Federal Hotel Turning 50 too, like Malaysia!

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi cutting the 50th anniversary cake of the Federal Hotel in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. With him are (from left) Low Yat Group chairman Tan Sri Low Yow Chuan and his sons Gee Tat and Gee Teong and daughter Su Ming. Yow Chuan’s late father Tan Sri Low Yat rushed to complete the Federal Hotel just in time for the declaration of independence on Aug 31, 1957.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Tourists urged to Stay Outside of KL for Merdeka Day

Tourists coming to Kuala Lumpur for the National Day celebrations are encouraged to stay outside the city because there might be a shortage of rooms in the federal capital during the festivity.

Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim said there were enough rooms in Seremban, Bangi and Putrajaya.

He said there were not enough rooms to cater for the increasing number of foreign visitors to the city each year.

“To overcome this, we are encouraging developers to build more hotels, not just in Kuala Lumpur, but nationwide,” Lim said at the prize presentation of the 50 Years of Nation Building photography contest, organised by the MCA, yesterday.

On Friday, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the influx of tourists for Visit Malaysia 2007 had exceeded the Government’s expectation.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Whopping RM22.4 Bln Tourist Ringgit Pours In by Foreign Tourists

A whopping RM22.4 billion! That was the amount of money that foreign tourists spent in this country in the first six months of this year, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said today.

He said 10.7 million visitors came to Malaysia during the period, and each spent an average of RM2,100 (US$600).

"This is within the range of our target of getting them to spend RM45.5 billion (US$13 billion) during Visit Malaysia Year (VMY 2007)," he told reporters after opening the Food and Hotel Malaysia 2007 exhibition here.

Tengku Adnan said VMY 2007 would be extended to Aug 31 next year under a campaign known as "One Golden Celebration", to capitalise on the country's 50th Merdeka celebrations starting Aug 31.

On the reported shortage of hotel rooms in Pahang, Langkawi, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur, he said that at a meeting earlier today key industry players agreed to encourage more new players to build hotels as a long-term solution to the problem. Other steps included postponing some major events.

"One of them is the Malaysian International Space Adventure (Misa). We are trying to push it to the end of the year or early next year," he said.

Meanwhile, Tengku Adnan urged budget hotel operators to install safety features such as emergency exits in their premises and to register their business.

"There are about 3,000 unlicensed budget hotels nationwide. We are working to get them registered with the local councils. We can't be harsh on them because they are also providing rooms for the tourists," he said when asked to comment on a recent fire at a travel lodge here.

Source : Bernama
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

How can we make our Tourists feel at Home during VMY2007

IN TWO weeks, we will be celebrating 50 years of independence, marking all our successes as a nation with a multi-racial population that's able to live in peace and harmony amidst all the terror and tension in the world. Whatever our shortcomings, we should mark this endeavour with pride.

Integrity: Vendors should be honest and offer tourists a fair deal instead of trying to overcharge them.

We will be welcoming visitors from all over the world to celebrate with us. My spouse has organised his 35th class reunion, to be held in Langkawi, which will be attended by over 30 doctors and their families.

They will also see what Malaysia has in store for visitors. As hosts, we must know what to do and do it well. It all boils down to hospitality and good manners.

For many visitors, it will be the first time they’re visiting our country, and first impressions are important.

What will it take for all Malaysians to be excellent hosts? Here are some tips for those who will be in the “eye of the visitor”:

All officers in the Immigration Department should offer a welcoming smile and a warm greeting. As visitors, people are often nervous around these officers; many have horror stories to tell about their experiences. So imagine their surprise if our officers were to extend them basic courtesies.

Customs officers have to do their duty and it can be done without frightening the visitors off. Visitors and tourists should be treated with respect and not as potential criminals.

Cab drivers should not take tourists on unwarranted “scenic tours”. Curb your greed and be fair to the visitors. Use your meters or stick to the apportioned fare. Be a self-appointed guide and talk about the lovely sights they can see in Malaysia.

Hoteliers should know what customer service and satisfaction are all about. Roll out the red carpet. Do more than what the visitors expect. Surprise them with your hospitality. Do Malaysia proud. Not everything is about money; goodwill can neither be bought nor sold. Simple things can make a difference.

If you have a visitor who has not made a reservation, take the trouble to find him a place to stay at another hotel, at least, instead of telling him that your hotel is fully booked and turning him away. Imagine what the grateful guest will tell his friends back home!

Bus/ taxi/ limousine drivers are responsible for driving people all over the country. Our highways are not F1 circuits, so please drive carefully. People’s lives are in your hands; they trust you to take them to their destination safely. “Better late than never”, as the adage goes.

Food vendors should practise “quality control”. Take pride in what you dish out to your customers. Do you taste the food you serve? Can you stomach what you cook? The food you sell should be fresh, hygienically-prepared and served in a clean environment so that no one has to spend a night in the hospital. Do not compromise on quality and hygiene.

Shopkeepers should be honest. The “buyer beware” line of thought is common but there is also something called “trust”. To some degree, the buyer trusts you to be fair in a deal. Do unto others what you would have others do unto you.

Now is the time for all Malaysians to show the world who we really are – courteous, helpful, generous of spirit and hospitable. Extend hospitality when the need arises. Allow your visitors the opportunity to see the best of our nation.

Consider the little courtesies that make a difference: Give up your place in the queue when you see a visitor standing behind you; explain the types of food on the menu if a visitor is puzzled or help him if he is struggling to place an order; give them directions if they look lost.

As hosts, Malaysians should make our visitors feel that they have made a good choice by coming here.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Federal Hotel turns 50 with nation

THIS month, Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur will be celebrating its 50th anniversary together with our country, and recently launched a special logo to commemorate this special occasion.

“The logo was specially designed to symbolise the double joyous celebrations this year,” said Federal Hotels International (FHI) regional sales and business development director Ooi Lee Ping.

“The gold on the number 50 signifies one golden celebration, with the Federal Hotel building and its revolving restaurant next to it,” Ooi said, adding that the five petals on the hibiscus on the logo was a tribute to Malaysia’s five prime ministers.

New look: Mirza (left) launching the new Federal Hotels International 50th anniversary logo as Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur general manager Lee Lian Terk and Ooi look on.

The Federal Hotel is the country’s first international-standard hotel and opened just three days before independence was declared.

It played host to foreign dignitaries and guests who were invited for the celebrations at Stadium Merdeka.

“This hotel was seen as more than just a hotel as it has served the nation and now it is also part of our history,” said Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, who launched the logo.

Earlier this month, FHI together with Malaysia Airlines and LSG Sky Chefs, launched the Merdeka Inflight Dining Experience featuring six dishes from the cookbook Favourite Dishes from Tunku’s Kitchen.

These dishes will be served by the airline until September on selected routes.

To commemorate its golden jubilee, the hotel has planned a series of events, including the monthly Malaysian food promotions featuring food from the different states in Malaysia, the Merdeka Inflight Dining Experience,

The Federal KL Merdeka Taxi campaign, We Care Gotong Royong Bukit Bintang campaign as well as the 1957 album project with StarMetro.

Federal Hotel : www.federal.com.my

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]