THE Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with industry players to kick off ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2020’, spearheading the industry’s efforts to drive tourism.
MAH inked the MoUs with International College of Music (ICOM), Association of Local Authorities’ Enforcement Officers (PESAMA) and Select-TV Solutions Sdn Bhd (Select TV) in a gathering of hoteliers, industry partners, government agencies and members of the media at the brand new Prestige Hotel at Church Street Ghaut in George Town on Dec 6.
MAH chief executive officer Yap Lip Seng said the MoU with ICOM would see the latter bridging expertise, education and network from the music, audio, video and lighting industry to the hotel industry.
On the MoU with PESAMA, Yap explained the importance of enforcement and its officers working together to uphold local laws and regulations.
“We share the same objectives of a fair and level tourism industry playing field, and both are committed to support each other’s efforts and activities,” Yap said.
The event also saw the launch of MAH’s very own travel channel for hotels, Discover Malaysia.
MAH president Kamaruddin Baharin said under the partnership, MAH and Select TV would be producing their very own ‘Visit Malaysia’ initiative through an exclusive hotel TV channel featuring specially curated content of destinations in Malaysia, attractions, event highlights, food and other tourism related videos.
“Our very own channel, Discover Malaysia, through our partnership with Select TV, will be provided free of charge to our over 1,000 hotel members. We want to ensure that hotel guests do not miss out on anything, we want them to see and experience what Malaysia has got to offer,” Kamaruddin said.
“MAH will also provide special slots to Tourism Malaysia to feature their promotional videos on the channel.”
He said Discover Malaysia would also be made available to tourism stakeholders, either to broadcast or to feature their unique products and services.
The initiative is set to attract over 15 million viewers a year. A preview of the channel is made available on You Tube link http://you.be/htRpSBSDyPo
At the function, MAH Penang Chapter chairman Khoo Boo Lim also welcomed Wesley Hotel from Bukit Mertajam and Macalister Hotel by PHC from George Town as the association’s new members. Wesley Hotel was represented by its CEO Adrian Praveen while Macalister Hotel was represented by its manager Tang Kooi Leng.
Khoo later livened up the evening by rendering a song ‘Perfect’ beautifully and was warmly applauded for his effort.
Among those present were MAH immediate past president Sam Cheah, ICOM president and chief executive officer Irene Savaree, Select TV president C.S. Goh, PESAMA president Tun Zanini and Tourism and Culture Ministry Penang director Jonathan Freddy Bagang.
Story by K.H. Ong