JOHOR: The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) and the Malaysia Budget Hotel Association (MyBHA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) together with Cao Parties Sdn Bhd today at the Ramada Meridin by Wyndham at Iskandar Puteri to promote Johor as a food destination in conjunction with Visit Johor/Malaysia Year 2020.
The signing of MOU was witnessed by Tourism Johor Director Zihan Ismail and Southern Region Director of Malaysian Tourism Board Solehuddin Ahmad.
The objective of the tripartite collaboration is for member hotels under MAH and MyBHA to promote a Vlog produced by Terence Cao, Singapore’s Mediacorp 8 celebrity and founder of Cao Parties Sdn Bhd.
The Vlog contains videos that can be downloaded as a mobile app via a QR code.
Ivan Teo, chairman of MAH Johor Chapter said these information are displayed on tentcards that member hotels can place at their reception counters for room guests to download for free.
“This is the generation of speed, convenience and information at our finger tips and many are dependent on our smart phones for everything we do today hence being able to access a travel Vlog through a mobile app is the way forward in promoting Johor tourism,” he said.
He mentioned that the travel Vlog will also give patrons entertaining information on where to go in Johor, especially the best places to eat and dine.
“The Vlog was produced in Mandarin as Terence is a popular actor with Chinese television viewers, but with English subtitles to cater to non-Chinese audience.”
Jarod Chia, chairman of MyBHA said it is important to synergize Johor’s hotel industry through the two key hotel associations, representing both mainstream and budget hotels, jointly to boost more hotel and tourism business.
Chia stressed that there are other initiatives which both associations are joined together to promote business in Johor, as members of the Johor Tourism Association (JTA).
Cao who was integral to the production of the video took two years to create the Vlog, with some of the member hotels acting as sponsors. He also worked with Johor travel agents to access the right places to feature.
The understanding also provides for preferential rates for hotels who wish to produce their own dedicated videos with Cao as the celebrity endorser.