Hasnaffina (fourth left) and the event’s co-advisor and ATI CEO Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau (fourth right), with sponsors and charity organization representatives.
KOTA KINABALU: The upcoming 18th Sabah Hospitality Fiesta (SHF) has attracted some 303 registrations, the most number of participants from among Malaysia’s best hospitality industry players since its initiation in 1997.
The two-day event, to be held on October 24 and 25 at the Karamunsing Shopping Mall will include 233 hotel and 70 colleges participants from Sabah, said this year’s SHF chairman Hasnaffina Hassnar at a press conference held here yesterday.
The four participants from Negeri Sembilan, two from Kuching, Sarawak and 11 from Labuan sums up the record-breaking number, which has grown from last year’s total of 252.
“The annual Sabah Hospitality Fiesta is a display of the high standards of passion and commitment of the hospitality players, not only in Sabah but from other parts of Malaysia as well. This Fiesta is also a great opportunity for the participants to showcase their skills and talents in their respective fields while promoting the spirit of camaraderie among them,” said Hasnaffina.
“This year’s theme, “Sayang Kinabalu”, was chosen as an expression of love and endless support for the state of Sabah. This Fiesta will also be a wonderful platform to showcase our diverse culinary heritage not only to the locals but to our tourists as well,” she added.
“A new category called the Stewarding Race will be introduced in the Professional Category this year. This event is to encourage the Stewarding staff to participate and show their ability and speed in clearing a set-up table,” announced the chairman.
According to Hasnaffina, a panel of invited international judges from renowned hotels, colleges and Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) will also evaluate 13 Professional Categories.
The categories are: Decorated Wedding Cake, Pastry Showpiece, Seafood Platter, Meat Platter, Individual Fruit & Vegetable Carving, Bartender Flair: Cocktail, Nescafe Tarik Competition, Blackbox: Commis-Demi, Blackbox: CDP-Sous, Blackbox: Modern Chinese Cuisine, Table Setting and Professional Bed Making.
Under the Apprentice segment, a Decorated Theme Cake Category will be included for a team of two participants. They will be judged based on presentation and general impression, suitability in complementing food display as well as their technique and degree of difficulty. The Apprentice category will see four other competitions, namely, the Individual Fruit & Vegetable Carving, Bartender Flair: Cocktail, Blackbox: Apprentice and Table Setting, she elaborated.
Also present at the press conference were the 18th SHF co-advisor and Asian Tourism International College (ATIC) CEO, Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau, as well as sponsors and representatives from the two beneficiaries of this year’s charity drive.
“Another programme included on that day is the Hawker Street Fiesta Charity Drive which opens from 10 am onwards. Several hotels, including Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, Horizon Hotel, The Pacific Sutera Hotel as well as the Asian Tourism International College, Sailor’s Cafe and a few local food manufacturers are taking part in this bazaar,” said Hasnaffina.
“Bazaar coupon is available at RM25.00 per booklet. The public are encouraged to come and support this bazaar as all proceeds will be channelled to two beneficiaries, namely, the Sabah Cheshire Home and the Persatuan Malim Gunung Kinabalu,” she added.
Tourism, Culture and Environment minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, is expected to launch the event, which is sponsored by his ministry, Kota Kinabalu City Hall, Nestle Products Sdn Bhd, MyGaz Sdn Bhd, Likas Flora Sdn Bhd, Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa, Gayana Eco Resort and Karamunsing Shopping Mall.
The Sabah Hospitality Fiesta was first initiated in 1997 by students of ATIC, previously known as the Asian Tourism Institute, under the supervision of their lecturers. To re-energise the tourism and hospitality industry in Sabah, MAH Sabah/Labuan Chapter joined forces with ATIC to co-organize the event in 2006. To date, the Sabah Hospitality Fiesta has become one of the most anticipated events in Sabah and is listed as one of Sabah’s annual events in the calendar of Sabah Tourism Board.
For more information about the event, email to [email protected] or visit Sabah Hospitality Fiesta Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SabahHospitalityFiesta.