahTravel.com, shared his insights on resilience, leadership, and the role of innovation in driving business success in Sabah’s tourism industry.
Kenji’s journey to creating SabahTravel.com was shaped by his experiences during the 2015 Mount Kinabalu earthquake. Amidst a crisis that significantly affected the tourism industry, Kenji saw an opportunity to innovate. His solution? An integrated multi-operator booking platform that simplifies the travel experience for tourists while connecting them with local service providers. He believes in putting people before profit, a principle that has been key to his success.
“It was a very stressful time,” Kenji admitted, ”But we had to make decisions on the spot. That period taught me that no amount of money could resolve those situations, only resilience and a strong team."
SabahTravel.com is a game-changer in the tourism industry, providing a seamless online platform for tourists to easily book their travels and connect with local operators. Kenji’s vision for the platform is to provide an efficient, user-friendly experience that simplifies the booking process while boosting the local economy.
"The goal was to build a platform that made Sabah more accessible to everyone, whether you're travelling from Europe, Asia, or the U.S."
The Explore Sabah campaign, a collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, plays a pivotal role in promoting Sabah as a premier travel destination. Through this campaign, SabahTravel.com enhances its role as a comprehensive platform that connects tourists with a wide range of local experiences. By streamlining the booking process, SabahTravel.com supports a wide network of small and medium-sized tourism providers, helping them gain visibility and connect directly with global travellers.
Through the Explore Sabah campaign, the platform showcases the region’s diverse offerings, from its breathtaking landscapes to its rich cultural heritage, driving economic growth and supporting sustainable tourism. This collaborative effort creates new opportunities for local businesses, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are distributed across communities in Sabah.
Kenji Yeo’s work with SabahTravel.com demonstrates his commitment to fostering growth and collaboration within Sabah’s business community. His innovative approach to tourism and his focus on building sustainable, resilient businesses are models for other entrepreneurs in the region.
"I truly love Sabah,” Kenji shared, “It’s a place where you can reach islands, malls, the airport, and all infrastructure within 20 minutes. My vision has always been to showcase Sabah’s unique offerings to the world and make it easier for people to experience everything this beautiful state has to offer."
Kenji’s journey is a powerful reminder that businesses must focus on long-term, sustainable growth, and that collaboration is key to scaling beyond limits.