AirAsia’s sale proves to be a hit

AirAsia’s website registered 300 million hits in the first 11 hours of its Free Seats campaign, its regional commercial head Kathleen Tan said.
She also noted that at least 300,000 seats were sold in less than 24 hours.
In a statement yesterday, she said AirAsia’s server capacity had been doubled to cope with the congestion on http://www.airasia.com/.
“The rush for the free seats is a real testament that today’s consumers are online savvy and embracing the low-cost revolution happening in Asia.”
To those who had not succeeded in making their bookings, she urged them to keep trying for the remaining 700,000 free seats.
The campaign ends on Nov 15.
Source : STAR

Malaysia a big Asian region winner at World Travel Awards

Malaysia swept seven Asian awards at the prestigious World Travel Awards 2009’s regional finals here on Sa­­turday.
Dubbed the “Oscars” of the global tourism industry, the awards are recognised as the highest accolade within the travel industry.
Malaysia Airlines bagged Asia’s Leading Airline award, while Resorts World Genting scooped Asia’s Leading Family Resort and Asia’s Leading Casino Resort titles.
Tourism Malaysia’s “Malaysia: Truly Asia” tagline was also voted Asia’s leading marketing campaign at the star-studded function in Grosvenor House, a JW Marriot Hotel, in London’s Mayfair.

All smiles: MAS regional manager for United Kingdom and Ireland Syed Abdillah Syed Aziz (second from left) and Dr Munir (third from left) posing with their awards after the ceremony in London on Saturday. With them are (from left) Lilis Surianty, Huong, Yvonne Kow and Miss China Yu Sheng.

Hilton Kuala Lumpur took home two titles — for Asia’s Leading City Hotel and Asia’s Leading Design Hotel — while Asia’s Leading Airport Hotel award went to Pan-Pacific Kuala Lumpur International Airport Hotel.
MAS chairman Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid and Genting Malaysia Berhad president and chief operating officer Datuk Lee Choong Yan received their awards from Miss Vietnam/ Miss World 2009 contestant Huong Giang.
Dr Majid said the recognition bore testament that the global industry and travellers recognised the national carrier’s brand of service delivery.
“Our focus has always been on serving customers, with a commitment towards continuous service, improvement and delivery,” he said.
“I am also confident these awards will help Malaysia enhance its reputation in the tourism industry and attract more visitors to our resort and the country,” he added.
Regional awards were also presented to winners in the Australasia and Indian Ocean as well as the Caribbean and South America regions.
In the category of individual countries, Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur was voted Malaysia’s Leading Hotel; Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia’s Leading Busi­­­­­­­ness Hotel); Sheraton Langkawi Resort (Malay­sia’s Leading Resort) and Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa in Penang (Malaysia’s Leading Spa Resort).
The event was attended by more than 1,000 senior management and decision-makers from the global travel and tourism industry.
Source : STAR

Lonely Planet puts country among best-value places to visit

LONDON: Malaysia is among world’s best-value destinations, according to travel guide firm Lonely Planet.

The British-based company, in its Best In Travel 2010 guide, said Malaysia “is a clever choice for travellers on the lookout for a bargain”.

Thanks to the economic crisis, Iceland and London were also among the top 10 destinations, which included Thailand, South Africa, India, Mexico, Bulgaria, Kenya and Las Vegas,

The annual snapshot book captures “the world’s hottest travel trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the year ahead”, Lonely Planet said yesterday.

The economic collapse in Iceland meant the island was no longer punitively expensive, said the guide, putting the beleaguered country at the top of its best-value list.

Thailand, at number two, remained “perennially good value”, said the book.

Meanwhile, London’s days as a costly destination were now over, Lonely Planet said, thanks to the exchange rate which made it “much more affordable for visitors from abroad”.

The top 10 countries overall for travellers were El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Portugal, Suriname and the United States.

The top 10 cities were Abu Dhabi, Charleston (South Carolina), Cork (Ireland), Cuenca (Ecuador), Istanbul, Kyoto (Japan), Lecce (Italy), Sarajevo, Singapore and Vancouver (Canada).

Bali (Indonesia), Goa (India), Koh Kong (Cambodia), Southern Africa and southwest Western Australia featured among the top 10 regions. — AFP

Malaysia Hotel News: AirAsia extends ‘Low Fare Madness’ until Oct 18

Air Asia has extended its “Low Fare Madness” special promotion until Oct 18.

This promotion, originally to end on Oct 11, is for the travel period from Oct 19 until Nov 19.

“The ‘Low Fare Madness’ deals have increased our sales tremendously over the past week, so we decided to reward our guests further by extending our offer for another week,” said AirAsia Group regional head of commercial Kathleen Tan in a press statement.

The promotion is available for destinations including China, Brunei, Philippines; as well as domestic destinations from as low as RM49 up to RM249, departing from various local departure points.

Promotional seats are limited and available on first-come, first-served basis and are available online via www.airasia.com and mobile.airasia.com.

Guests may also purchase seats during this promotional campaign at Air Asia’s sales offices and sales counters in Malaysia.

Guests can book their packages to beaches, eco-tourism sites, heritage and other tourist destinations via www.goholiday.airasia.com.

Source : STAR

Malaysia Hotel News: Making it easy to get to the LCCT via KLIA Express

FROM Sept 15, travellers heading to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) can to choose to take the KLIA Transit train to the terminal.

Passengers can board the KLIA Transit train from KL Sentral, Bandar Tasik Selatan or Putrajaya and Cyberjaya to the Salak Tinggi station where they will be ferried directly to the LCCT on a dedicated air-conditioned shuttle coach.

A porter will also be on hand to help with luggage at the Salak Tinggi station at no extra charge.

ERL CEO Noormah Mohd Noor said the service was not meant to compete with bus services to LCCT but to provide an alternative for passengers.

“It is the right time for us to come up with this service as LCCT passengers are more mature in their selection. There is a demand for better, safer, and more comfortable modes of travel and passengers are willing to pay for that,” she said at the service launch in Salak Tinggi KLIA Transit station recently.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri was also present at the event.

Noormah added that travelling via KLIA Transit also contributed to the reduction of car trips to LCCT, translating into significant savings on carbon emission.

With 73 trips from KL Sentral and LCCT, Noormah said ERL was expecting a 10% increase from its total daily passengers of 7,000.

A one-way ticket from KL Sentral to the LCCT costs RM12.50 (adult) and RM6 (child) while two-way tickets cost RM22 (adult) and RM11 (child). Shuttle bus services are free during the promotion period.

From Bandar Tasik Selatan station to the LCCT, tickets are priced at RM8.30 (adult) and RM4 (child). The shuttle bus service is charged at RM2.50 per person.

From Putrajaya and Cyberjaya station, tickets are priced at RM3 (adult) and RM1.50 (child) while shuttle bus services are also at RM2.50 per person.

In conjunction with the launch, ERL will be giving away 5,000 free tickets for the new service (applicable only from KL Sentral to Salak Tinggi station). The free tickets are valid for travel effective from Oct 1.

For further information, visit www.KLIAekspres.com.

Source : STAR

1Malaysia Lantern Fesatival @ Central Market, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia Events & Festivals

 

A 10-foot high 1Malaysia logo-shaped lantern will be lit by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen to launch the Kuala Lumpur Lantern Festival 2009 on Saturday.

This lantern festival aims to promote the spirit of unity and culture of various races, which is in line with the 1Malysia concept.

The programme includes lion dance and dragon dance, riddle competitions under the lanterns and performance of local artistes. Goodie bags will be given to visitors, especially to foreigners

Date / Time
26 September 2009 (Sat)

7.00pm – 11.oopm

Location
Central Market, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur

Organiser
Kuala Lumpur Tourism Council, Kuala Lumpur City Hall(DBKL) & Central Market Sdn Bhd

Malaysia Hotel News: ATP set to boost Malaysia Truly Asia brand

 

The Malaysia Truly Asia brand is set to gain priceless global publicity at the Proton Malaysian Tennis Open, which is part of the ATP World Tour 250 series.

The famous catch phrase will be featured on the Hawk-Eye challenge system, which is the electronic line-calling system used when a player challenges a call on court.

Tournament director Nick Freyer said the system, to be used during the Malaysian Open from Saturday to Oct 4, would be officially known as the “Malaysia Truly Asia Review”.

“Every time a player challenges a call on the centre court, the ‘Malaysia Truly Asia Review’ will swing into action around the world, on televisions across the country and in faraway places, and the four giant screens at the stadium.

“We will be able to see what the correct line-call outcome is through the use of high-speed, high-definition video cameras and powerful computer technology

“This is going to be a brilliant fan experience and is the first time this has been done in South-East Asia,” he said yesterday at a joint press conference with Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Winners of each match on the centre court will also hit signed tennis balls into the stands, giving fans a chance to get their hands on the autographed balls and claim prizes totalling more than RM100,000.

The nine-day tournament at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil has attracted top tennis stars, including world number eight Nikolay Davydenko and ninth-ranked Fernando Verdasco.

Other stars include former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, Robin Soderling (ranked 11th) Fernando Gonzalez (12) and Gael Monfils (13).

Freyer also said former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis and holder of four ATP Tour titles Taylor Dent would be wild card entries in the tournament, together with another “mystery entry”.

Dent, Freyer said, was an inspirational story for Malaysians as he recovered from two major back surgeries and a year in a body cast before recently playing again.

Meanwhile, Dr Ng said tennis fans were in for a treat at the event, given its diversity of players and attractive prizes for fans.

“Malaysia is privileged to be chosen as one of the five ATP World Tour events in Asia. The event, to be telecast globally, will help boost the economy and tourism industry,” she added.

For more information, visit www.malaysianopentennis.com. Tickets can be purchased at the stadium entrance or online at www.ticketpro.com.my.

Source : STAR