Berjaya Hotels and Resorts Select Pelican System for its Central Reservation System
Oct 31, 06 1:57 am
Pelican System announces that it has entered CRS (Central Reservation System) agreement with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts – a division of Berjaya Land Berhad and a member of the Berjaya Corporation Group of Companies, head quartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It operates 19 premier hotels and resorts worldwide, not inclusive of premier country clubs located in Malaysia.
Pelican Central Reservation system allows Berjaya Hotels & Resorts to manage rate, allotment and reservation efficiently. Rate and management distribution is uniquely designed so that hotels can provide an additional booking channel to its massive database of travel agent and corporate clients. This channel will be the choice of the future because of its flexibility, availability and efficiency.
Apart from providing booking engine capability to Berjaya Hotels & Resort‘s own website www.berjayahotels-resorts.com , Pelican also provide a user-friendly system to enhance “room search” experience, thus stimulating more online bookings. “Optimizing systems for online travel growth as the number of internet users steadily escalates, Berjaya Hotels & Resorts is confident that selecting Pelican System as its Central Reservation System provider will enhance our reservation and distribution channels capability” add Ms. Lynn Oh, Vice President, Sales & Marketing of Berjaya Hotels Resorts.
“We are pleased to provide system to Berjaya Group, fast-growing hotel groups with specific strategy to attract its market business. As Berjaya Hotels & Resorts expand its properties rapidly, our proposed “online contracting” as part of the CRS shall enhance time and cost efficiency in dealing worldwide travel agent and corporate clients”, affirmed Mr. Hartono Liman – Director of Pelican System.
Ms. Lynn Oh, Vice President, Sales & Marketing of Berjaya Hotels & Resorts adds, “Providing convenience and meeting the needs of our travel agents and corporate clients is an ongoing process and Pelican System enhances this by allowing these clients instant confirmation of rates, allotments and reservations”. Berjaya Hotels & Resorts welcome all travel agent and corporate client to sign in via this link: http://www.reservation-system.net/MP/M347/M347-signup.aspx?HtlCCCode=HCC0600039
About Berjaya Hotel and ResortsBerjaya Hotels & Resorts is the leisure arm of Berjaya Land Berhad (201765-A), which is a subsidiary of Berjaya Group of Companies, a public listed Malaysian conglomerate. At present, the group operates 19 local and international hotels and resorts under its growing wing. Berjaya Group also owns and manages premier country clubs and several upmarket condominiums and service suites in Malaysia.
Berjaya Hotels & Resorts manages 12 premier hotels and resorts in the beautiful country of Malaysia, offering a myriad of exciting family getaways, attractive solutions for business conferences as well as ultimate seclusion for intimate escapes. The island and beach attractions are idyllically located on the magical Redang Island in Terengganu, the legendary Tioman Island in Pahang and the mythical Langkawi Island in state of Kedah. The breathtaking sunsets, powder-white beaches, crystal-clear waters, colourful underwater kingdom, unique architectural designs and friendly welcoming people are just a glimpse of our priceless Malaysia heritage.
About Pelican System Pelican System is an internet-based central hotel reservation system with software designed for hotels to manage online reservations (whether made directly by guests or through travel agents and corporate clients).
Pelican System - Hotel reservation System - offers a wide range of generic products, such as a booking engine/reservation system for your website, a central reservation system, GDS/IDS Connectivity and call center reservation system, all featuring customized upgrading and optional features to specially meet each hotel’s needs and requirements.
Contact Person:
Linda Husin
Marketing and Promotion Manager
www.pelicansystem.com
News Source : Ehotelier
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Sheraton's Pure Rooms
Getting rid of pesky bugs in hotel rooms
By RASHVINJEET S. BEDI
Andersson: ‘Our process can maintain the hygienic conditions for extended periods of time’THE Subang Sheraton Hotel calls them the Pure rooms. These are allergy-friendly rooms that have been treated to minimise irritants such as mould spores, yeast, bacteria, pollen, dust mites and odours.
The hotel charges a premium of RM50 for each of its 10 “Pure” rooms.
“The response has been good, with many people wanting to stay in the rooms,” said Datin Jasmine Abdullah Heng, the hotel's general manager.
Sheraton plans to convert another 17 rooms by December. And if the concept shows further response, two floors of “Pure” rooms could be a reality.
“Anyone can make a room totally sterile. The problem is the recontamination process when you close the door and walk away. For example, mould spores can reappear in 24 hours,” said Goran Andersson, CEO of the American-based Pure Solutions.
Following requests from the hotel industry for a system to wipe out contamination, Pure Solutions spent more than US$1mil on research, working with American universities and laboratories.
“Our process can maintain the hygienic conditions for extended periods of time by using certain tools, equipment and chemicals. We did some tests with universities back home and 180 days after conversion, the room got much cleaner,” claimed Andersson.
There are more than 2,000 pure rooms worldwide including in China, Thailand and Singapore. The demand in Asia for the rooms is growing especially with the problems of SARS, bird-flu and haze.
In Malaysia, Enviroverks (M) Sdn Bhd has a joint venture with Pure Solutions to distribute the system.
A room takes one day to be converted with no change to the day-to-day operations for housekeeping and maintenance. The system itself has to undergo maintenance every three months.
Enviroverks CEO Nitesh Malani said the company hopes to tap into the government’s enthusiasm of developing the biotechnology sector.
“Under biotech, the microbiology technology is one of the focus areas. We plan to collaborate with local universities and hotel schools for research and development. We hope to develop the existing system further,” he said.
1. The air-handling unit is cleaned and sanitised. Anti microbial treated filters and tea tree oil (TTO) deodoriser is installed. TTO gives the room a mild scent.
2. Dirt, bacteria and mould are cleaned off surfaces of upholstery and carpet.
3. A bacteria static barrier is applied to all room surfaces to repel micro-organisms.
4. High-shock ozone treatment kills mould, yeast and bacteria. It also removes odours caused by cigarettes, cigars and animals.
5. The 24-hour system air purifier (Class 2 medical device) recycles air and kills microorganisms.
6. Allergy-friendly bed casings are fitted to mattresses and pillows.
Maintenance is conducted every three months. This includes inspection of general room conditions, changing filter in the air handling unit and air purifier, upholstery cleaning and replacement of TTO canister.
News Source : STAR New Strait Times
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
By RASHVINJEET S. BEDI
Andersson: ‘Our process can maintain the hygienic conditions for extended periods of time’THE Subang Sheraton Hotel calls them the Pure rooms. These are allergy-friendly rooms that have been treated to minimise irritants such as mould spores, yeast, bacteria, pollen, dust mites and odours.The hotel charges a premium of RM50 for each of its 10 “Pure” rooms.
“The response has been good, with many people wanting to stay in the rooms,” said Datin Jasmine Abdullah Heng, the hotel's general manager.
Sheraton plans to convert another 17 rooms by December. And if the concept shows further response, two floors of “Pure” rooms could be a reality.
“Anyone can make a room totally sterile. The problem is the recontamination process when you close the door and walk away. For example, mould spores can reappear in 24 hours,” said Goran Andersson, CEO of the American-based Pure Solutions.
Following requests from the hotel industry for a system to wipe out contamination, Pure Solutions spent more than US$1mil on research, working with American universities and laboratories.
“Our process can maintain the hygienic conditions for extended periods of time by using certain tools, equipment and chemicals. We did some tests with universities back home and 180 days after conversion, the room got much cleaner,” claimed Andersson.
There are more than 2,000 pure rooms worldwide including in China, Thailand and Singapore. The demand in Asia for the rooms is growing especially with the problems of SARS, bird-flu and haze.
In Malaysia, Enviroverks (M) Sdn Bhd has a joint venture with Pure Solutions to distribute the system.
A room takes one day to be converted with no change to the day-to-day operations for housekeeping and maintenance. The system itself has to undergo maintenance every three months.
Enviroverks CEO Nitesh Malani said the company hopes to tap into the government’s enthusiasm of developing the biotechnology sector.
“Under biotech, the microbiology technology is one of the focus areas. We plan to collaborate with local universities and hotel schools for research and development. We hope to develop the existing system further,” he said.
Pictures:
a. An air purifier placed in the Pure Room ensures good air quality.
b. Anildeep points to the chlorine filter attached to the bathroom’s shower head.
c. Sheraton Subang’s special touch to rooms: an aromatherapy oil burner.
d. Anildeep and Jasmine show the special covers made for the bed’s mattress.
1. The air-handling unit is cleaned and sanitised. Anti microbial treated filters and tea tree oil (TTO) deodoriser is installed. TTO gives the room a mild scent.
2. Dirt, bacteria and mould are cleaned off surfaces of upholstery and carpet.
3. A bacteria static barrier is applied to all room surfaces to repel micro-organisms.
4. High-shock ozone treatment kills mould, yeast and bacteria. It also removes odours caused by cigarettes, cigars and animals.
5. The 24-hour system air purifier (Class 2 medical device) recycles air and kills microorganisms.
6. Allergy-friendly bed casings are fitted to mattresses and pillows.
Maintenance is conducted every three months. This includes inspection of general room conditions, changing filter in the air handling unit and air purifier, upholstery cleaning and replacement of TTO canister.
News Source : STAR New Strait Times
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Saturday, October 28, 2006
La Classic Culinary Grand Prix 2006's Champion
Lecturer retains culinary titleTAYLOR’S School of Hospitality & Tourism chef lecturer Patrick Siau defended his championship title. He outshone five other finalists at the La Classic Culinary Grand Prix 2006 (2nd Edition) held recently at the French Culinary School in Asia.
Siau took home a trophy, RM5,000 and an additional RM1,000 for best main course. His fellow competitors included colleague chef lecturer Chong Wei Tzeh, Michael Elfwing of Senses Restaurant at Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Fadill Mohamed Hanif of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kamarudin Norhilme of Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur and Eric Siew from Hilton Kuala Lumpur.
First held in 2004, the La Classic Culinary Grand Prix is a top-class culinary competition for professional chefs.
It is organised by the French Culinary School in Asia and Classic Fine Foods Sdn Bhd to create a benchmark for Malaysian culinary excellence.
“This year’s competition was even tougher than last year’s, so winning it again is definitely a great honour,” said Siau.
During the grand finale, all six contestants were required to prepare a starter, main course and a compulsory dessert dish for six persons within four hours.
And in the quintessential Iron-Chef style challenge, they were given a mystery market basket from which they had to create a freestyle contemporary starter and main course.
Each dish was judged on originality, creativity, innovation, presentation and taste.
Judges also graded the contestants on their cooking and organisational skills, product optimisation, hygiene, leadership and professionalism.
Among the technical judges were President of the Jury Chef Ronald Peitruszka from Ritz Carlton Bali, Chef Philippe Daue from Shangri-La Bangkok and Chef Stefan Mueller from Nikko Bali Resort & Spa, while the tasting panel of judges comprised gourmets and patrons of the KL fine dining restaurant scene Datuk Kok Wei Kiat, Flavours magazine editor Julie Wong, chef consultant Sita Jayadeva and F&B Facilities general manager Rick Chee.
Siau’s winning creations – Goat cheese tart with baby beetroot, Lamb roulade with glaze vegetables, puy lentils and lamb sauce and Frozen chocolate parfait with can-died tomato, caramelised apple and white chocolate sauce – earned him the title of champion, a trophy and RM5,000.
He also won an additional RM1,000 for best main course.
News Source : STAR
RM30m facelift for PJ Hilton rooms
RM30m facelift for PJ Hilton rooms
BY NICK LEONG
PETALING JAYA: Hilton Petaling Jaya, which has just spent RM7mil to renovate its ground floor, plans to pump in at least RM30mil more to refurbish its rooms.
Business development director Markus Kaliss said the hotel had proposed to pay between RM60,000 and RM65,000 per room pending approval.
“We have various scenarios for refurbishment because we can only do it in phases and don't forget, next year is Visit Malaysia Year 2007,” he told StarBiz recently.
He said PJ Hilton last refurbished its rooms two to three years ago at about RM50,000 per room.
PJ Hilton consists of a 10-storey West Wing and a 21-storey East Wing and has a total of 553 rooms. The first international hotel in Petaling Jaya also operates four restaurants and one lobby lounge cafe – the Paya Serai Restaurant, Toh Yuen Restaurant, Genji Japanese Restaurant, Uncle Chilli's Restaurant and Caffe Cino.
Kaliss said the ground-floor renovation would be completed by year-end.
“The reception area is completed and it is more spacious and luxurious,” he said.
He said the completely rebuilt Uncle Chilli's was expected to start operations early next month.
Kaliss said PJ Hilton looked forward to Visit Malaysia Year 2007, and commended the Government for its initiative to boost the tourism industry.
However, he was concerned about the emphasis on cheap products and discounts.
“When the activities are price-driven, we will never get good quality. In the long run, hotels will not be able to continue giving the best service,” he added.
Kaliss said PJ Hilton expected revenue to grow about 10% next year.
“We expect room rates this year to finish at about RM200 (a night) and increase to RM215 to RM220 next year, which is good compared with international standards,” he added.
He said the hotel had an average occupancy rate of about 76%, with most guests being business travellers.
News Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
BY NICK LEONG
PETALING JAYA: Hilton Petaling Jaya, which has just spent RM7mil to renovate its ground floor, plans to pump in at least RM30mil more to refurbish its rooms.
Business development director Markus Kaliss said the hotel had proposed to pay between RM60,000 and RM65,000 per room pending approval.
“We have various scenarios for refurbishment because we can only do it in phases and don't forget, next year is Visit Malaysia Year 2007,” he told StarBiz recently.
He said PJ Hilton last refurbished its rooms two to three years ago at about RM50,000 per room.
PJ Hilton consists of a 10-storey West Wing and a 21-storey East Wing and has a total of 553 rooms. The first international hotel in Petaling Jaya also operates four restaurants and one lobby lounge cafe – the Paya Serai Restaurant, Toh Yuen Restaurant, Genji Japanese Restaurant, Uncle Chilli's Restaurant and Caffe Cino.
Kaliss said the ground-floor renovation would be completed by year-end.
“The reception area is completed and it is more spacious and luxurious,” he said.
He said the completely rebuilt Uncle Chilli's was expected to start operations early next month.
Kaliss said PJ Hilton looked forward to Visit Malaysia Year 2007, and commended the Government for its initiative to boost the tourism industry.
However, he was concerned about the emphasis on cheap products and discounts.
“When the activities are price-driven, we will never get good quality. In the long run, hotels will not be able to continue giving the best service,” he added.
Kaliss said PJ Hilton expected revenue to grow about 10% next year.
“We expect room rates this year to finish at about RM200 (a night) and increase to RM215 to RM220 next year, which is good compared with international standards,” he added.
He said the hotel had an average occupancy rate of about 76%, with most guests being business travellers.
News Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Friday, October 27, 2006
Persada Johor convention hub to help raise city hotel rates
Persada Johor convention hub to help raise city hotel rates
S Puvaneswary
Kuala Lumpur (2006-10-26)
THE Persada Johor International Convention Centre, which officially opened in Johor Bahru on October 16, is expected to be a catalyst for the growth of the state's hotel industry. It is the first purpose-built International Convention Centre in Johor and south of Kuala Lumpur and given the advantage of its strategic location - a mere five-minute drive to the Causeway and 30 minutes from Senai Airport - gives it the advantage of tapping into both the Singapore and southern peninsular MICE markets.
"At present, there are insufficient rooms to support the potential MICE business," Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Johor Chapter chairman, Mr John Roozemond, who is also Persada Johor's managing director, said.
There are 206 hotels of all categories in Johor with 9,892 rooms. Of these, 28 are star-rated hotels. The average room occupancy rate is between 60 and 70 per cent.
The average rates stand at RM130 (US$35.35) for city hotels, and city hoteliers hope these rates will increase to RM170 (US$46.24) by end 2007.
Source : TTG Asia
PJICC : http://www.persadajohor.com/
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
S Puvaneswary
Kuala Lumpur (2006-10-26)
THE Persada Johor International Convention Centre, which officially opened in Johor Bahru on October 16, is expected to be a catalyst for the growth of the state's hotel industry. It is the first purpose-built International Convention Centre in Johor and south of Kuala Lumpur and given the advantage of its strategic location - a mere five-minute drive to the Causeway and 30 minutes from Senai Airport - gives it the advantage of tapping into both the Singapore and southern peninsular MICE markets.
"At present, there are insufficient rooms to support the potential MICE business," Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Johor Chapter chairman, Mr John Roozemond, who is also Persada Johor's managing director, said.
There are 206 hotels of all categories in Johor with 9,892 rooms. Of these, 28 are star-rated hotels. The average room occupancy rate is between 60 and 70 per cent.
The average rates stand at RM130 (US$35.35) for city hotels, and city hoteliers hope these rates will increase to RM170 (US$46.24) by end 2007.
Source : TTG Asia
PJICC : http://www.persadajohor.com/
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Kuala Lumpur is Cheapest City
KL the least expensive city
PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur is the least expensive city in the world for Western tourists.
A survey of 71 cities worldwide by Swiss banking giant UBS found that Malaysia's capital has the most competitive prices when it comes to food, electronic goods, clothes, public transport, hotel rates and entertainment.
A survey of 71 cities worldwide by Swiss banking giant UBS found that Malaysia's capital has the most competitive prices when it comes to food, electronic goods, clothes, public transport, hotel rates and entertainment.
A five-star hotel room in Kuala Lumpur costs an average US$150 (RM551) compared to with US$450 (RM1,647) for a similar room in New York. The most expensive is Tokyo, where the rate is US$510 (RM1,866).
For a room in a two- or three-star hotel, the rate in Kuala Lumpur is about US$50 (RM183), compared with US$250 (RM915) in New York.
Comparable hotel room prices are found in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Bogota (Colombia) or Nairobi (Kenya) but if a tourist wants to have a short stay including a city tour, Kuala Lumpur is still the cheapest.
The UBS survey put together a basket of goods consisting of an overnight stay for two in a first-class hotel, two dinners with a bottle of house red wine, one taxi ride, a 100km trip in a rented car, two outings to the theatre by public transport and miscellaneous expenses.
It found that one only has to pay US$260 (RM951) for the package in Kuala Lumpur compared with US$920 (RM3,367) in New York.
After Kuala Lumpur, the survey found the next cheapest city to be Manila, where a similar package costs US$330 (RM1,207).
The most expensive city in this category is London where the cost is US$1,180 (RM4,318).
Taxi fares in Kuala Lumpur are also one of the cheapest in the world at US$1.60 (RM5.88) for a 5km trip within the city. A similar trip in New York costs US$11.60 (RM42).
Food prices in Kuala Lumpur are considerably lower than in other cities, with a three-course meal in a good restaurant costing US$12 (RM44) for one person.
As for car prices, a Ford Focus in New York or a Peugeot 206 in Buenos Aires costs less than a Proton in KL. However, fuel prices in Kuala Lumpur are the cheapest among all the cities surveyed.
Apartment rent in Kuala Lumpur is also the cheapest. An unfurnished 3-room apartment in Kuala Lumpur goes for about US$480 (RM1,756) compared with US$5,870 (RM21,484) in New York.
As for wages, KL is still far behind, with an average hourly gross wage (calculated across 14 professions) of US$3.60 (RM13), lower than the Asian average of US$5 (RM18). The average hourly wage in Europe and the United States is US$16-US$17 (RM57-RM61).
Kuala Lumpur folks clock about 16 more days a year than their Western counterparts.
News Source : STAR NST
Thursday, October 26, 2006
FIGO : Largest Convention in Malaysia
A Malaysian record for number of event participants
KUALA LUMPUR -Malaysia’s biggest conference has achieved its target of 8,000 participants for the 18th triennial congress of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) that will be held in this city from November 5 to 10.
The gynaecologists and obstetricians are coming from 130 countries and territories.
During the visit, International delegates are expected to “inject some RM80 million into the Malaysian economy”, according to local organising committee chair Dr. Abdul Aziz Yahya.
The congress is being organised by the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia (OGSM).
FIGO webpage : http://www.figo2006kl.com/
Source : TravelWeekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
KUALA LUMPUR -Malaysia’s biggest conference has achieved its target of 8,000 participants for the 18th triennial congress of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) that will be held in this city from November 5 to 10.
The gynaecologists and obstetricians are coming from 130 countries and territories.
During the visit, International delegates are expected to “inject some RM80 million into the Malaysian economy”, according to local organising committee chair Dr. Abdul Aziz Yahya.
The congress is being organised by the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia (OGSM).
FIGO webpage : http://www.figo2006kl.com/
Source : TravelWeekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
2006's World's Sexiest Hotels
Sexy, Inc. Announces "2005-2006 World's 100 Sexiest Hotels List"
Oct 26, 06 2:04 am
Oct 26, 06 2:04 am
Sexy, Inc. Has Released Its Second Annual Listing of the World's 100 Sexiest Hotels
Marc Holland, founder of Sexy, Inc., said, "Over 500 properties were evaluated and winners were chosen according to style, architecture, ambiance, service, mood, and emotion."
Holland added, "Defining 'sexy' was the fun part of the job. Sexy has nothing to do with price, size, or reputation, but rather how all those elements come together to create a sensual experience that evokes a feeling of true transcendence for the guest."
"Sexy can't be faked," says Holland, "A hotel or resort is either sexy or it's not. There are no in-betweens. Sexy could be a desert mega-resort, a sleek New York City business hotel, a Malaysian seaside resort, or a safari camp."
Highlighted properties include Rattray's in South Africa, Bleibtreu in Berlin, The Montage Resort & Spa in Laguna Beach, California, Navutu Stars Resort in Fiji, Costa Rica Marriott in Costa Rica and many more.
Jeff Johnson, V.P. of Marketing for the Montage Resort & Spa, says, "We are very pleased to have been chosen as one of the World's Sexiest Hotels. We are a romantic and elegant getaway and want to evoke a relaxed experience for all the senses."
Julia Poppe, Director of Marketing, Bleibtreu Hotel, said, "We are very proud to again be affiliated with the exclusive worldwide circle of 'Sexiest Hotels.' The love for the smallest detail and our drive to constantly improve and tend our sincere service is part of our trait which is appreciated by our guests. Since the opening of the Bleibtreu, which literally translates 'Remain Faithful,' many of our guests have been loyal."
World's 100 Sexiest Hotels is a luxury travel-ranking co-venture between Sexy, Inc., Sky Radio & Video and SkyAuction.com, a leading online travel auction company.
1. Navutu Stars Resort, Fiji
2. Rattray's on Mala Mala, South Africa
3. The Wynn, Las Vegas, Nevada
4. Amanpulo Resort, The Philippines
5. Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, Ojai, California
6. Hotel de l'Europe, Amsterdam
7. Montage Resort & Spa, Laguna Beach, California
8. Roger Williams, New York, New York
9. The Lalu, Taiwan
10. Costa Rica Marriott, San Jose, Costa Rica
2. Rattray's on Mala Mala, South Africa
3. The Wynn, Las Vegas, Nevada
4. Amanpulo Resort, The Philippines
5. Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, Ojai, California
6. Hotel de l'Europe, Amsterdam
7. Montage Resort & Spa, Laguna Beach, California
8. Roger Williams, New York, New York
9. The Lalu, Taiwan
10. Costa Rica Marriott, San Jose, Costa Rica
Holland says, "The winners that we've spoken to are all thrilled with being selected for the list. They are used to winning awards, but the 'Sexiest' award is something they are unusually proud of."
Malaysia has one hotel listed too, its the Mandarin Oriental! Check it out in the SexiestHotels.com webpage.
Source: SexiestHotels.com
Shang - Best desserts and pastries in town
Pastry chef with an eye for trends
By VIVIENNE PAL
Schanzl taking great pains to craft his desserts according to current trends.
By VIVIENNE PAL
Schanzl taking great pains to craft his desserts according to current trends. FOOD is quite like fashion and like the consummate designer, Werner Schanzl takes note of culinary trends to come up with the latest pastries.“Pastry recipes are hundreds of years old; what keeps the pastries current are the trends because there is a good market for pastries even in Malaysia – the variety of Nyonya kuih you find here is indication enough,” said Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur's newest executive pastry chef who came on board the hotel a month ago.
The 32-year-old Austrian-born has had a deep love for the art of confectionery since his teenage years, and his flair for confectionery, sugar craft and wedding cakes has taken him to Germany, Austria, Monaco, Qatar and the Philippines, as well as on board the Celebrity Cruise Lines of Miami and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines of Miami.
“What makes a good pastry or dessert – besides it keeping with the current trend and preferences of the people – is presentation, taste and a good combination of flavours,” he explained, adding that he had also been getting used to the food culture in Malaysia.
Since coming on board, Schanzl has been busy introducing new food concepts, pastries, breads, cakes and desserts (his “playground” includes the Lemon Garden, Lemon Garden 2Go and Cinnamon outlets), making changes and learning how to make local kuih.
“It's been interesting but busy, busy, busy since I got here. I'm starting with a whole new set of pastries, breads in all the outlets beginning with Lemon Garden 2Go,” said the chef whose day is choc-a-bloc from 8am to 10pm.
Schanzl is in charge of making 10 to 12 different types of pastries daily, which include breads and cakes, as well as homemade compotes, jellies, chocolates, sherbets and ice creams.
Currently, he is working on cakes for the upcoming festive seasons, including a pumpkin cake for Halloween and traditional log cakes for Christmas.
Currently, he is working on cakes for the upcoming festive seasons, including a pumpkin cake for Halloween and traditional log cakes for Christmas.
While Schanzl is adamant on making huge ripples in the hotel where pastries are concerned, there are a few challenges in his path – all of which he plans to take in his stride.
“The chefs are mostly very young and eager to learn, but they come and go. It's this constant re-training of new staff that can be tedious, but that's something we have to face.”
Ultimately, Schanzl's mission in the next two years is to leave his mark at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
“I don't want Shangri-La to be known only for its nice rooms. I
want it to be the benchmark for the best desserts and pastries in town.”
News Source : STAR
20% of Chefs are Women!
Girls want to dish it out, too
By BAVANI M
Photos by SAM THAM and T.K. LIM
By BAVANI M
Photos by SAM THAM and T.K. LIM
IT HAS never been easy for women to work or be accepted as leading chefs in leading hotels or restaurants. And, even if they did, it would have been twice as hard to get there compared with their male counterparts.
Nafisah ... ‘we have been short-changed’For Sabry Hassan, Novotel Hydro Majestic Kuala Lumpur's executive chef, the reason is quite plain.
Nafisah ... ‘we have been short-changed’For Sabry Hassan, Novotel Hydro Majestic Kuala Lumpur's executive chef, the reason is quite plain.“Being in charge of a kitchen with nearly a 100 staff under you is like being in charge of an army,” he said. “You must be in time, be quick with the work about you and must be meticulous.”
Sabri said should there be a banquet, then the top chef had to put in long hours.
“Woman cannot work under that kind of pressure as it takes a lot out of a person.”
Sabry may seem unkind to women’s capabilities, but he still has faith in their skills.
Sabry may seem unkind to women’s capabilities, but he still has faith in their skills.
“Women chefs are best suited for pastry work and the cold kitchen,” he said.
“These areas are where fine detailing and patience are important criteria as compared to the constantly busy hot kitchen.”
Sabry said women chefs were more sensitive and did not take criticisms as well as the men folk could.
“In my years of experience, a hard bang on the table to prove a point often results in bouts of tears from the fairer sex,” he said.
Michieletto ... ‘the scenario is like in a military’Concorde Hotel’s executive chef Arthur Heng agreed. He said it was especially hard in Asian culture.
Heng said male staff often found it uneasy in a department where a woman was the boss.
Michieletto ... ‘the scenario is like in a military’Concorde Hotel’s executive chef Arthur Heng agreed. He said it was especially hard in Asian culture.
Heng said male staff often found it uneasy in a department where a woman was the boss.
“Besides, one needs to possess a tough character and have confidence when dealing with their subordinates as the scene in a busy kitchen can sometimes get ugly with harsh words belted out often,” he said. “Feelings can easily be hurt.”
Senior chef de partie Azlina Othman, 38, of Concorde’s Melting Pot Cafe agreed that men did always hold senior positions in professional kitchens and that women had to work harder to make the mark.
“However, I do not agree that women can’t take pressure,” she said. “I have worked more than 16 hours at a stretch and I have given 100% to the task in hand.”
Azlina said she did feel sakit hati (hurt) when her male peers moved up in hierarchy instead of her.
“I did cry on the job, but that was when I was still new to the field,” said Azlina. “And, it only served to make me stronger and more resilient in my later years.”
Senior chef de partie-pastry Nafisah Mohd Ali, who heads a pastry team at Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur agrees.
“I feel that women have been short-changed in the culinary industry,” said the 34-year-old.
“It’s more challenging for us and we’re not treated any differently as we also have to carry heavy items and work long hours.”
Chefs Association of Malaysia vice-president Federico Michieletto said a chef’s job required commitment, and in some cases women chefs have to juggle with the commitment of taking care of their families.
“In a professional kitchen, the scenario can be rather like in a military where the head makes instant decisions and can take up operations in an instant. Usually men are able to do these better,” said Michieletto who is also TT Resources Bhd’s executive chef (Western Division).
While there are numerous women chefs in the industry, not many choose to work in a professional kitchen, preferring instead to teach or work in restaurants.
While there are numerous women chefs in the industry, not many choose to work in a professional kitchen, preferring instead to teach or work in restaurants.
“Of the 2,000 chefs registered with the association, 20% are women and
many are below the age of 25,” said Michieletto.
According to Sabry, there are more women then men enrolling in hospitality courses at colleges and universities.
“But, at the end of the day, not many of the women actually come out to work in the professional kitchen.''
Even if they did, they are most often than not single. Concorde Hotel’s Nafisah is a rare one. The mother of four said she had no problems juggling her job and her family, adding that her husband understood her work as he, too, worked long hours.
“We have a maid, and as such there really isn’t any problem,” said Nafisah.
Haslinda Nawi is the person in charge of Hydro Majestic Kuala Lumpur’s cold kitchen. The 33-year-old said work took up so much of her time that she hardly had a social life.
“There’s just no time for socialising or to go on dates.”
Sharifah Maria, who works as a demi chef for Prince Hotel and Residence Kuala Lumpur, is determined to make it as a professional chef.
Sharifah Maria, who works as a demi chef for Prince Hotel and Residence Kuala Lumpur, is determined to make it as a professional chef.
“We have to compete and work harder and I am willing to go the extra mile,” said the 31-year-old UiTM graduate.
“I’m take up cooking classes on my off days,” she said. “There’s just no time for anything else.”
Male chefs may dominate the kitchen in leading establishments. But, most of them look to women as their inspiration – their mothers.
“My mum has been a great influence,” said Michieletto. “In any case, I personally enjoy food cooked by women.”
News Source : Star
Hotel housekeeper bashed to death at home
Hotel housekeeper bashed to death at home
KUALA LUMPUR: A hotel housekeeper was killed in a brutal attack in her home in Jalan Mesui, off Jalan Nagasari here.
Asmira Samsuddin, 44, an Indonesian with permanent resident status, was attacked in her room on the second floor of a four-storey building at 5.40am on Tuesday.
According to the police, Asmira tried to flee but was chased by her attacker to the doorstep of one of her housemates. There, he bludgeoned her to death with a blunt object.
Her housemates, who were too afraid to come out at the time of the attack, later called the police.
Police are still investigating the cause of the murder.
News Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
KUALA LUMPUR: A hotel housekeeper was killed in a brutal attack in her home in Jalan Mesui, off Jalan Nagasari here.
Asmira Samsuddin, 44, an Indonesian with permanent resident status, was attacked in her room on the second floor of a four-storey building at 5.40am on Tuesday.
According to the police, Asmira tried to flee but was chased by her attacker to the doorstep of one of her housemates. There, he bludgeoned her to death with a blunt object.
Her housemates, who were too afraid to come out at the time of the attack, later called the police.
Police are still investigating the cause of the murder.
News Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Reviews of Hotels in Malaysia
This is one very cool website that allows users to write up on their experience in any hotel in the world.I would also add that these views are all candid and directly from the hotel guests ~ and can be found on Trip Advisor which are totally unbiased as the website is not owned by a hotel or resort, however its owned by an online travel management company (expedia)
Check out the General Page on Reviews of some of the Top Hotels in Malaysia.
Trip Advisor's Reviews of Hotels in Malaysia - Click Here
And to make your task easier, if you are searching for a good hotel to stay in Kuala Lumpur, and you are not sure .. check out these reviews: (or actually even if you're not staying... I am sure u wanna check out these reviews!!) hehe
Reviews of TOP HOTELS in KL
- Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
- Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur
- Hilton Kuala Lumpur
- Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur
- Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur
- Regent Kuala Lumpur
- Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel
- JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur
- Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur
- Traders Hotel
Reviews of some TOP RESORTS in Malaysia
- Four Seasons Resort Langkawi
- The Andaman Langkawi
- The Datai Langkawi
- Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort
- Pangkor Laut Resort
- Club Med Cherating Beach
- Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort
- Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort
- Nexus Resort Karambunai
- Sutera Harbour Resort (The Pacific Sutera & The Magellan Sutera)
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Friday, October 20, 2006
Malaysia International Gourmet Festival
Chefs head for kitchen battle14 Oct 2006
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian hotel chefs are heading for a showdown here next month.
Whatever the outcome of this show of prowess in the kitchens, it is only good news for those who love their food.
The Malaysia International Gourmet Festival, from Nov 2 to 29, will see 25 chefs from different hotels dishing out a wide range of cuisine, from Chinese and Pan-Asian to Japanese, French, Mediterranean, Thai and Italian.
The festival will be launched at Shangri-la Hotel on Nov 1.
The participating hotels are the Equatorial, Hilton, Renaissance, Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-la, The Westin, Crowne Plaza, Marriott (Putrajaya), Genting Highlands Hotel, Renaissance (Malacca) and Four Seasons Resort (Langkawi).
Organising chairman Steve Day said the festival was held to promote the country’s best restaurants and resident chefs.
"There’s little point flying in foreign-based chefs to hold a one-day food promotion when we have some of the best chefs living right here," he said.The festival is expected to attract some 100,000 people.
News Source : New Strait Times
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Woman found dead in Genting Highlands
Woman found dead in hotel
18 Oct 2006
BENTONG: A woman was found murdered in a hotel room in Genting Highlands on Monday — the second such incident involving women from China in the past month.
The latest victim, a 22-year-old, was found face down between two beds in a room on the 18th floor of the First World Hotel on Monday night. She had bruises on her face and was believed to have been strangled. There were no signs of a forced entry into the room and her valuables including her handbag, mobile phone and travel documents were intact.
Police are investigating the possibility that the victim could have been involved in vice activities and they are now tracking the man who was last seen going into the room with her.
Police have so far detained one suspect, a 52-year-old man from Negri Sembilan, under whose name the room was registered. They believe that he could have been her pimp.He was produced at the Bentong magistrate’s court yesterday where police obtained a 14-day remand order.
It is learnt that the victim and two other women from China were taken to the resort on Monday morning by the suspect. Several hours later the other two women tried to contact the victim and when they could not reach her, they contacted the suspect. The suspect checked the room about 11pm and found the woman. It is learnt that police have seized the tapes from several closed-circuit television cameras in the hotel to help in the investigations. They also recorded statements from the two women.
Resorts World Bhd public relations and communications senior vice-president Datuk Anthony Yeo confirmed that the body was found by the man who had earlier booked the room. On Sept 15, another Chinese woman, Hu Xin Yu, 27, was found murdered in the toilet of her room at the Hotel Classic Inn in Jalan Scott in Brickfields. Police arrested a 27-year-old man from Klang who was charged with her murder.
Police identify murder suspect
19 Oct 2006
BENTONG: Police have identified a suspect in the murder of a Chinese woman at a holiday resort on Monday.
Recordings of closed-circuit television cameras at a Genting Highlands hotelthe First World Hotel showed the suspect entering the room with the victim and leaving alone later. Investigations revealed that the suspect worked for a vice syndicate.
Bentong police chief Superintendent Mohd Yusuf Mahmood said the room on the 18th floor of the hotel, where the victim was found was booked under the suspect’s name. Police now believe the suspect booked rooms for vice syndicates before “selling” them to pimps at a higher price.
So far, police have arrested a 52-year-old man, believed to be the victim’s pimp. On Monday, the pimp was believed to have taken three Chinese women to “service clients”. The two other women tried to contact the victim in her room for several hours and when they failed to get her, they contacted the pimp.He checked the room at 11pm and found her dead.
She had bruises on her mouth and was believed to have been strangled. Police are trying to identify her. “The pimp claims he does not know the suspect who booked the room,” Yusuf said. “The victim is believed to be in her early 20s.He said no identification papers were on her. Police seized a bag filled with clothes in the room.
Meanwhile, police are looking for See Kong Hoi, 36; IC number 700414-10-5003.
See’s last known address is 763, Pandamaran, Klang, Selangor.
Those with information on his whereabouts can contact the nearest police station.
News Source : New Strait Times 1 New Strait Times 2
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
18 Oct 2006
BENTONG: A woman was found murdered in a hotel room in Genting Highlands on Monday — the second such incident involving women from China in the past month.
The latest victim, a 22-year-old, was found face down between two beds in a room on the 18th floor of the First World Hotel on Monday night. She had bruises on her face and was believed to have been strangled. There were no signs of a forced entry into the room and her valuables including her handbag, mobile phone and travel documents were intact.
Police are investigating the possibility that the victim could have been involved in vice activities and they are now tracking the man who was last seen going into the room with her.
Police have so far detained one suspect, a 52-year-old man from Negri Sembilan, under whose name the room was registered. They believe that he could have been her pimp.He was produced at the Bentong magistrate’s court yesterday where police obtained a 14-day remand order.
It is learnt that the victim and two other women from China were taken to the resort on Monday morning by the suspect. Several hours later the other two women tried to contact the victim and when they could not reach her, they contacted the suspect. The suspect checked the room about 11pm and found the woman. It is learnt that police have seized the tapes from several closed-circuit television cameras in the hotel to help in the investigations. They also recorded statements from the two women.
Resorts World Bhd public relations and communications senior vice-president Datuk Anthony Yeo confirmed that the body was found by the man who had earlier booked the room. On Sept 15, another Chinese woman, Hu Xin Yu, 27, was found murdered in the toilet of her room at the Hotel Classic Inn in Jalan Scott in Brickfields. Police arrested a 27-year-old man from Klang who was charged with her murder.
Police identify murder suspect
19 Oct 2006
BENTONG: Police have identified a suspect in the murder of a Chinese woman at a holiday resort on Monday.
Recordings of closed-circuit television cameras at a Genting Highlands hotelthe First World Hotel showed the suspect entering the room with the victim and leaving alone later. Investigations revealed that the suspect worked for a vice syndicate.
Bentong police chief Superintendent Mohd Yusuf Mahmood said the room on the 18th floor of the hotel, where the victim was found was booked under the suspect’s name. Police now believe the suspect booked rooms for vice syndicates before “selling” them to pimps at a higher price.
So far, police have arrested a 52-year-old man, believed to be the victim’s pimp. On Monday, the pimp was believed to have taken three Chinese women to “service clients”. The two other women tried to contact the victim in her room for several hours and when they failed to get her, they contacted the pimp.He checked the room at 11pm and found her dead.
She had bruises on her mouth and was believed to have been strangled. Police are trying to identify her. “The pimp claims he does not know the suspect who booked the room,” Yusuf said. “The victim is believed to be in her early 20s.He said no identification papers were on her. Police seized a bag filled with clothes in the room.
Meanwhile, police are looking for See Kong Hoi, 36; IC number 700414-10-5003.
See’s last known address is 763, Pandamaran, Klang, Selangor.
Those with information on his whereabouts can contact the nearest police station.
News Source : New Strait Times 1 New Strait Times 2
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Two new hotels for Boustead Hotels and Resorts
Two new hotels for Boustead Hotels and Resorts
Corinne Wan
KUALA LUMPUR - Boustead Hotels and Resorts, the hotel division of Malaysia business conglomerate Boustead Holdings Bhd, will add two more hotels to its portfolio - in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
The proposed development in Kuala Lumpur, the Conlay Plaza, will be located at Jalan Conlay. It is a five-star mixed project with a 300-room hotel and 100 serviced apartments scheduled to open end 2008.
In Penang it will be a four star 300-room hotel - The Royale Bintang Penang – due to be operational early 2009.
Source : TravelWeekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Corinne Wan
KUALA LUMPUR - Boustead Hotels and Resorts, the hotel division of Malaysia business conglomerate Boustead Holdings Bhd, will add two more hotels to its portfolio - in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
The proposed development in Kuala Lumpur, the Conlay Plaza, will be located at Jalan Conlay. It is a five-star mixed project with a 300-room hotel and 100 serviced apartments scheduled to open end 2008.
In Penang it will be a four star 300-room hotel - The Royale Bintang Penang – due to be operational early 2009.
Source : TravelWeekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
How do you know if you are a Hotelier?
You are in the hotel industry, if ... ... ...
You sat at the same desk for 4 years and worked for 8 different managers
“Going for cocktails and dinner” is NOT your idea of a nice evening
When someone asks you your exact job profile, you lie
You get really excited about a 2% pay increase
You sit in a cubicle smaller than your bedroom closet
It’s dark on your drive to and from work
Communication is something your “group” is having problems with
You see a good looking person and you know it’s a visitor/guest
Food left over from a banquet or meeting is your main staple diet
You forget what you look like in anything but a suit
All the work you were hired to do gets done before 9 and after 5
You’re already late on an assignment you just received
Your boss’s favourite lines are
a. “When you get a minute…”
b. “In your spare time….”
c. “I have an opportunity for you…”
50% of the people in your company don’t know what you do
The other 50% of the people in your company don’t care what you do
Vacation is something you roll over to next year, if you are allowed
Change is the norm
Nepotism is encouraged
Six months is considered to be substantial longevity
You dial “9″ before the number no matter where you are calling from
When you are walking in public, you have to fight the urge to pick up little scraps of paper and rubbish on the floor
Your toilet paper at home is folded in a triangle on the first sheet
You answer the phone at home “Hello this is….., how may I help you?”
You eat in hotel restaurants for fun
You inspect your hotel room when travelling
Most of all, you read this entire list and understand it!
Three shopping carnivals for VMY 2007
Three shopping carnivals for VMY 2007
Corinne Wan
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will host three mega shopping carnivals to draw in tourists for Visit Malaysia Year 2007 and to meet the targeted RM44 billion (US$12 billion) tourism receipts during Visit Malaysia Year 2007.
The shopping frenzy kicks off with the Kuala Lumpur Grand Prix City Sale from March 24 to April 22 in conjunction with the Petronas Formula One Grand Prix, followed by the Mega Sale Carnival from June 15 to Sept 2 and the Year End Sale from December 1 to January 1, 2008.
Tourism minister Tengku Datuk Seri Adnan Tengku Mansor said the biggest foreign spenders were tourists from Qatar, Pakistan and Kuwait, with average spending of RM4,500 per person.
Shopping contributes RM7.7 billion or 20.8 percent of the RM31.9 billion tourism receipts last year. The ministry is expecting 20.1 million tourists for VMY 2007.
SpotLight: Sale! Sale! Sale! Playing catch-up
22 Oct 2006
IN 2000, the Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry decided to turn Malaysia into a leading shopping paradise in Asia.
The key strategy was the introduction of the nationwide Mega Sale Carnival that was held thrice a year — in March, August and December.
The then minister Datuk Paduka Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir said the tri-annual sale frequency is a reminder that there is an emerging international shopping destination in the region. He said holding it thrice a year also shows the sense of urgency in achieving this target as Malaysia is behind the leading shopping destinations in the region. In the event the sales are held less frequently, they will widen the gap between Malaysia and the other shopping destinations.
Following feedback from retailers that the three nationwide sales were one too many, the Tourism Ministry under Datuk Dr Leo Michael Toyad decided to hold the nationwide sale once a year. Instead, two other regionwide sales, covering the northern and southern Peninsular Malaysia, were held at different times of the year.
What we have now is three nationwide sales carrying three different names — Grand Prix (in March), Mega Sale (August/September) and Year End Sale (December).
Spending but not shopping enoughFOREIGN tourists spend only about 20 per cent annually on shopping in Malaysia.
In contrast, destinations which already enjoy international shopping status see more being spent on shopping compared to accommodation, although hotel rates in the same star category could be at least three times more.
A Mastercard International Insights research on ‘Kuala Lumpur as a Travel-Shopping Destination’ in the third quarter of 2005 indicated the Malaysian capital had the lowest spending among key shopping centres in Asia at 22 per cent.
This compares with Singapore’s 53 per cent, Hong Kong’s 50 per cent and Seoul’s 45 per cent. The report also stated that in order for Kuala Lumpur to compete successfully as a shopping centre, it has to move upmarket to become a premium hub for shopping, as being "inexpensive" may no longer be enough.
"Only by going upmarket can Kuala Lumpur be successfully re-positioned, thus avoiding comparison with either Bangkok, China or India," the report added.
Source : TravelWeekly New Strait Times
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Corinne Wan
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will host three mega shopping carnivals to draw in tourists for Visit Malaysia Year 2007 and to meet the targeted RM44 billion (US$12 billion) tourism receipts during Visit Malaysia Year 2007.
The shopping frenzy kicks off with the Kuala Lumpur Grand Prix City Sale from March 24 to April 22 in conjunction with the Petronas Formula One Grand Prix, followed by the Mega Sale Carnival from June 15 to Sept 2 and the Year End Sale from December 1 to January 1, 2008.
Tourism minister Tengku Datuk Seri Adnan Tengku Mansor said the biggest foreign spenders were tourists from Qatar, Pakistan and Kuwait, with average spending of RM4,500 per person.
Shopping contributes RM7.7 billion or 20.8 percent of the RM31.9 billion tourism receipts last year. The ministry is expecting 20.1 million tourists for VMY 2007.
SpotLight: Sale! Sale! Sale! Playing catch-up
22 Oct 2006
IN 2000, the Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry decided to turn Malaysia into a leading shopping paradise in Asia.
The key strategy was the introduction of the nationwide Mega Sale Carnival that was held thrice a year — in March, August and December.
The then minister Datuk Paduka Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir said the tri-annual sale frequency is a reminder that there is an emerging international shopping destination in the region. He said holding it thrice a year also shows the sense of urgency in achieving this target as Malaysia is behind the leading shopping destinations in the region. In the event the sales are held less frequently, they will widen the gap between Malaysia and the other shopping destinations.
Following feedback from retailers that the three nationwide sales were one too many, the Tourism Ministry under Datuk Dr Leo Michael Toyad decided to hold the nationwide sale once a year. Instead, two other regionwide sales, covering the northern and southern Peninsular Malaysia, were held at different times of the year.
What we have now is three nationwide sales carrying three different names — Grand Prix (in March), Mega Sale (August/September) and Year End Sale (December).
Spending but not shopping enoughFOREIGN tourists spend only about 20 per cent annually on shopping in Malaysia.
The bulk of the spending is on accommodation, which makes up about 30 per cent of total spending here although average room rates of hotels in Malaysia is one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest, in the world.
In contrast, destinations which already enjoy international shopping status see more being spent on shopping compared to accommodation, although hotel rates in the same star category could be at least three times more.
A Mastercard International Insights research on ‘Kuala Lumpur as a Travel-Shopping Destination’ in the third quarter of 2005 indicated the Malaysian capital had the lowest spending among key shopping centres in Asia at 22 per cent.
This compares with Singapore’s 53 per cent, Hong Kong’s 50 per cent and Seoul’s 45 per cent. The report also stated that in order for Kuala Lumpur to compete successfully as a shopping centre, it has to move upmarket to become a premium hub for shopping, as being "inexpensive" may no longer be enough.
"Only by going upmarket can Kuala Lumpur be successfully re-positioned, thus avoiding comparison with either Bangkok, China or India," the report added.
Source : TravelWeekly New Strait Times
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Pan Pac's management of KLIA hotel extended
Pan Pac's management of KLIA hotel extended
Corinne Wan
KUALA LUMPUR - Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts' (PPHR) management contract with Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur International Airport (PPKLIA) has been extended for another 10 years.
PPHR was part of the planning group and has been managing the hotel for its owner, Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd, since it started operations in June 1998. The hotel has been refurbished and upgraded over the past years.
Source : TravelWeekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Corinne Wan
KUALA LUMPUR - Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts' (PPHR) management contract with Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur International Airport (PPKLIA) has been extended for another 10 years.
PPHR was part of the planning group and has been managing the hotel for its owner, Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd, since it started operations in June 1998. The hotel has been refurbished and upgraded over the past years.
Source : TravelWeekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Top Resorts, Top Hotels - Results of the 2006 Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards
Top Resorts, Top Hotels - Results of the 2006 Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards
Oct 19, 06 2:05 am
The November 2006 issue of Conde Nast Traveler celebrates the 19th annual Readers' Choice Awards. The results are derived from the largest independent poll of consumers' preferences, the Readers' Choice Survey, second in size only to the U.S. Census. With over 21,000 travelers voting this year, the lists show an even greater global variety and depth.
This year many perennial favorites hold on to their top spots:
But there are some surprises this year, including the Maldives, which is the first island since the inception of the Islands category 13 years ago to beat Maui for the #1 Island ranking. Buckland Manor in the Cotswolds, England, gained the distinction this year for being the highest-scoring hotel in Readers' Choice history by receiving perfect scores for Rooms, Service, Food, and Location. Another property to receive 100s in Rooms, Service, Location, and Design in the Hotels category was Budapest's Four Seasons Gresham Palace.
Also of note is Regent Seven Seas (formerly Radisson Seven Seas), the #1 Large Ship Cruise Line that edges ahead of the nine-time winner and close contender Crystal Cruises. Many Asian properties scored well into the 90's in the Resorts category, led by the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan with a near-perfect 99.6, placing the resort as #1 on the overall Top 100 list this year.
Below are results for the top three winners in each category.
The complete results of the awards can be found in the November issue, on newsstands October 24th. The program titled Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards will premiere on the Travel Channel on Wednesday, October 25th at 8 PM (ET/PT).
Unlike many other travel publications, Conde Nast Traveler does not accept free travel and accommodations, and its correspondents, as far as possible, travel anonymously. The result is travel the way consumers experience it -- good and bad, with reporting that is fair and honest. Conde Nast Traveler recently won its 6th National Magazine Award and is still the only travel publication to have won the highest honor in magazine publishing. Conde Nast Traveler, the 2005 Zagat Survey Best Travel Magazine, has a circulation of over 750,000 and is published by Conde Nast Publications, Inc.
Source : Ehotelier
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Oct 19, 06 2:05 am
The November 2006 issue of Conde Nast Traveler celebrates the 19th annual Readers' Choice Awards. The results are derived from the largest independent poll of consumers' preferences, the Readers' Choice Survey, second in size only to the U.S. Census. With over 21,000 travelers voting this year, the lists show an even greater global variety and depth.
This year many perennial favorites hold on to their top spots:
Singapore Airlines is again the #1 International Route Airline, and has led this
category for 18 of the past 19 years (in 1994 Swissair took the top spot) and
remains the only carrier ever to earn an overall score above 90.0.San Francisco, the #1 U.S. City, has also been #1 for 18 of the past 19 years (in
1992 Santa Fe won the honor).
But there are some surprises this year, including the Maldives, which is the first island since the inception of the Islands category 13 years ago to beat Maui for the #1 Island ranking. Buckland Manor in the Cotswolds, England, gained the distinction this year for being the highest-scoring hotel in Readers' Choice history by receiving perfect scores for Rooms, Service, Food, and Location. Another property to receive 100s in Rooms, Service, Location, and Design in the Hotels category was Budapest's Four Seasons Gresham Palace.
Also of note is Regent Seven Seas (formerly Radisson Seven Seas), the #1 Large Ship Cruise Line that edges ahead of the nine-time winner and close contender Crystal Cruises. Many Asian properties scored well into the 90's in the Resorts category, led by the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan with a near-perfect 99.6, placing the resort as #1 on the overall Top 100 list this year.
Below are results for the top three winners in each category.
Top Resorts - Africa: 1. Singita - Ebony & Boulders Lodges 2. Chief's Camp, Botswana 3. Chobe Chilwero, Botswana
Top Resorts - Canada: 1. Pan Pacific Mountainside, Whistler 2. Four Seasons, Whistler 3. Westin Resort, Whistler
Top Resorts - Atlantic: 1. One&Only Ocean Club, Bahamas 2. The Reefs, Bermuda 3. Parrot Cay, Turks and CaicosTop Resorts - Central/South America : 1. Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo 2. Explora en Patagonia, Chile 3. Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Argentina
Top Resorts - Asia: 1. Four Seasons Bali at Sayan 2. Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand 3. Banyan Tree, Phuket, Thailand
Top Resorts - Mexico: 1. La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo 2. Royal Hideaway Playacar, Riviera Maya 3. JW Marriott, Cancun
Top Resorts - Pacific Rim: 1. Four Seasons Lodge at Koele, Lanai 2. Four Seasons Hualalai, Big Island 3. Voyages Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef
Top Resorts - Europe : 1. Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland 2. Westin Turnberry Resort, Scotland 3. Mount Juliet Conrad, Co. Kilkenny
Top Resorts - Caribbean: 1. Malliouhana Hotel, Anguilla 2. Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman 3. Sandy Lane, Barbados
Top Resorts - United States : 1. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, AZ 2. Inn at Palmetto Bluff, SC 3. Inn at Spanish Bay, CA
Top Hotels - Asia: 1. Fullerton Hotel, Singapore 2. Amandari, Bali 3. The Peninsula, Bangkok
Top Hotels - Caribbean/Atlantic: 1. Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France 2. Ladera, St. Lucia 3. Waterloo House, Bermuda
Top Hotels - Pacific Rim: 1. Rialto Hotel on Collins, Melbourne 2. Park Hyatt, Sydney 3. Lilianfels Blue Mountains, Australia
Top Hotels - Africa: 1. Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza 2. Cape Grace, Cape Town 3. Sofitel Palais Jamai, Fez
Top Hotels - Europe: 1. Four Seasons Gresham Palace 2. Chateau Les Crayeres, Reims 3. Four Seasons George V, Paris
Top Hotels - South America : 1. Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco, Peru 2. Four Seasons, Buenos Aires 3. Swissotel, Quito, Ecuador
Top Hotels - United States: 1. The Peninsula, Chicago, IL 2. Watermark Hotel, San Antonio, TX 3. St. Regis, New York, NY
Top Hotels - Canada: 1. Auberge du Vieux-Port, Montreal 2. Hotel Dominion 1912, Quebec City 3. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City
Top Hotels - British Isles: 1. Buckland Manor, The Cotswolds 2. Gidleigh Park, Devon 3. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
Top Hotels - Central America/Mexico : 1. JW Marriott, Mexico City 2. Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas 3. Casa Santo Domingo, Guatemala
Top Hotels - Middle East: 1. Grand Hyatt, Amman 2. King David, Jerusalem 3. David Citadel, Jerusalem
Top Cities - United States: 1. San Francisco, CA 2. Santa Fe, NM 3. New York, NY
Top Cities - Asia : 1. Bangkok, Thailand 2. Hong Kong 3. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Top Cities - Europe: 1. Florence, Italy 2. Rome, Italy 3. Venice, Italy
Top Cities - Africa/Middle East : 1. Cape Town, South Africa 2. Marrakech, Morocco
Top Cities - Pacific Rim : 1. Sydney, Australia 2. Melbourne, Australia 3. Queenstown, New Zealand
Top Cities - The Americas: 1. Vancouver,British Columbia 2. Buenos Aires, Argentina 3. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Top Islands - Europe : 1. Mykonos & the Cyclades, Greece 2. Madeira, Portugal 3. Capri, Italy
Top Islands - Pacific Rim: 1. Maui, Hawaii 2. Kauai, Hawaii 3. Moorea, French Polynesia
Top Islands - Caribbean/Atlantic: 1. Bermuda 2. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands 3. British Virgin Islands
Top Islands - North America: 1. Vancouver Island, Canada 2. Kiawah, South Carolina 3. Nantucket, Massachusetts
Top Islands - Asia: 1. Maldives 2. Bali, Indonesia 3. Phuket, Thailand
Top International Route Airlines : 1. Singapore Airlines 2. Emirates 3. Cathay Pacific
Top Domestic Route Airlines: 1. JetBlue 2. Midwest 3. Hawaiian
Top Car Rental Agencies : 1. Hertz 2. Renault Eurodrive 3. Avis
Top Large Ship Cruise Lines : 1. Regent Seven Seas 2. Crystal Cruises 3. Disney
Top Small Ship Cruise Lines : 1. SeaDream Yacht Club 2. Grand Circle Cruise Line 3. Regent Seven Seas
The complete results of the awards can be found in the November issue, on newsstands October 24th. The program titled Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards will premiere on the Travel Channel on Wednesday, October 25th at 8 PM (ET/PT).
Unlike many other travel publications, Conde Nast Traveler does not accept free travel and accommodations, and its correspondents, as far as possible, travel anonymously. The result is travel the way consumers experience it -- good and bad, with reporting that is fair and honest. Conde Nast Traveler recently won its 6th National Magazine Award and is still the only travel publication to have won the highest honor in magazine publishing. Conde Nast Traveler, the 2005 Zagat Survey Best Travel Magazine, has a circulation of over 750,000 and is published by Conde Nast Publications, Inc.
Source : Ehotelier
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Marriott Testing Smartphone Check Ins
Marriott Testing Smartphone Check Ins
Oct 19, 06 1:58 am
Marriott is working with Intel Solution Services and Microsoft to enable Windows Mobile device users to check into their hotel from their smartphone - the Pocket PC Phone variety. So instead of waiting of on a long line to check in, a guest could just breeze up to an automatic key dispenser.
To start, users download and install what's called Marriott's mobilitysoftware from Arrive.Marriott.com to access what is the an initial test system, currently accessible at only one hotel; Marriott's Redmond, Washington location - The Redmond Marriott Town Center, not by coincidence, of course. There's also a PDA user guide on the site.
Once installed, users can check into their room while in transit to the hotel. Guests will be able to change room types, receive welcome information and reconfirm their room rates. Should a wireless signal be lost during the check-in process, it picks up where it left off once their reconnected.
Last but not least, when they arrive at the hotel, guests retrieve their room keys from the automated key dispenser in the lobby; bypassing what is often hordes of other travelers waiting on line to check in. For the Pocket PC Phone user, it’s a quick trip up to the hotel room to rest some weary feet.
Marriott expects to complete the test later this year. After evaluation, the hotel chains plans to roll the mobile wireless check-in solution out to other hotels.
Source: SmartPhoneToday.com
News Source : Ehotelier
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Oct 19, 06 1:58 am
Marriott is working with Intel Solution Services and Microsoft to enable Windows Mobile device users to check into their hotel from their smartphone - the Pocket PC Phone variety. So instead of waiting of on a long line to check in, a guest could just breeze up to an automatic key dispenser.To start, users download and install what's called Marriott's mobilitysoftware from Arrive.Marriott.com to access what is the an initial test system, currently accessible at only one hotel; Marriott's Redmond, Washington location - The Redmond Marriott Town Center, not by coincidence, of course. There's also a PDA user guide on the site.
Once installed, users can check into their room while in transit to the hotel. Guests will be able to change room types, receive welcome information and reconfirm their room rates. Should a wireless signal be lost during the check-in process, it picks up where it left off once their reconnected.
Last but not least, when they arrive at the hotel, guests retrieve their room keys from the automated key dispenser in the lobby; bypassing what is often hordes of other travelers waiting on line to check in. For the Pocket PC Phone user, it’s a quick trip up to the hotel room to rest some weary feet.
Marriott expects to complete the test later this year. After evaluation, the hotel chains plans to roll the mobile wireless check-in solution out to other hotels.
Source: SmartPhoneToday.com
News Source : Ehotelier
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Hotel room rates in M'sia move sharply higher
Hotel room rates in M'sia move sharply higher; But charges are still below Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam
October 17, 2006
S Jayasankaran In Kuala Lumpur
AFTER years of depressed prices, Malaysia's hotels have begun to recover, with room rates moving sharply higher and shares in Shangri-La, Malaysia's only pure hotel play, rising 17 per cent to an eight-year high of RM1.95 apiece.
Even so, Malaysia's hotel rates remain one of the cheapest in Asia - good for travellers but less so for investors.
'It's embarrassing,' said Lim Beng Leong, the head of research of securities firm UOBKayHian in Kuala Lumpur. 'We are cheaper than Indonesia, the Philippines, even Vietnam.' The 'cheap' image has stuck to the country because, unlike hotels in Thailand, Indonesia or India which price room rates in US dollars, Malaysia has always set rates in the local currency.
After 1997, that got worse as the ringgit depreciated 40 per cent against the US dollar in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.
Last year, for example, the average room rate for hotels in Kuala Lumpur was RM204.69, or US$56 (S$88.50) - half the average in Indonesia or Thailand.
Even so, it's a step up from the average RM188 rate KL hotels charged in 2004. Higher occupancies (72 per cent last year) are pushing rates up at the more prestigious hotels.
Shangri-La, which has hotels in KL, Penang and Sabah, upped its rates for its flagship KL hotel to RM350 per night from RM320 per night last year. But that still pales before Mandarin Oriental, the most sought after five star hotel in the capital, whose rates come in at RM480 per night. Indeed, Mandarin is believed to be planning to increase this to RM600 per night by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the sale of Malaysian hotel assets is beginning to fetch higher premiums. Listed contractor Ireka recently sold its flagship Westin Hotel in KL to Newood Assets, which is believed to be controlled by Thai whisky king Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, for RM455 million. The sale valued the hotel at RM1 million a room, a record by Malaysian standards and a significant increase on the RM900,000 a room valuation given to Mandarin Oriental when it was packaged as part of Kuala Lumpur City Centre Properties and listed three years ago.
The higher room rates come with Malaysia's increasing success in attracting tourists. Despite fears of avian flu last year, tourist arrivals to Malaysia hit an all-time high of 16.4 million visitors in 2005, up from about 6 million in 1999 and around 2 million when Mahathir Mohamad took over as premier in 1981 and began promoting tourism in a big way.
Hoteliers are also excited by Visit Malaysia Year, which coincides with Malaysia's 50th year of independence next year. Hoteliers are expecting a 15 per cent increase in visitors to more than 20 million.
Source : Hotels Mag
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
October 17, 2006
S Jayasankaran In Kuala Lumpur
AFTER years of depressed prices, Malaysia's hotels have begun to recover, with room rates moving sharply higher and shares in Shangri-La, Malaysia's only pure hotel play, rising 17 per cent to an eight-year high of RM1.95 apiece.
Even so, Malaysia's hotel rates remain one of the cheapest in Asia - good for travellers but less so for investors.
'It's embarrassing,' said Lim Beng Leong, the head of research of securities firm UOBKayHian in Kuala Lumpur. 'We are cheaper than Indonesia, the Philippines, even Vietnam.' The 'cheap' image has stuck to the country because, unlike hotels in Thailand, Indonesia or India which price room rates in US dollars, Malaysia has always set rates in the local currency.
After 1997, that got worse as the ringgit depreciated 40 per cent against the US dollar in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.
Last year, for example, the average room rate for hotels in Kuala Lumpur was RM204.69, or US$56 (S$88.50) - half the average in Indonesia or Thailand.
Even so, it's a step up from the average RM188 rate KL hotels charged in 2004. Higher occupancies (72 per cent last year) are pushing rates up at the more prestigious hotels.
Shangri-La, which has hotels in KL, Penang and Sabah, upped its rates for its flagship KL hotel to RM350 per night from RM320 per night last year. But that still pales before Mandarin Oriental, the most sought after five star hotel in the capital, whose rates come in at RM480 per night. Indeed, Mandarin is believed to be planning to increase this to RM600 per night by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the sale of Malaysian hotel assets is beginning to fetch higher premiums. Listed contractor Ireka recently sold its flagship Westin Hotel in KL to Newood Assets, which is believed to be controlled by Thai whisky king Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, for RM455 million. The sale valued the hotel at RM1 million a room, a record by Malaysian standards and a significant increase on the RM900,000 a room valuation given to Mandarin Oriental when it was packaged as part of Kuala Lumpur City Centre Properties and listed three years ago.
The higher room rates come with Malaysia's increasing success in attracting tourists. Despite fears of avian flu last year, tourist arrivals to Malaysia hit an all-time high of 16.4 million visitors in 2005, up from about 6 million in 1999 and around 2 million when Mahathir Mohamad took over as premier in 1981 and began promoting tourism in a big way.
Hoteliers are also excited by Visit Malaysia Year, which coincides with Malaysia's 50th year of independence next year. Hoteliers are expecting a 15 per cent increase in visitors to more than 20 million.
Source : Hotels Mag
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Tourism Malaysia to attract 700,000 Chinese tourists in 2007
Tourism Malaysia to attract 700,000 Chinese tourists in 2007
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia plans to attract about 700,000 Chinese during the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 by setting up more Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) offices in China. Currently, Tourism Malaysia has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou.
And Tourism Malaysia is aiming for more in the Northern parts of mainland China.Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim said that the e-visa arrangement with China was supposed to take off this year to avoid congestion at the airport. But the delay in discussions has stalled this initiative.
He hoped that the e-visa could be introduced before the Visit Malaysia Year 2007. For the first half of this year, about 250,000 Chinese had visited Malaysia compared to 350,000 for the whole of last year.
Source : TravelWeekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia plans to attract about 700,000 Chinese during the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 by setting up more Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) offices in China. Currently, Tourism Malaysia has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou.
And Tourism Malaysia is aiming for more in the Northern parts of mainland China.Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim said that the e-visa arrangement with China was supposed to take off this year to avoid congestion at the airport. But the delay in discussions has stalled this initiative.
He hoped that the e-visa could be introduced before the Visit Malaysia Year 2007. For the first half of this year, about 250,000 Chinese had visited Malaysia compared to 350,000 for the whole of last year.
Source : TravelWeekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Monday, October 02, 2006
A Colourful Celebration of a Milestone Achieved – The Opening of Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa
A Colourful Celebration of a Milestone Achieved – The Opening of Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa
Oct 02, 06 1:57 am
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang, re-opened for business on September 28, 2006, marked by a lively colourful ceremony, highlighted by a pair of prancing ‘lions’ accompanied a welcome parade consisting of one hundred staff members who were all resplendently attired in various Malaysian traditional costumes.
Oct 02, 06 1:57 am
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang, re-opened for business on September 28, 2006, marked by a lively colourful ceremony, highlighted by a pair of prancing ‘lions’ accompanied a welcome parade consisting of one hundred staff members who were all resplendently attired in various Malaysian traditional costumes.
The ceremony was planned to jointly celebrate the resort’s opening day as well as to welcome the first guests who checked-in on the same day. The resort's General Manager, Arbind K. Shrestha, said that the resort’s task force team decided not to stage an overtly extravagant affair, preferring one which showcased the world renowned local culture as well as the sincerity and warmth of the people.
The first guests, ferried by a fleet of five limousines, arrived at the Rasa Wing at 10am where they were greeted by 100 uniformed employees lined up along the driveway. A lion dance troupe accompanied by Chinese drummers, Malay kompang and Indian Tabla drummers provided the fanfare as the guests were garlanded by the General Manager and ushered from their limousines, to the exclusive Rasa Wing Lounge.
In addition, there were 8 beauties attired in traditional Malay costumes bearing the "Bunga Manggar" who escorted the guests to the Reception Lobby, where guests made cash deposits as they were checked-in – a symbolic gesture signifying the inward flow of money, an essential element for all thriving businesses.
A cocktail party will be hosted this evening for the pioneering and corporate guests, in-house guests as well as invited media and travel representatives.
The former Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort, incepted in November 1973, consisted of 514 guest rooms and suites, underwent a major redevelopment and repositioning programme from December 1, 2004. The resort was closed for 20 months to facilitate the project which cost RM 100 million.
Over 21 months of meticulous planning and hard work culminates this auspicious day, as the resort and her team, confidently and smoothly move onto a new phase in the future. The new Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, presently houses 304 guest rooms and suites in the Rasa Wing and Garden Wing. All facilities and services, including guest rooms at both the Rasa Wing and Garden Wing, innovative restaurants and bars, Meetings & Conference facilities, Beauty Salon, Health Club & Gym, grounds and gardens, swimming pools and her very own Par-3 Executive Golf Course are fully operational. The resort also marks the introduction of "Chi, The Spa" at Shangri-La, the very first in Malaysia. Last but never the least, our greatest asset - all employees, will endeavour to deliver the legendary Shangri-La brand of hospitality to the greatest of their abilities.
Source: Ehotelier
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
