HAPA IN THE PRESS

Recognising The Best In Hospitality

By Priya Menon Tuesday, 27 Nov 2018

MALAYSIA’s hospitality industry celebrated the cream of the crop at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards (HAPA) Malaysia Awards Series 2018-2020 Gala Dinner while doing their bit to put a smile on the faces of cancer-stricken children from University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). 

The industry’s key players turned up at the dinner held at New World Petaling Jaya Hotel to recognise and reward outstanding establishments and individuals. HAPA founder and chairman Jennifer Ong said the awards had been around for 16 years. 

“There are about 130 nominees with 1,000 nomination categories and each category is assessed by two mystery judges,” she said. Ong said the recognition was given for benchmark achievers who achieved between 80 and 90 points. “The three most outstanding achievers will be recognised on stage,” she said.

The nominees have to go through two on-site inspections by the panel of judges comprising 70 people. It is done through an audit system and not a voting process or online marking system. 

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board chairman Datuk Ahmad Shah Hussein Tambakau and Tourism Malaysia International Promotion Division (Asia/Africa) senior director Datuk Musa Yusof as well as the Peru ambassador Guido F. Loayza, representing Peru as one of the partners of the event, were among those who attended the dinner. Ahmad Shah said the board was looking forward to working with the outstanding achievers to help boost the tourism industry. 

“These are the places we can promote as Malaysia’s tourist destination. We can identify the products we have not seen yet in our promotional activities here,” he added. 

He also said this was an opportunity for them to meet the industry players to look at ways they could work together. In addition, they are also looking at including the winners as part of the Malaysian Total Quality Assurance listing – an ISO certification for the food and beverage industry. 

“HAPA is a homegrown event, not only are they Malaysian, they are now regional and so we need to applaud them.”
— Datuk Ahmad Shah Hussein Tambakau, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Chairman

This year, the entrepreneur category was expanded into its very own full-fledged awards series. The HAPA Entrepreneur Awards Series 2018-2019 focuses on hospitality entrepreneurs whohave made a mark in the industry; inspiring future generations of hospitality professionals and being role models and mentors of future entrepreneurs. By the end of the evening, the invitees raised RM180,000 which was then donated to the Childhood Cancer Unit.

The funds will be matched by Universiti Malaya and channelled into the paediatric oncology research laboratory of UMMC. The results are then translated to precision medicine which improves the survival rates of about 150 children with various cancers. To celebrate the new lease of life that the children have, HAPA organised a Chemo Graduation Ball, symbolising the achievement by these children in winning their battle with cancer. 

“We have held two Chemo Graduation Balls, overall benefiting 60 chemo-graduates with a total donation of RM330,000,” Ong added. She said the initiative by HAPA began in 2017.

This article orginally appeared in the METRO NEWS, https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/11/27/recognising-the-best-in-hospitality/

---

News Archive

HAPA Awards

1. Recognising The Best In Hospitality By Priya Menon By The Star
2. HAPA Malaysia Awards Series 2018-2020 Gala Dinner By Tim Chew
3. Impiana KLCC Recognised For Excellence At The HAPA By Focus Malaysia
4. Mondi Mecja Receives Leadership Personality Award By The Sun Daily Malaysia
5. Award-Winning Chef Yenni Law Continues With Her Innovative Streak Of Colouring The Culinary-Scape By New Straits Times
6. HAPA (Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards) Speak Success Of G Hotel Kelawai By Eglobaltravelmedia
7. Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards 2013 – 2015 Malaysia Series by Astro Awani
8. 12th Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards (HAPA) Malaysia By Asia Tatler
9. HAPA Malaysia Awards Series 2018-2020 Gala Dinner By Tim Chew
10. HAPA Regional 2016-2018 Series Awards Gala Dinner By Tim Chew
11. Unveiling the “new face” of HAPA by NTV7
12. Setting the Gold Standard in Hospitality By BFM
13. Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards By BFM
14. HerVantage: The Business of Business is Facing Challenges Head-on By BFM
15. Recognising the best in hospitality By The Star
16. Prestigious hospitality award for resort’s commercial head By The Star
17. HAPA (Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards) Speak Success of G Hotel Kelawai By Global Travel Media
18. Majlis Anugerah Platinum Hospitaliti Asia By Astro Awani
19. Penambahbaikan perkhidmatan lonjak industri pelancongan By Astro Awani

HAPA Academy

1. Talent Development Reforms Critical for Malaysia By Bernama
2. Transformation: The D.R.I.F.T Challenges By Bernama
3. Transformation: The D.R.I.F.T Challenges By Bernama (IG)

Others

1. Hospitality Asia’s 20th Anniversary Party By Tim Chew