The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) marked a historic milestone this year as it celebrated its golden jubilee with a grand gala dinner at M Resort & Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The prestigious event brought together over 800 distinguished guests, including General Managers of hotels nationwide, esteemed industry partners, and key stakeholders from the hospitality sector. Gracing the evening as its Guest of Honour was Yang Bahagia Datuk Dr. Yasmin Mahmood, the Chairman of Tourism Malaysia accompanied by Mr Manoharan Periasamy, the Director General of Tourism Malaysia.
The evening was infused with nostalgia as attendees were treated to a special anniversary video detailing MAH’s 50-year journey from its inception to the present day, featuring notable Past Presidents of MAH.
In recognition of the significant contributions made by certain Past Presidents of MAH to the association and the broader hospitality industry, the event honoured them with a Lifetime Achievement Awards. These exceptional hoteliers have played instrumental roles in shaping and elevating Malaysia’s hospitality landscape throughout the years.
MAH Hotel Management Grand Prix 2024 Winning Teams
The gala was then followed with presentation of awards to the MAH Management Grand Prix (MGP), a collaborative effort between MAH, Taylor’s University, and Russel Partnership Technology. The MGP, now in its 2nd edition, is an exclusive competition designed to cultivate future leaders in the hospitality industry. For 2024, a total of 16 teams from various hotels competed in a simulated environment, managing entire hotel operations for one in-game year. After a rigorous competition, the top 4 winners of the MAH Management Grand Prix 2024 were awarded cash prizes.
MAH Hotel Employee Awards Recipients
The climax of the evening was the 6th edition of the MAH Hotel Employee Awards. This prestigious accolade first initiated in 2010, recognises outstanding staff who exemplify the spirit of hospitality through their dedication, commitment, and passion. Nominees, handpicked to represent each MAH Chapter from across the nation, underwent rigorous interviews, with only the most exceptional individuals emerging as National Champions of the Year and awarded the RM1000 cash prize.
However, this year the judges were fortunate to be presented with an exceptionally talented pool of candidates, which made the competition intensely fierce and close. Therefore, in line with MAH’s mission to acknowledge outstanding individuals within the industry, in addition to the National Champion, HEA will be presenting two additional Merit Awards this year. This decision is a testament to the many young talents Malaysia have within the hospitality industry.
