15 August 2024
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BREAKING RECORDS!
MAH HOSPITALITY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2.0 CONCLUDES!
Shattering expectations and previous number!
Kuala Lumpur – The highly anticipated second edition of the MAH Hospitality Leadership Conference (HLC) concluded with great success on August 13, 2024. Organized by the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), the conference attracted over 300 attendees, including high-level hoteliers and senior leaders from the hospitality and related industries across the country.
The opening ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Yang Berhormat Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Malaysia, who served as the Guest of Honour. Other notable attendees included Mr. Samuel Lee Thai Hung, Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director General of Promotions (II); Dr. Rony Ambrose Gobilee, Chief Strategy Officer of HRD Corp; and YBhg. Dato’ Sri Ahmad Shaberry Cheek, Chairman of FELDA.
A Pivotal Platform for Industry Leaders
The Hospitality Leadership Conference serves as a crucial platform for bringing together leaders from across the hospitality sector to share, discuss, and exchange ideas on the latest trends and challenges facing the industry today. By convening industry leaders and experts to discuss these critical issues, MAH aims to contribute to the industry's success and shape its future trajectory for the better. "We are thrilled to have brought together so many key players in the industry under one roof," said Datin Christina Toh, President of MAH and Organising Chairlady of HLC 2.0. "The enthusiastic participation and high-level discussions at this year's conference have been truly inspiring. We are immensely grateful to all the delegates, speakers, and sponsors for their incredible support in making this event a reality. It is through such collaborative efforts that we can drive innovation, enhance service quality, and ensure the continued growth and resilience of the hospitality sector."
Conference Sessions
This year's conference featured six tracks, each led by esteemed subject matter experts, focusing on leadership, talent retention, digital and sustainable tourism, and mental wellness in the hospitality industry. These tracks included:
1. Track#1 The Future Proof Leader: Beyond Competencies to Capabilities
o Speaker: Mr. KC Yan, ITD World
o Known for his leadership, Mr. KC Yan is an executive coach specializing in transformative leadership development with over 20 years of experience empowering leaders and organizations globally.
2. Track#2 Chasing Growth with an Empowered Workforce
o Speaker: Ms. Xiulin Loo, Aon’s Human Capital Solutions Southeast Asia
o With 15 years of experience, Ms. Loo specializes in executive compensation strategy, corporate governance, and incentives plan design, focusing on empowering workforce growth.
3. Track #3 Digital Tourism: Navigating the Future of Tourism & Hospitality
o Speaker: Ms. Arifah Sharifuddin, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)
o Ms. Sharifuddin oversees digital transformation initiatives within Malaysia’s tourism sector and has extensive experience in digital marketing and strategic planning.
4. Track #4 Sustainable Tourism & Building Capacity
o Speaker: Adjunct Professor Anthony Wong, University Utara Malaysia and Taylor’s University
o A tourism pioneer since 1973, Professor Wong is renowned for his leadership in ecotourism and sustainability and has received global recognition.
5. Track #5 Beyond the Smile: Navigating Mental Health in the Hospitality Industry
o Speaker: Professor Dato’ Dr. Andrew Mohanraj Chandrasekaran, Malaysian Mental Health Association
o Dr. Mohanraj, with over 25 years of experience, is known for his contributions to mental health policy, education, and public awareness.
6. Track #6 Mental Health: Illness or Weakness?
o Speaker: Ms. Madiha Fuad, PlusVibes
o Ms. Fuad is an international speaker and entrepreneur, recognized as one of the Women of the Future Global 50 Rising Stars in ESG in 2022.She leads impactful healthtech initiatives focusing on mental health and women empowerment.
An Insightful and Impactful Day
In addition to the main conference sessions, the event also featured several significant
activities and announcements:
1. Announcement of the Enhanced Industrial Skills Framework (IndSF) for Hospitality 2.0:
o MAH and the Malaysia Budget Hotel & Business Hotel Association (MyBHA) have collaborated with HRD Corp to provide a comprehensive guide for individuals, employers, and training providers to promote lifelong learning in the hospitality industry. Initially published in 2019, the enhanced second edition of IndSF for Hospitality features 61 job positions, 48 certification programs, and 328 soft and technical skills.
o Download the new IndSF for Hospitality 2.0 Document here: https://hrdcorp.gov.my/indsf/hotel
2. Launching of MAHTEC Virtual Academy:
o Malaysia’s first AI-powered online learning platform dedicated to the hospitality industry, enabling 24/7 access via eLearning for the entire sector.
3. Exchange of Memorandum of Agreement between MAHTEC and Awantec:
o This MOA marks a significant collaboration between Malaysian Association of Hotels Training and Education Centre (MAHTEC) and Awantec Systems to bring MAHTEC Virtual Academy to the hospitality industry, paving the way for enhanced educational opportunities and industry growth.
4. Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between MAH and MATTA:
o This MOU formalizes the collaboration between MAH and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) to promote tourism. The agreement emphasizes greater collaboration in commercial and talent development programs, sustainable tourism initiatives, event organization, information exchange, and industry collaboration.
5. Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between MAH and HDC:
o This MOU between MAH and Halal Development Corporation Berhad aims to foster the involvement of the hotel industry in advancing Malaysia’s Halal ecosystem. Through this agreement, several Halal related programs will be offered to hoteliers, enhancing their participation and contribution to this emerging sector.
6. Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between MAH and Yayasan FELDA:
o This agreement focuses on improving employment opportunities for Felda graduates and offering advanced training courses for its students and staff. Under this MOU, MAH will support the placement of Felda graduates in hospitality roles and collaborate with Yayasan Felda through MAHTEC to provide advanced training to enhance their skills and knowledge.
7. Signing of Letter of Intent between MAH and the Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, UiTM:
o This Letter of Intent serves as a foundation for future Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Agreements (MOAs) between the two parties. The agreement aims to foster academic cooperation by organizing joint training programs, exchanging teaching developments, and benchmarking hospitality and tourism education standards.
The event concluded with a Networking Cocktail session providing attendees with excellent opportunities to connect with their peers in a more relaxed setting after a day of exchanging ideas.
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