Cambodia Leadership Review
LIGHTINTERVIEWWith over two decades of experience shapingSihanoukville’s hospitality landscape, DavidRichard Dobson brings deep-rooted expertise anda bold, forward-looking vision to his role as SeniorBusiness Development Director at Bay of Lights. As one of Cambodia’s most ambitious mixed-usecoastal developments, Bay of Lights is more than areal estate project—it’s a statement of intent.
From championing international hospitalitystandards to redefining the region’s identity as alifestyle and investment destination, Dobson ishelping to steer a transformative journey forCambodia’s southern coast.
From Hotelier to Leadership
CLR: With over 20 years shaping Sihanoukville’s hospitality scene and a track record of successful hospitality ventures, you’ve witnessed its evolution firsthand. As Senior Business Development Director for Bay of Lights, what fuels your leadership approach in shaping a destination led project of this scale, and what key principles guide your team as you push through this pivotal stage of growth?
I’ve been part of Sihanoukville’s story for over two decades — I know this coastline and the islands inside and out. From managing multiple hotels to leading experiential diving excursions in the Koh Rong archipelago, I’ve lived through the highs and the quiet moments of this city’s evolution. What I’ve learned is that success here demands more than vision; it takes grit, resilience, adaptability, and a real connection to place.
Hospitality, to me, has never just been a business—it’s a cultural driver, a community anchor. That experience has shaped how I lead today: building not structures, but ecosystems. Bay of Lights isn’t a conventional development — it’s 934 hectares of intentional design, blending coastal living, next-generation infrastructure, and lifestyle experiences.
What key principles guide your team
What drives me now is the chance to help reshape how the world sees Sihanoukville. Where some saw a place that had lost its way, we saw untapped potential. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this chapter — not just for Bay of Lights, but for Cambodia’s coastline.
Read More: Bay of Lights: A Bold Step Forward in Cambodia’s Coastal Transformation
We’re building something that’s never existed here before: a destination that draws people in — not just to visit, but to stay, invest, and be part of something lasting.
What guides our team through this next phase is clear: Developing international standards, local authenticity, creating local opportunities and the belief that when you build with intention and integrity, people respond. That’s what keeps us moving forward.
Hospitality at the Heart of Bay of Lights
Bay of Lights is emerging as Cambodia’s premier mixed-use coastal development. How are you integrating hospitality and F&B experiences into the broader development, and what sets it apart from other coastal developments in the region?
Hospitality and F&B aren’t just add-ons — they are an integral part of the full experience; built directly into the lifestyle we’re creating. Take Summer Bay Beach Club & Cabins for example: a seaside getaway for families, couples, and groups for visitors from all over the world looking to disconnect and enjoy some classic beachside hospitality. The Beach Club restaurant serves Asian and Western flavors that invite you to slow down and connect with the coast, that will reset you during your stay into that holiday mode.
But hospitality here goes well beyond F&B. Summer Bay’s pool bar is a social hub — whether it’s cocktails by the pool or evening beach parties, it’s designed to bring people together. The venue also offers flexible spaces for everything from corporate meetings to private celebrations, with capacity for up to 500 guests across indoor and outdoor areas.
What sets Bay of Lights apart is how naturally these experiences combine — we’re building a coastal destination that can merge all of these ideals together… comfort, culture, innovation, and connection — something truly unique in the region. It’s a place where business travelers, tourists, and locals all come to live, work, play, and be a part of something bigger, and I believe we are starting to see that come to life now.
IFC Building
CLR: The International Financial Center Building is central to Bay of Lights’ financial development pillar. How will the IFC Building help shape the future of Sihanoukville’s economy, and what long-term role will it play within Sihanoukville’s evolving financial landscape?
The IFC Building is one of our six core pillars. It represents the financial backbone of our master plan and built to help shift Sihanoukville from a traditional port into a regional financial gateway.
From the outset, we’ve been deliberate in our approach: we’ve built Sihanoukville’s first international-grade infrastructure tailored for a business environment to cater to the future of Cambodia’s economic ambition. Nine floors of well-designed workspace, tailored for investment advisory, corporate HQs, fintech firms, and professional services, all under one roof.
Its core strength lies in easy of entry and connection — a launchpad where international firms establish roots, Cambodian professionals scale, and new opportunities emerge through innovation and commerce.
Surrounding the IFC Building is a fast-developing ecosystem: digital infrastructure, smart mobility, hospitality, and a lifestyle experience built for today’s investors and tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.
But what sets the IFC Building apart isn’t just what happens inside the building. It’s what surrounds it. You won’t find traffic jams or chaos here. Just a secure, modern environment where your city career can be interlinked with a coastal lifestyle within just a few minutes walk from the office.
Set minutes from the beach, with unobstructed views of the ocean, islands and mountains, open space, and — a combination that downtown Sihanoukville can’t match. This is what the future of work life balance should feel like: crafted, not retrofit.
Boosting Regional Tourism Together
CLR: As Cambodia’s tourism sector gains renewed momentum, how are you and Bay of Lights helping to redefine Sihanoukville’s appeal on the global stage? With landmark events like SKYFEST attracting tens of thousands and strategic partnerships such as The Ascott and Radisson, elevating hospitality standards, how can the hospitality community, government, and investors collaborate to unlock the region’s full potential—transforming it into a world-class coastal smart city that’s both authentic and future-ready?
We’re at an exciting point — not just for Bay of Lights, but for Sihanoukville and Cambodia as a whole. Sihanoukville’s coastline does offers pristine beaches and islands rivaling Phuket and the Maldives yet retains authentic charm – However, it is yet to be market ready. Our mission is to transform this potential into a sustainable, inclusive, and premium destination built to last.
Our role at Bay of Lights is to elevate that potential into something long-lasting – a new coastal smart city with purpose. That means integrated hospitality excellence and infrastructure that makes it convenient and enjoyable to stay, invest, and return.
We’re crafting an experience that resonates on the global stage. Landmark events like SKYFEST have already attracted over 22,000 participants over 2 days, signaling Sihanoukville is ready to showcase events from the world-class entertainment stage.
But no one builds a destination alone, this has always been and continues to be – a collective effort. As an early member of Bay of Lights, we work closely with government, regional partners, and investors from Southeast Asia to the UAE, ensuring our vision aligns with Sihanoukville’s broader tourism revival — focused on quality, connection, and opportunity for Cambodians.
For those of us involved, this is an extraordinary moment. We have a fantastic opportunity, but also a huge responsibility at the same time, and that’s something that the team and I are always conscious of as we take each step forward.
CLR: The Future of Hospitality in Cambodia
As a key player in hospitality-led development, how do you see Cambodia’s F&B and tourism sectors evolving—especially along the coast—and what role will iconic developments like Bay of Lights play as a catalyst for accelerating this transformation?
I’ve spent most of my career shaping hospitality experiences across the UK, Spain, and SEA’s top tourism destinations — and I can tell you with full confidence: Cambodia’s coast has the potential to stand among the best. What draws people in — and keeps them coming back — is experience. International standards, events and activities, but whilst curating something authentic, with character and depth, rooted in Cambodia’s charm and coastal beauty.
This is where developments like Bay of Lights become a catalyst — not just for Sihanoukville, but for the nation. Cambodia and Cambodians alike, are actively searching for new experiences, activities and attractions, they want and need more within the domestic tourism market…. Whilst international travelers, they love the experiences they have in Cambodia, but they want more than just a 2 day stop over tour…. That’s where we can add so much value, creating tourism that is more than a stop gap, but a true destination that can keep travelers happy for a week or more.
Bay of Lights is creating something far more ambitious than just a one of resort or a single entertainment facility. We aim to create something livable with career value and lifestyle all in one…
Adding to that vision is our Bay 19 Golf Course — An amazing first, with a Greg Norman-designed 19-hole championship venue. Complete with USGA standards, it will feature a state-of-the-art driving range, an exclusive clubhouse, and stylish waterfront villas that redefine luxury and lifestyle in Sihanoukville. Opening later next year, the driving range promises an unparalleled experience with sophisticated design, exceptional amenities, and seamless integration into the natural surroundings.
But beyond that, we’re creating infrastructure for long-term impact.
With the right vision, strategic partners and leadership, I believe Sihanoukville will rise as one of Southeast Asia’s premier coastal destinations — and I’m proud to play a role in this defining chapter for Cambodian hospitality.
