David Townend
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A new full-service golf and leisure management and consulting company has been launched.
Founded by Asian golf industry veteran
David Townend, Azalea Hospitality ‘aims to provide owners and developers a unique insight in how to maximise their investments in the leisure sector by creating a structure that meets the shifting demands of modern society’.
Townend said: “The prime focus at Azalea will be on providing exciting and innovative solutions that help our clients best navigate the shifting trends in consumer habits.
“The golf and leisure industry need to evolve and embrace the initiatives that have already been seen in other hospitality sectors, to yield the required returns. The younger generation’s taste and preferences have largely been ignored in the development and operations of golf and leisure projects, which is something we see as a great opportunity.”
Based in Kuala Lumpur, the company will focus on providing management and consulting services to developers and owners throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Prior to establishing Azalea Hospitality, Townend spent 25 years in Asia working with international hospitality management firms, including Starwood Hotels & Resorts, IMG and Troon Golf, the latter where he was in charge of business development and operations for the Asia Pacific region.
During Townend’s time at Sheshan International Golf Club, the Shanghai club hosted the WGC HSBC Champions.
Most recently, he was Senior Vice President for the Malaysian Government’s sovereign wealth funded, Khazanah Nasional owned Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels, where he spearheaded the development and opening of the Els Club Desaru Coast and Els Club Teluk Datai, a Golf Course Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
