AirAsia contest winner flies 267 family members and friends to KL

Jubilant: Foster (front) and her family and friends posing for a photograph upon arrival at the LCCT in KLIA.

SEPANG: Australian Julie-Ann Foster scored an entire A330-300 aircraft to fly 267 of her family and friends to Kuala Lumpur from Sydney.

Foster from Lismore in New South Wales took part in the AirAsia Friendsy competition which ran on the AirAsia Australia Facebook page. She was required to fill the entire Airbus with her Facebook friends to win the contest.

Her entourage touched down at LCCT in KLIA on the AirAsia X Sydney flight at 5.30pm yesterday. They were received by AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani.

“I had liked the AirAsia page and the contest just popped up on my wall, so I entered it. “It's quite surreal to have all my friends and family on the same flight!” said Foster, 42, who was also joined by her husband Darren and three children.

Among those on the flight was her friend Bobbie Youngberry, 39, who actually met Foster in Kuala Lumpur several years ago through a mutual friend. “The flight here was just incredible. We had so much fun and the cabin crew was great. “Julie-Ann is the biggest Facebook fanatic and such a social butterfly, so she's the perfect person to enter the competition,” said Youngberry.

The prize was worth a total of A$270,000 (RM854,000), which includes the flight and a three-night stay at the Kuala Lumpur Ibis Fraser Business Park.

-thestar online.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur - a YTL Classic Hotel

Situated opposite the old railway station on the historical mile of Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur includes the original Hotel Majestic, an iconic 1930s colonial heritage landmark which has served as an integral part of the city’s vibrant past; playing venue of choice to glamorous social get-togethers, historical events and as a luxe home-away-from-home for visiting dignitaries. 

The hotel is conveniently close to Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station and its express link to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Kuala Lumpur City Centre and the Golden Triangle are just twenty minutes away by car. 

This luxurious art deco hotel is the only one in Kuala Lumpur to be included in The Leading Hotels of the World’s luxury hotel collection. Opening on December 1st 2012, The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur is positioned to share the glamour, heritage and success of its predecessor as a YTL Classic Hotel. 

For more information, visit www.majestickl.com. 
-ytl hotels.

Five-hour sale to mark AirAsia X’s fifth birthday

SEPANG: AirAsia X is having a five-hour sale to celebrate its fifth anniversary.

The sale will begin at noon on Monday with fares as low as RM195 one way for travel between Jan 1 and March 31 to destinations in Australia, China, Taiwan, Nepal and South Korea.

During the celebration at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal in KLIA here yesterday, chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani said the airline’s perseverance, belief and passion had proven sceptics of the long-haul, low-fare model wrong. “AirAsia X is set to grow with an additional 24 A330-300 aircraft between 2013 and 2017.

“We also look forward to our new home base in KLIA2, which will provide enhanced ground facilities for our guests, especially in handling passenger transfers,” he said. Azran added that the airline would be concentrating on routes to countries like Australia, China, Taiwan and Japan where it has demonstrated profitability.

“When we started out, we spread ourselves too thin; we have learnt from that, so we want to concentrate on the Asia-Pacific region. “We want to make it two daily flights to places like Sydney, Melbourne, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul,” said Azran, who also hinted at additional flights to cities like Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo in Japan, and Xian and Wuhan in China.

-thestar online.

www.airasia.com

MAHB expects 20m passengers to use klia2 in first year

SEPANG: The new low cost carrier terminal (LCCT) klia2 is anticipating 20 million passengers in its first year of operations, said Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd general manager of construction Mohd Zaifuddin Idris.

Mohd Zaifuddin said on Friday another two low cost airlines, in addition to the 10 budget carriers operating from the LCCT, were expected to operate from klia2 when it is officially opened on May 1, 2013. The two airlines are Firefly and Malindo Air. Mohd Zaifuddin said Firefly had asked for space at klia2.

"Concerning AirAsia, we are still discussing with them about one or two issues like the check-in system," he said at a ceremony for the completion of the skybridge at klia2. According to Mohd Zaifuddin, the RM4bil klia2 was 70% completed and the completion of its RM150mil skybridge was a major milestone.

The klia2 skybridge is the first in Asia, and the third in the world after skybridges in the UK and the US. The 300-metre skybridge has 60 metres of walkalators and connects the passenger terminal building to the satellite building.

-thestar online.

Tourist Arrivals & Receipts To Malaysia 1998~2011

-Tourism Malaysia.

A celebration of South-East Asian cuisine

For the 4th year running, the Asean Heritage Food Trail with Chef Wan celebrates a culinary carnival of cuisines from the 10 countries of the South-East Asia region.

Using food as the medium to promote Asean as a regional food destination, Chef Wan, together with Tourism Malaysia, are organising the Asean Heritage Food Trail, which will be held from Nov 9 to 22.

This event will give visitors the opportunity to tantalise their taste buds with local and regional delights that place Asean as one of the most sought-after food paradise of the world. The carnival will be held at the Lot 10 Mall in Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.

Fourteen international, regional and local celebrity chefs will conduct live master chef classes for the public. International tourists and local foodies will sample the dishes presented by the master chefs and have direct interaction with them via question-and-answer sessions, photo ops and autograph signing sessions.

Cooking competitions between colleges will be held to declare the most outstanding Asean-based cooking school in the country. There will also be a competition open to the public where food enthusiasts will be invited to whip up their best Asean dishes which will then be judged by our panel of culinary experts and members of the live audience.

This year, the Asean Heritage Food Trail will be presenting the title of “Best Asean Food Restaurant” to five outstanding restaurants in Malaysia. Winners of this award will be presented a certificate and a trophy and be invited to cook the restaurant’s signature dish at the event.

Malaysian Celebrity Chef Wan said, “This event has been a huge success for food enthusiasts and that is why it has been organised every year since its start in 2009. People love food, especially good food. Food is the magnet that brings people of all walks of life together. Chef Wan also added: “Admission to this year’s event is free, so food lovers are all welcome to come and have fun with us.”

-thestar online.

2AM Concert In Malaysia - The Way of Love

There’s a wow-factor reason to celebrate 1st December 2012 as the hit kpop ballad group, 2AM will hit our shores with their first ever full-scale concert in Kuala Lumpur. Organised by IME & Mega Ultimate, 2AM Live in Malaysia 2012 will kick off on Saturday, 1st December 2012 at Dewasn Wawasan, Menara PGRM, Cheras, and Kuala Lumpur.

2AM comprised of 4 members - Jo Kwon, Jinwoon, Seulong, and Changmin. Originally from the principal all-boy group by the name of One Day, that includes 2pm and 2AM, the latter branch out on themselves as a ballad group. Their debut single, "This Song", was released on July 21, 2008. They made their debut performance on July 11, 2008. The song brought the group to the next level and “This Song” became one of the love anthems of the year, topping music charts and melting the hearts of Koreans.

2AM Live in Malaysia 2012 ticket prices are categorized into RM 580, RM 480, RM 380, RM 280 and RM 180. Fans who want to grab the best seats in the house would be glad to know that there will be a pre-sale event at 26th October 2012, 10am until 10pm at Sungei Wang. 

After the debut hit “This Song”, 2AM continue to release albums and further entrench their popularity with mega hit songs like “Even IF I Die I Can’t Let Go”, “You wouldn’t Answer My Calls” and their 2012 comeback album features another hit song, “I Wonder If You Hurt like Me”.  While majority of their boy groups are doing dance or live band formats, 2AM continue to focus on their distinguished and versatile range of vocals that established them as the Kpop Ballad boy group to die for.

The boys  promised that their debut live concert in Malaysia will witness never-seen-before 2AM on stage, from performance of their hit songs to solo sessions, there are surprises installed for the fans and non-fans alike, making it a must see kpop concert of the year. What’s more the venue, unlike another, allows the fans in its intimate proximity with the boys of 2AM. 

After a long sessions of discussion with 2AM, CJ E&M, BIG Hit, M Live, the Organisers IME & Mega Ultimate, Main Sponsor Magnum, Official Restaurant APGUIJEONG, Official Radio Station 988 & Red FM, Official Eye Wear Creator Club, Supported by Mycoins & Setia Media, Special thanks Digital Idea, Welldone, Ess and Innovasson are most pleased to bring 2AM Live in Malaysia to the fans. Grab your tickets now with ticketchage.com.my / 03-9222 8811 or its outlets nationwide.

For more information, please contact 03-9101 5857. In additional catch the exclusive contents of the concert with the official radio stations, 988 and Redfm.

-www.ticketcharge.com.my

Malindo Air brings forward operations date to mid-March

PETALING JAYA: Malindo Air which is supposed to start flying May next year has brought forward the launch date to mid-March and will begin with domestic flights and a month later it will expand to offer international flights with its first stop being India, said PT Lion Grup chief Rusdi Kirana.

In a telephone interview, he said that he had decided to delay the launch of Indonesia's Batik Air from March to year-end in 2013 because he wanted to focus on building Malindo to become regional player sooner.

“We will delay Batik Air launch because we can now use Malindo to fly international routes. You must remember that Indonesians like to fly the world via Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Bangkok and Lion Air, being the biggest domestic carrier can be a feeder for Malindo for the international connectivity,” he said.

“It is possible for us to bring forward the launch date because the aircraft meant for Batik Air will now be allocated to Malindo. Batik Air was only going to offer point to point services but we are more keen to have a hub in KL to move traffic beyond KL.

“We now fly the most number of points within Indonesia and imagine the traffic volume that we can bring from all these destinations into KL and beyond to countries such as Thailand, China, India, Vietnam and Hong Kong,” he said, adding that “We would fly where the Indonesians like to go and the feed will be from Indonesia.”

This year Lion Air would have flown 30 million passengers, and next year it is targeting 35 million and Malindo Air CEO Chandran Ramamuthy said “if we can divert 10% of that traffic into KL and beyond, it would be good.”

PT Lion has a 49% stake in Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd which will operate Malindo Air. PT Lion owns the whole of Lion Air and Batik Air, a new start up for international routes. The remaining stake in Malindo is held by Tan Sri Ahmad Johan via Nadi Sdn Bhd. Ahmad Johan also owns Mofas Air.

Lion Air has 600 take-offs daily and it has ordered more than 300 new aircraft from Boeing whose deliveries stretch through to 2026. It currently has 75 aircraft.

Malindo will take delivery of the first two B737-900ER in March, followed by and two each in April and May. On funding he said “I think it is not going to be so much, the idea is to have 12 aircraft next year.” Rusdi said the first two aircraft will be used to ply the Kuala Lumpur-Sabah and Sarawak routes.

The next two will be used for flights to India, and its first stop will be Trichy but New Dehli will be added to its network. “In May we will fly to China and are looking at cities such as Canton and Shenzhen, and will also add Hong Kong,” he said.

Asked if Malindo had the rights to fly the international routes like China and India, he said “we are in the process of getting the rights.” Chandran added that “we have had a series of meetings with the regulators and we are confident that we can start in March. We have submitted all the applications and are awaiting for approvals.”

Asked on competition he said “if you see AirAsia Indonesia and Garuda, they have a big network in Indonesia but their market share is smaller than ours and we have 600 take offs in a day, and we carry 100,000 passengers a day. So with kind of traffic, and if we have more destinations, we can carry more passengers. We fly to 69 points such as Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Pekan Baru, Medan, Semairiang, Solo, Pontianak and all this traffic (needs to go somewhere). That is why we think we can be successful with Malindo,” he said.

On the overwhelming response to Malindo walk in interview he said “it is good that there are a lot of people who want to be involved in the aviation industry. There is a good time to expand in Malaysia given the pool of human resources here.”

-thestar online.

Russian artists to capture local scenes for book

Art your service: Anisimov (centre) and Duishenova (left) admiring the portrait by Yausheva at Homestay Sungai Pasu in Raub, Pahang.

RAUB: A group of Russian artists on a three-week tour of the country will compile their works of local landscapes and people in a coffee table book to promote Malaysia.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who disclosed this, said the ministry was also looking at having flights from Russia to help boost tourism between the two countries. “Right now there is no direct flight from any city in Russia to Malaysia,” she said at the Sungai Pasu homestay where the 10 Russian guests are staying.

“Russia is a new but growing market for us,” said Dr Ng, adding that 24,198 tourists from that country visited Malaysia in the first six months of the year. This is an increase from 18,881 visitors over the same period last year.

Renowned artist Vladimir Anisimov, who heads the group, said their works on Malaysia would be showcased at an exhibition in Russia next year. He added: “We are impressed by the unity and harmony. This is the first time Russian artists have come here to capture the local scenes. It is unique.”

The group has so far visited Kuala Lumpur and Malacca, where they have painted and drawn various landscapes and historical places, including Dataran Merdeka.

Translator Zeinep Duishenova said the group would head to Taiping after their three-day stay in Raub and later to Alor Setar, Langkawi and Putrajaya before returning home. During their stay here, the Russian visitors will paint and photograph the kampung scene, They will also experience local cuisine and way of life.

Painter Mikhail Stoiachko was seen painting a serene village scenery while another painted a portrait of 12-year-old Muhammad Akmal Zaidi, who was dressed in a baju Melayu. “I was captivated by his demeanour and because he represents Malaysia,” said painter Olga Yausheva. Stoiachko was impressed by the country's architectural buildings, landscape and diverse culture.

Lyoudmila Youga, who is here with her husband and art photographer Nikolay Pogorelov, was impressed by the friendliness of the local people. “I can feel the warmth, especially from our host family,” she said.

-thestar online.

Khazanah’s RM5bil project set to transform Desaru

Big plan: (from right) Themed Attractions and Resorts managing director and CEO Tunku Datuk Ahmad Burhanuddin, Firdaus and Nadziruddin explaining the Desaru Coast project to media representatives

KUALA LUMPUR: Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH), an entity set up by Khazanah Nasional Bhd, got the cogwheels churning to change the face of Desaru, starting with its Desaru Coast Phase 1 carrying a gross development value of RM5bil.

DRH managing director Nadziruddin Basri said the first phase, covering 1,800 acres, was targeted to be completed in 2015 but its various components would be opened as and when they were ready.

“It is important to have Phase 1 come together at the same time. The idea is to stagger the project launches but have all ready in 2015. “As for Phase 2 and 3 which are north and south of Phase 1, we have not done the details but the projects within them will be high-end tourism-focused,” he said at a briefing. “We want to raise the tourism industry in Malaysia by a few notches.”

DRH's operational vehicle Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn Bhd (DDH1) chief executive Firdaus Azharuddin said Phase 2 and 3 had not been finalised because tourism planning was not easy as consumer trends changed quickly.

“For us to tell you what we plan to build and when to complete exactly, we would be lying to ourselves. We have the land bank and we've put in key attractions in Phase 1 that we think will bring in the tourists.” He said the remaining phases would be developed based on market demand.

Firdaus said DRH had the capability to expand outside the boundaries of Phase 1 and the infrastructure would also be ready for Phase 2 and 3 when the time came. Phase 1 is 80% greenfield, with 15% pockets of land left for future development.

For this 15%, Firdaus said DDH1 was opening it up to other developers but whatever they brought into the area must add value to the luxury travel theme. “We are also looking for private companies to come in and take equity ownerships in the resorts or projects we have under Phase 1 (after they are developed),” he said.

To date, there are four premium resorts featured in Phase 1 including Aman Country Club and Aman Villas, Datai Desaru under the Datai Langkawi brand, Sheraton Resort and Plantation Hotel. Plantation Hotel will be linked to Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd's two immersive water parks, Ocean Quest and Ocean Splash. The hotel will feature rooms and a dining area connected to the aquarium, giving an underwater atmosphere. DRH will partner Themed Attractions and Resorts, another wholly-owned unit of Khazanah, to package services to tourists.

Other facilities available are a convention centre, golf courses, a man-made salt water river and a culinary and hospitality school. Desaru Coast Phase 1 will also include residential development under a joint venture with UEM Land Bhd. DRH targets to have 3,000 to 4,000 mixed residential units. Nadziruddin added that hotels and operators in Phase 1 were expected to break even two or three years after they begun operations.

The whole Desaru Coast development, stretching 17km over 3,900 acres, is estimated to take 15 to 20 years to be completed.

-thestar online.

Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia NIGHT TOURISM FAIR & Karnival Homestay Selangor

-Tourism Malaysia.

Elton John & Band - 40th Anniversary Of The Rocket Man

Catch another spectacular performance by Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) when he performs once again at the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands on 29 November 2012.

Throughout his musical career, the English singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor has sold more than 250 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single "Candle in the Wind 1997" has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in Billboard history. Sir Elton John has more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 US albums, 56 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won six Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award.

In 1996, he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and subsequently received a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services" in 1998. Besides excelling in the music industry, Sir Elton John has also involved heavily in fighting the good fight against AIDS in the late 1980s, and in 1992, he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation. A year later, he began hosting the annual Academy Award Party, which has since become one of the most high-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry. The foundation has since raised over $200 million.

In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked him as the most successful male solo artist on "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists" (third overall, behind only The Beatles and Madonna).
-www.rwgenting.com

9th Penang Island Jazz Festival 2012

The island of Penang comes alive with music from 29^th November to 2^nd December with the 9th Edition of The Penang Island Jazz Festival 2012. Music Workshops, Photography, Poster, Print and Percussion Exhibitions at The Festival Jazz Gallery, Fringe Stage Programmes, “Jazz With A Heart” Charity Dinner, Sundown @ TSG, After Hours Jazz Jam sessions and a host of other activities are held in conjunction with the festival.

This year’s “Jazz By The Beach” Stage will feature local and international performers such as Award Winning Guitarist Martin Taylor, Kekko Fornarelli Trio featuring Ruso Sala, The Deans, Aca Pella Group - Mezzotono and others. For more information on the festival, visit www.penangjazz.com . 

Tickets for “Jazz By The Beach Stage” are RM68.00 (free standing and including RM3.00 ticketing fee) per night and are available at www.ticketpro.com.my

-ticketpro.com.my

Golf Holidays & Other Luxury Indulgences In Malaysia

Malaysia’s popularity as a golf destination has grown over the years. The country certainly has what it takes to cater to the needs of avid golfers who crave for unique experiences. Indeed, golf holidays in Malaysia offer a wonderful experience no true golfing aficionados can resist.

The country boasts some world-class courses designed by the best golf course architects in the world including Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus, Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Ronald Fream and Robert Trent Jones Jr. They have brought out the best features of the environment whilst incorporating their own special signature elements.

Currently, there are 207 golf facilities in the country, ranging from short 9-hole courses to 54-hole complexes, with each course having its own special features. Golfers can play amidst the cool climates of highlands; by the crashing waves of the sea; in busy towns and cities; or in the quiet greens near jungles.

Some of the diverse golf clubs in Malaysia include The Royal Selangor Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur; Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf Club, and Saujana Golf & Country Club in Selangor; Gunung Raya Golf Resort in Langkawi, Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort in Perak, Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club in Sabah, and Kelab Golf Sarawak in the state of Sarawak.

  

Indeed, Malaysia golf courses offer challenging fairways amidst spectacular sights, world-class facilities and amenities. They are also complemented by the many world-class luxury hotels and resorts in the country, as well as its tropical climate that is conducive for playing golf all year round, competitive and attractive green fees, friendly caddies, and warm hospitality services.

The country’s good road links and transportation system including frequent flights between all major cities also make it easy and convenient for golfers to get to the best courses for a Malaysian golfing experience par excellence.

LUXURY HOLIDAYS IN MALAYSIA

The many exotic islands in Malaysia offer some of the most luxurious holidays that any high-end tourist can ask for. The island of Langkawi, for instance, has some of the finest resorts in the country. It is home to luxury resort brand, Four Seasons, and other equally renowned names such as The Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa, Datai Langkawi, the Bon Ton, the Temple Tree, and the newly opened Seri Chenang Resort & Spa Langkawi, all noted for offering guests definitive experiences of sheer luxury.

In fact, The Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa and Datai Langkawi have just received the awards for Asia Luxury Island Resort and Luxury Island Resort respectively at the prestigious World Luxury Hotel Awards 2012, along with other Malaysian hotels and resorts such as Palace of the Golden Horses (for Luxury Golf Resort), Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur (for Luxury City Hotel), Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa (for Asia Luxury Family Hotel), and Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur International Airport (for Asia Luxury Airport Hotel).

           

The mention of luxury and natural beauty also brings to mind the award-winning Pangkor Laut Resort in Pangkor Island. Voted by Condé Nast Traveller UK as the Number One Resort in the World in its Top 100 List in 2003, it is still revered among the most distinguished and celebrated in the world.

The states of Sabah and Sarawak also have their fair share of luxury resorts. The Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort in Sarawak is located right in the middle of lush pristine tropical rainforest, offering two-level suites for ultimate luxury.

The Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa in Sabah offers a tranquil retreat with a breathtaking view of both sunrise and sunset. Luxury resort for golfing enthusiasts would definitely be the Sutera Harbour Resort. Here, you can even tee off well past sunset as the Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club offers the only night golfing opportunity in East Malaysia.

Luxury city hotels are also in abundance in Kuala Lumpur such as the Mandarin Oriental, Hilton KL, Le Meridien, and the recently opened Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. The country is also anticipating the arrival of several world-class luxury hotels on its shores in the next few years such as The Regent Kuala Lumpur and The St. Regis.

Besides high-end hotels and resorts, Malaysia’s spa scene has also, in recent years, rebranded itself to a position of exclusivity. The award-winning Spa Village brand by YTL is the epitome of a luxury spa retreat. Also worth mentioning is The Banjaran, a 5-star luxury hotsprings retreat situated in the state of Perak, as well as The Chateau Spa & Organic Wellness Resort in Bukit Tinggi, which is simply a must-visit for those craving for an ultimate pampering with royal treatment.

Many people would agree that luxurious holidays wouldn’t be complete without indulging in a high-end luxury-shopping spree. Hence, the Starhill Gallery offers the rich and famous ‘A Gallery of Rich Experiences’ through some of the world’s most exclusive brands and labels such as Audemars Piguet, Bvlgari, Tag Heuer, Vertu, M Missoni, Bottega Veneta, Chopard, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Omega, Chaumet, and Dior. Other retail establishments for luxury shopping include the award-winning Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Suria KLCC.

The Johor Premium Outlets, Southeast Asia’s first Premium Outlet Centers, which opened its doors in the country last year, also offers another opportunity for high-end shoppers to indulge in a luxury shopping spree.

Indeed, the country’s shopping attractions have earned a place in the hearts of international tourists, especially through its three annual sale periods namely the 1Malaysia GP Sale in March, the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival in June, and the 1Malaysia Year-End Sale in November.

In addition, it is also a duty-free shopping destination where aside from cars, glass & pyrex, cigarettes, alcohol and chocolates, all other products are tax exempted in the country.

DRAWING HIGH-YIELD TOURISTS THROUGH EVENTS & PROGRAMMES

Malaysia is also a prime choice for international world conferences and meetings as business tourism has become a dynamic developing sphere in the world today.

The country’s growing appeal as a business tourism destination is contributed by various factors such as the availability of award-winning convention facilities, economic stability, strategic location, the country’s diverse range of fascinating tourist destinations that are ideal for pre- and post-tours, as well as its unique and rich tapestry of cultures, customs and traditions.

For those who love Malaysia so much and intend to reside in the country, there is the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, which offers them a Social Visit Pass with Multiple-Entry into the country for up to 10 years. With great weather, excellent healthcare system, and low cost of living coupled with high standard of living, the country is indeed the perfect combination of comforts and indulgences.

Various events and programmes are also taking place annually to cater to the needs and desires of the top-tier tourists who demand for quality services and the good life. They include the F1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix and the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix; the 1Malaysia International Shoe Festival that aims to make Kuala Lumpur the Shoe City of Asia; and the 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival, which is a bold and innovative initiative to establish Malaysia as a hub for contemporary art in the region.

Other tourism attractions that embrace the concept of luxury include the country’s parks & gardens tourism, helicopter tourism, and bicycle and motorbike tourism.

On 15 September this year, the country welcomed the opening of international theme park LEGOLAND in Johor, which is the first in Asia and one of only six in the world. The state of Johor is also scheduled to launch a few other theme parks this year such as Hello Kitty Town, Little Big Club and Lat themed attraction in Puteri Harbour, while 2014 will see the opening of Ocean Quest and Ocean Splash water parks in Desaru.

   

As the country moves towards 2020, Malaysia’s tourism industry will be filled with many exciting and creative tourism products and services. This is in line with its aspiration to achieve its target of 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by the year 2020.

For golf holiday packages, golfing news, course directory, and tournaments & events, kindly visit the website of Malaysia Golf Tourism Association at www.mgta.com.my.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Ethiopian Airlines plans major tie-up with MAS soon

SEPANG: Ethiopian Airlines, the national flag carrier of Ethiopia, plans to work with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) in a big way as soon as early next year.


Ethiopian Airlines senior vice-president of global sales Esayas Woldemariam said the carrier planned to work on code sharing and special pro-rate agreement with its Malaysian counterpart.

“This arrangement would see the traffic from 44 countries in Africa to be transported into Kuala Lumpur and would be supplied to MAS. “MAS will then take it from KL to add to its network that includes the rest of South-East Asia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. “MAS will also bring the traffic from these countries to be supplied into our Africa network,” he said after the welcoming ceremony for Ethiopian Airlines' inaugural flight to Kuala Lumpur. Gracing the event was Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.

Woldemariam said the big plan between the two airlines was expected to kick off after MAS was done with synchronising its schedule and IT solution as part of the requirements to join oneworld.

On Monday, MAS had announced that it will be joining oneworld with effect from Feb 1 next year, and start offering its passengers the full range of services and benefits under the alliance. It will add 14 destinations to expand oneworld's global coverage to some 840 destinations in 156 countries. “Currently, the passenger traffic from African countries into KL is about 8,000 per month,” Woldemariam said.

Ethiopian Airlines, a Star Alliance member, is the fastest growing airline in Africa. It now provides services to 69 international destinations spanning four continents. With Ethiopian Airlines, the number of carriers operating at KL International Airport (KLIA) now stands at 60. It is the sixth new airline that Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has managed to attract this year.

Effective yesterday, the airline commenced its three weekly flights on the Addis Ababa-Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur route and vice-versa every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday on Boeing 767. MAHB managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad said that it was delighted to welcome Ethiopian Airlines.

On recent news that MAHB might acquire a 15% stake in KGS Aranmula International Airport in Kerala, India, MAHB chief operating officer Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohd Ali said he was unable to comment.

Besides the inaugural flight, MAHB also launched three initiatives yesterday that will further boost KLIA's service excellence. The three are the customer information centre, state-of-the-art flight information system called Skymap and the lost and found centre.

Meanwhile, DRB-Hicom Bhd subsidiary KL Airport services Sdn Bhd has been awarded the contract by Ethiopian Airlines to provide ground-handling and in-flight catering services.
-thestar online.

Resort wins spa award

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat employees overjoyed at winning the best spa award.

IPOH: THE Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Sunway Group's first luxury natural wellness hot springs destination, recently won the award for Best Spa Resort in The Best of Malaysia Travel Awards 2012. 

Organised for the seventh consecutive year by Expatriate Lifestyle magazine, the annual awards honour top travel and hospitality brands which offer the best experiences.

A record of over 70,000 votes were received by the magazine from more than 12,000 readers.

Resort manager Lybanor P. Godio, who oversees the operations of the retreat, which has 25 villas, was ecstatic.

"Winning the award is an honour for The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat and a coup for the Sunway Group as well as the city of Ipoh.

"We thank the readers who voted in favour of The Banjaran over other well-known established properties nationwide," Godio said.

"We relentlessly invest in our product and people to ensure consistent, superior guest experiences. Hence, the award is an immense accomplishment for us.

"It makes us the benchmark in spa and wellness, enhanced by a level of luxury and refinement."

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, which opened for operations in 2010, is a self-contained sanctuary nestled in a 6.7ha valley surrounded by lush tropical jungle, natural caves and geothermal hot springs as well as a cluster of magnificent limestone hills. It is 15 minutes from the city and two hours' drive from Kuala Lumpur.

-nst online.

www.thebanjaran.com