By V. Sivaji A select group of guests were treated to a range of fine French champagne and wine from the Famille Helfrich range in Langkawi.   The Famille Helfrich collection is among the largest wine companies in France.  The venue for the tasting session was on the catamaran named “Princess Mary”. Guests were reminded to put aside their work wear and dress down in casual shorts and sandals for the evening. The event dubbed the “Famille Helfrich Wine Cruise”, they set sail from the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club. They set their course from the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club to the ..read more

The Imperial Lexis Kuala Lumpur, announces its exclusive opening rates, inviting travelers worldwide to experience unparalleled elegance and opulence.  From now until August 15, 2024, these special rates offer an irresistible opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in the pinnacle of luxury living. “We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to our esteemed guests with these exclusive opening rates, inviting them to experience the height of urban luxury at Imperial Lexis Kuala Lumpur”, said Dato’ Prof. Mandy Chew Siok Cheng, President, Lexis Hotel Group. “Fro ..read more

Nigel Wong – MATTA president The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) welcomes the recent announcement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on the expansion of the auto gate facility for immigration clearance to travellers from 36 additional countries.  Starting June 1, this initiative aims to enhance the travel experience for a larger number of international visitors, marking a significant step towards making Malaysia a more accessible and attractive destination. This expansion follows the success of the auto gate facility, which w ..read more

Accor brand’s footprint in Bangkok, Thailand was further expanded with the opening of the Mercure Bangkok Surawong. The renowned midscale brand is located in the vibrant Silom neighbourhood. Set against the backdrop of Surawong’s rich history and Thai culture, the hotel invites Malaysians to discover the locale and explore a dynamic mix of business, creativity, and culture.  Each Mercure hotel is characterised by the unique identity of its location, providing an opportunity to explore the treasures of the neighbourhood. Every corner of Mercure Bangkok Surawong is inspired by the characte ..read more

Newly launched Sani Ferry connects the mainland and the Langkawi island via Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah. They offer luxurious service on board their ferries designed to carry up to a maximum capacity of 235 passengers. They also have two categories of seats – business and economy class. The ferries are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities. Tickets are priced at RM24 (economy) and RM50 (business class) respectively from Kuala Perlis. Plans are also underway to connect Penang to Langkawi soon in line with their expansion. So, next time you head to Langkawi, remember that you ..read more

By V. Sivaji Penang’s efforts to promote tourism for the state in China received a further boost when Juneyao Airlines and Penang Global Tourism (PGT) signed a memorandum to this effect. The airline commenced its direct flights to the Penang International Airport on May 31, 2024. Juneyao Airlines will further ramp up their flights schedule to offer daily connection by June 22, 2024.  More interesting, Penang is the only State in Malaysia that Juneyao Airlines is providing direct flight to and fro Shanghai.  Present at the signing ceremony was Penang State Exco for Tourism ..read more

By V. Sivaji Perched on the cool hills of Bukit Tinggi, located only 45 minutes away from the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, The Chateau Spa & Wellness Resort, Berjaya Hills offers a perfect getaway for family and friends. Once there, you will surely feel that you are in France as the buildings and decor resemble the 18th century “Haut Koenigsbourg”; castle in Alsace, a small city in France complete with castles and quaint coffee shops. The 5-star resort offers 172 rooms and suites with full facilities like LCD TV with in-house movies, complimentary Wi-Fi, lavish amenities and exception ..read more

The Chinese Kols with Rasa Sayang management team By V. Sivaji With the durian season currently underway in Penang, the influx of Chinese tourists to the island is timely. More so when more and more China based Airlines are flying directly to the Penang International Airport. The most recent being Juneyao Airlines flying from Pudong International Airport in Shanghai,  China to Penang with effect May 31, 2024. In line with this positive development,  the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort had invited six KOLs from China to showcase their facilities including their durian fare. They are fr ..read more

The Java Tree at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel (E&O Hotel) here hosted a wine dinner brought together by the Andreola wine range from Italy. The four-course sparkling wine dinner was brought from the Italian territory of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, in Venice, known for their quality Prosecco (sparkling) wines. This wine is produced by Andreola, a family-owned winery that has been making sparkling wines for over 30 years. The grapes for this wine are harvested manually from a single vineyard located on a steep hillside, or “dirupo” in Italian. Some 40 odd guests ..read more

By V. Sivaji  The inaugural direct flight from Shanghai to Penang by Juneyao Airlines from Pudong International Airport touched down at the Penang International Airport at 10.54pm last night. The momentous occasion also coincides with the 50th Anniversary of Malaysia-China Diplomatic Relations which falls on May 31st. The arrival of the flight was given the traditional “water salute” along with goody bags for the passengers.   On hand to welcome the travellers was Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai joined by Penang Global Tourism chief executive ..read more