Dubai-based entrepreneur Malou Q. Prado has been announced as one of the Circle of Excellence Awardees for the Figari Entrepreneur of the Year category at the prestigious Asia CEO Awards 2024. Prado, the only Dubai-based company owner recognized in this category, is being honored for her remarkable business achievements in the travel industry.
Prado’s inspiring journey from humble beginnings to success reflects her unwavering determination. Arriving in the UAE in 2005, she started from the bottom, taking on various jobs before transitioning into the travel industry. In 2013, she founded MPQ Travel & Tourism, which has since grown into a multi-branch operation with offices in Dubai, the United States, and the Philippines. Despite the challenges of running a business during the COVID-19 pandemic, Prado’s agency continued to expand, earning her recognition as a multi-awarded Filipina businesswoman.
Among her recent accolades are the Excellence in Corporate Best in Travel & Tourism 2024 by Gulf News and BeingShe, the Excellence in Travel Entrepreneurship Award by The Global Filipino Icon Awards 2024, and the Business Excellence in Tourism award by Westford Awards 2023. She was also a finalist in the Model OFW Family of the Year Awards by the Department of Migrant Workers and received the ‘Kabayan’ Award in 2022 from Go Negosyo.
Prado expressed her gratitude for the honor, saying, “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication my team and I have put into MPQ Travel & Tourism. My journey wasn’t easy, but with perseverance, faith, and the support of my husband, we made it through. I hope this achievement inspires other Filipinos to pursue their dreams no matter the odds.”
The Asia CEO Awards, one of the largest business awards events in Southeast Asia, celebrates outstanding leaders and organizations contributing to economic growth and international recognition. The awards include categories like the Airspeed SME Company of the Year, KMC Solutions Woman Leader of the Year, CEO of the Year, and more. The 2024 awards ceremony will take place on October 8, 2024, at the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom.