Malou Q. Prado, a remarkable Filipina entrepreneur, has been honored with the Excellence in Corporate: Best in Travel & Tourism award at the prestigious Excellence Awards 2024, presented by Gulf News and BeingShe. The ceremony took place at the iconic Museum of the Future.
Malou Prado’s journey is a testament to resilience and determination. She arrived in Dubai in 2005, overcoming poverty and working various low-paying jobs. Her breakthrough came when she joined a travel agency, where she learned the industry’s intricacies. In 2013, she founded MPQ Travel and Tourism, which has since expanded with branches in Dubai, Las Vegas, and the Philippines. Despite facing challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, Prado’s business thrived, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit.
Prado has an impressive list of accolades. She won the Business Excellence in Tourism award by Westford Awards in 2023, was a ‘Kabayan’ Awardee in 2022 by Go Negosyo, and was honored as the ‘Woman of Substance 2022’ by Asia Leader Awards. Additionally, she was hailed as a ‘Global Filipino Icon 2022’ by The Global Filipino Magazine and was nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year under the Personal Category at the Middle East Excellence Award in 2022. Her influence was recognized when she was included in the 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf by Illustrado Magazine in 2019, and she was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by The Filipino Times Award in 2017. That same year, she was also named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf Brand Champions by Illustrado Magazine.
Furthermore, Prado was listed among the Top 40 Successful Filipinos in the UAE and featured in the 168-page book ‘Behind the Domes of Majestic Mosques: The Untold Success Stories of Filipinos in the UAE’ by Ulysses V. Espatero. She has also been featured on “Hello OFW” by Action Man Mr. Raffy “Idol” Tulfo.
Prado attributes her success to perseverance, faith, and unwavering support from her husband. Her story of transformation from a struggling immigrant to a celebrated entrepreneur is an inspiration to many.
The Excellence Awards 2024, organized by BeingShe, aims to recognize and celebrate the talents and achievements of women worldwide. The esteemed jury panel included Dr. Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai; Ismail Al Naqi, Director General of the Free Zones Authority of Ajman; Shaikha Ebrahim Al Mutawa, Director of Hospitality Affairs Department in the Department of Economic & Tourism (DET); Paras Shahdadpuri, Chairman of the Nikai Group of Companies; and Salima Gutieva, Vice President and Country Manager for UAE at Visa.
The event encourages women to showcase their talents on a global platform, promoting inner drive, self-motivation, and passion-led growth.