Dorsett International Team Wins 3 Awards

*** Reproduced from http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/12nded/Article/#ixzz0sTrNTURh

KUALA LUMPUR: Dorsett International Sdn Bhd added three more awards to its collection at the fourth Business of the Year Award ceremony.

Dorsett International president Eddie Tang won the Corporate Leader of the Year Award and Grand Dorsett Subang Hotel Kuala Lumpur general manager Datin Jasmine Abdullah Heng won the Service Provider of the Year Award.

The Dorsett International team also won in the smart partnership category.

"I am thrilled to be the winner of the corporate leader of the year award," said Tang, who was recently elected vice-president of the Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners.

Since he was appointed president of Dorsett International in 2009, Tang has been making waves with his dynamic leadership and implementation of knowledge management.

He has played a major role in the successful rebranding of the five-star Grand Dorsett Subang Hotel KL, which included a facelift to its decor and a vast improvement of its service.

Tang said the awards were testaments to the great teamwork at Dorsett International.

International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir graced the ceremony at Grand Dorsett Subang Hotel KL.

The fourth Business of the Year Award recognises the achievements of SMIs, SMEs, big companies, GLCs and international companies in Malaysia.

The three awards add to Dorsett's growing list of accomplishments, including Tang's second Global Award 2010 (smart entrepreneur category), Geko Award 2009 (Visionary Knowledge Leadership Award) and GiKEN Honour 2009 (Senior Fellow Category), Dorsett Regency Hotel KL general manager Christina Toh's GiKEN Honour 2009 (fellow category) and Dorsett Regency Hotel KL's Geko Award 2009.

The Best Coconut Pudding

I still enjoy the coconut pudding at Grand Dorsett Labuan Hotel the most!

This is a video on how it is made, with some commentary from the pastry chef.

PEMANDU Tourism Lab

Last week, I participated in the PEMANDU Tourism Lab meeting, representing the Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners (MAHO) as the industry captain.

PEMANDU represents Performance Management & Delivery Unit, which was established in 'September 2009 under the Prime Minister's Department. Its objective (according to its website) is to oversee implementation and assess progress of the government transformation programme, facilitate as well as support delivery of both the NKRAs and MKRAs."

Malaysia Outlines Plan to Lure In Yield

*** Reproduced from http://www.ttgtravelhub.net/.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-06-23)

MALAYSIA should enhance its product development and promotions to grab a greater share of the high-yield market.

These were among the recommendations presented to industry leaders yesterday by consulting firm, Jelas Dinamik, which had been commissioned by the Tourism Ministry to conduct a study on developing niche segments for high-yield longhaul markets, namely the UK, Germany, France, Russia and Sweden.

The study examined 13 categories -- MICE, taxi service, car rental, promotional activities, luxury trains, food festivals, luxury cruises, hotels, airlines, golf tourism, ecotourism, spa/wellness and medical tourism.

The firm advised the Malaysian trade to create more boutique hotels, engage specialised marketing companies to push golf tourism and encourage environmentally-friendly certification of golf courses, allow foreign spa operators to enter the market, and carry out specific and focused promotional activities targeted at high-spending tourists.

To give ecotourism a further boost, facilities at lesser-known ecotourism locations should be upgraded and a variety of activities should be introduced at eco-lodges.

The Malaysian government is seeking to escape the middle-income trap and capture a greater share of high-yield tourists. The 2020 target is to get 3.5 times more tourist receipts than the 2010 target of RM54 billion (US$16.8 million).

4th Business of the Year Award Ceremony

My award for Corporate Leader of the Year 2009

Sunday's 4th Business of the Year Award ceremony was inspiring and a great opportunity to meet so many new friends.

Leading personalities who attended the award include Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Hamad Kama Piah (PNB President) and others.

I also met up with friends like Dato' Michael Wong (owner of JobHunt), Dato’ Ng Kek Kiong (Executive Chairman of Nagamas), Wayne Lim (CEO of Malaysia SME) and others.

Many awards were given out, and I received mine for Corporate Leader of the Year 2009. Bravo to all the other winners! Datin Jasmine Abdullah Heng, General Manager of Grand Dorsett Subang Hotel, received the award for Service Provider of the Year.

We were caught by surprise when Grand Dorsett Subang Hotel got a second award in the Smart Partnership category! I was actually outside when I heard the announcement, and had to rush back into the ballroom to confirm that we had indeed won it! That was definitely a pleasant ending to the night.

Ribs That Give You a Kick!

I enjoyed the "world famous" Baby Back Ribs at Tony Roma's. Not sure about the Bourbon BBQ flavour, which I didn't get a kick out of, but the Original sauce is fantastic.

Football Fever Hits the Subway!

Even hotel presidents are not immune to the World Cup Fever! Behind me is the incredible Michael Ballack of Germany. What a shame that the German captain damaged his ankle! Not to mention his 4-year contract with Chelsea is coming to an end, too!

Happy Father's Day!

As Dad to four boisterous kids, Father's Day is definitely a special time for my family! My kids took up the task of presenting a cocktail to their mother and me. What a wonderful afternoon it has been! Now I'm getting ready for the 4th Business of the Year Award at Grand Dorsett Subang.

An Award for Corporate Leader of the Year

I am thrilled to be the winner of Corporate Leader of the Year 2009, under the 4th Business of the Year Award 2009, organized by SMI & SME Worldwide Network!

The management team had a small celebration. All our awards and achievements are testament of the great teamwork at Dorsett International. It is my belief that one person cannot do magic on their own. As our hotels continue to grow, it is important for our team to work together and have a vision that is in line with the group's direction.

The award ceremony will be held this Sunday, 20 June 2010, at Grand Dorsett Subang.

HR Matters and Knowledge Management

Today, I met Rowena Morais, the editor of HR Matters. 

HR Matters is a magazine for human resource managers. It can also be an interesting read on leadership and motivational issues. The latest issue (April 2010) covered topics like 'The Power of Language' (to quote the writer Sandra Ford Walston: "Our words, body language and emotion form a triangle through which we interpret the world around us. If we change the interpretation, we can shift the resulting behaviour and the effect it has on our spirit and on our peers such as saying 'thank you' more often."). 

Rowena and I had a chat about knowledge management, which I've been very fascinated by because, in the hospitality industry, we have to ensure that all information from the top management gets communicated to the front desk and the other important associates who have the crucial role of welcoming our guests. 

The other topic I'm fascinated by: talent management. 

Hor Poh Lui Cha: Great Minty Soup!

I had lunch at Hor Poh Kitchen today, and tried their famous Hor Poh Lui Cha--a Hakka dish of vegetables with minty soup. I'm not a vegetarian but I have to say that this isn't half bad! It might be strange to the usual Malaysian diet of curry, bak kut teh, and other kinds of rich soups, but this definitely makes a healthy alternative.

Sights in Macau

Venetian Macau Resort Hotel

I was in Hong Kong recently for a presentation, and also got to visit neighbouring Macau. I saw the legendary Venetian Macao. It has 3,000 suites and is apparently large enough to hold 90 Boeing 747!

Hotel Lisboa Macau

I also got to check out Hotel Lisboa. It is 40 years old this year and still going strong. Their well-known design is a blend of Portuguese and Chinese decor.