Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026: The panellists
Meet the experts behind this year’s Cathay Members’ Choice Awards nominees
We’re proud to bring you the third edition of the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards, our annual awards celebrating the best of the best in Hong Kong, Asia and beyond. This year, the awards span 15 categories across five pillars – Dining, Travel and Lifestyle, Hotels, Hong Kong, and Destinations, to be voted on by our community of discerning, well-travelled members.
But who selected the 60 nominees that made the cut? Meet our panel of international travel and lifestyle experts, who have drawn on their deep industry knowledge and extensive personal experience to curate the shortlist. Learn more about their professional experience and perspectives before casting your vote for your favourite brands and experiences.
Voting in the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards is open to all Cathay members from 1–21 June 2026. Not a member yet? Sign up today to take part.
The Cathay Members’ Choice Awards panellists
Jacqueline Tsang
Luxury travel expert
Jacqueline Tsang is a seasoned editorial chief and luxury media strategist with nearly two decades of experience shaping leading lifestyle platforms across Asia. Formerly the regional head of content at Tatler Asia, she is now a partner at Revamont , where she creates bespoke travel experiences for discerning clientele. She believes the more “un-Google-able” a travel experience, the better: “The most memorable moments are so authentic that they rarely appear in ‘best of’ searches.”
Chris Dwyer
Food and travel journalist
A London-based food and travel writer, Chris Dwyer spent 17 formative years in Hong Kong, where he became a leading voice on Asia’s culinary and luxury travel scene. His work, which often explores the intersection of culture, gastronomy and remote luxury, has appeared in the Financial Times, CNN Travel, BBC Travel and Travel + Leisure. This unapologetic overpacker admits he rarely travels light, often returning home with a suitcase or two filled with local food and wine.
佟熙ISSAC (Issac Tong)
Travel and urban storyteller
Born in Guangzhou, Issac Tong founded Guangzhou City Walk while running his namesake Little Red Book account, 佟熙ISSAC . By filming morning markets, flower stalls and everyday street scenes, he hopes to share the vibrancy and texture of life across the Greater Bay Area with a global audience – a vision supported by his collaborations with major international brands including Swire Group and HSBC. When it comes to travel, he’s a strong advocate of getting lost: in Paris, a wrong turn led him to trying a street-side hot dog, which turned out to be the best he’s ever had. “Sometimes, travel is about the destination. Other times, it’s about the adventure along the way.”
Kelvin Yuen
Fine art landscape photographer
“Buy a ticket to anywhere without a plan, and embrace the unexpected.” That’s the kind of travel Kelvin Yuen , an internationally acclaimed fine art landscape photographer from Hong Kong, believes everyone should try at least once. The only Chinese artist to have won both the International Landscape Photographer of the Year and the Epson International Pano Awards, Kelvin has captured everything from Hong Kong’s geological marvels to the remote valleys of Xizang autonomous region and jagged peaks of Patagonia. Next up is the Karakoram Range in Pakistan, where K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, awaits.
Captain Janet Leung
Cathay Pacific Deputy Flying Training Manager
For more than 13 years, Captain Janet Leung has built her life in the skies. Currently the Deputy Flying Training Manager and an Airbus A321neo captain at Cathay Pacific, she’s honed her skills in the cockpit while also overseeing the pilot training pipeline for cadets. In life, she balances the precision and discipline of aviation with the profound joys and unpredictability of motherhood. Travelling with her family has become a shared passion, shaped by her daughter’s curiosity and a growing sense of wonder about the world. “In December, we had the perfect family trip,” she says. “We started in sun-soaked Nha Trang, then went snowboarding in Hokkaido, and finished in Fukuoka for great food and shopping. For me, every trip is a chance to make new memories and grow closer.”
Kirby Ip
Food and travel specialist
For top Canadian food and travel creator Kirby Ip, an early love of sharing great food has evolved into a globe-trotting career. Since launching her blog and Instagram over 15 years ago, she’s seen her following grow to more than 600,000 fans. Sharing simple recipes and authentic travel recommendations, Kirby spotlights everything from street food and hidden gems to destination restaurants. Her travel experience that everyone should try at least once: “Booking a ryokan in Hakone or Kawaguchiko with a mountain view and private onsen, so you can soak in the tub while watching the spectacle that is Mount Fuji.”
Crystal KeiKei
Luxury travel journalist and videographer
The founder of KeiKei Travels , Crystal is a luxury travel journalist and videographer known for her in-depth coverage of hotels, destinations and lifestyle experiences. Born in Scotland with roots in Hong Kong, she has a global perspective shaped by a lifetime between the UK and Asia. Among her many adventures, one in particular stands out: “My husband planned a surprise trip to Lake Garda in 2018. He proposed at the ruins of Grotte di Catullo at sunset – it was one of those rare, perfect moments that felt almost cinematic.”
Ryan Smith
Travel editor and rewards specialist
After hearing someone say they flew to the Chinese Mainland for free with their miles, Ryan Smith was hooked. A digital nomad who has worked in the points and credit card space since 2016, the dual US-Brazilian citizen has become a leading voice on reward travel, and in 2023 he achieved his goal of visiting every country in the world. Now, he’s revisiting favourite destinations – with Colombia up next – while working as the news managing editor at Upgraded Points and contributing to outlets including CNBC, Forbes Advisor, The Points Guy and USA Today.
Shaun Birley
Men’s style and travel expert
Brisbane-based content creator Shaun Birley specialises in men’s style alongside carefully curated travel and dining advice. Across Instagram and TikTok , he’s amassed a worldwide following by dressing impeccably for every occasion, whether stopping by a cha chaan teng or heading to the Australian Grand Prix. A lifelong explorer, he gravitates towards sidestreet boutiques and tucked-away cafés that rarely make it into guidebooks. His most memorable experience to date? “Riding horses across the Mongolian desert and mountains.”
Gloria Chung
Food and travel journalist
Multi-hyphenate Hongkonger Gloria Chung is a food and travel journalist, food stylist and artist. In addition to running her popular Instagram account, FoodandtravelHK , she writes for publications such as Harper’s Bazaar and the Michelin Guide, and founded The Props Dept , the city’s first food-focused props house. For her next trip, she has her sights set on the country of Georgia, widely considered the birthplace of wine, and makes a great case for visiting Bali in the rainy season when “everything feels more poetic”.
Uncle K (Kent Wong)
Hong Kong food and culture content creator
“Food is the people’s heaven,” says Kent Wong, the author, entrepreneur and Hong Kong-based creator behind Uncle K . Followed by nearly one million people across his channels, Uncle K documents the city’s culinary landscape with warmth and authenticity, exploring everything from six-seat noodle shops to dim sum, sushi and Korean barbecue joints. His travel philosophy feels like an extension of his content: “Make a sincere effort to meet local people – they’ll guide you to the most authentic food and share local customs.”
Nicky Kelvin
Aviation and loyalty expert
Nicky Kelvin is a triple Webby Award-winning aviation and travel expert, an award-winning photographer, and Senior Director at The Points Guy , where he decodes premium travel and loyalty for a global audience. On his own social platforms , he aims to make first-class experiences and miles-and-points mastery accessible to millions. A lifelong aviation geek, he chooses the window seat every time, “marvelling at the world” – a reminder of the wonder that first drew him to travel.
Wilhelm Chang
Professional travel photographer
Taipei-based travel photographer Wilhelm Chang is dedicated to capturing the unique character of the remote places he visits. His work spans extreme environments – from the Arctic Circle to the Sahara – with a focus on arresting landscapes, architecture and wildlife. Featured by National Geographic, Time Out and more, he brings a technically precise and distinctly personal aesthetic to every image. As you might expect, he also favours the window seat, often photographing the shifting light and terrain below.
Blondie in China (Amy Lyons)
Food and travel storyteller
Amy Lyons, the creator behind Blondie in China , is a food and travel storyteller who immerses viewers in local experiences on YouTube, Instagram and Chinese social media platforms. Originally from Australia, she has spent over a decade exploring the Chinese Mainland’s food culture and now runs her own food tours. When it comes to hidden gems, she points to Guizhou – “an underrated province with bold, spicy, sour flavours, jaw-dropping landscapes (Fanjingshan is a must), and even the world’s largest matcha factory.”
Zach Griff
Travel journalist and rewards expert
The founder of From the Tray Table – a newsletter covering airlines, loyalty programmes and travel trends – Zach Griff counts more than 350,000 followers across platforms. Whether through his newsletter or on Instagram , the travel expert helps readers maximise their rewards with industry insights and practical tips. Previously a senior reporter at The Points Guy, his work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and beyond. Lately, he’s been dreaming of returning to Il San Pietro di Positano – an “absolutely perfect” hotel where he and his wife celebrated their honeymoon.