Destinations That Deliver Issue 93 PP 11826/07/2013 (032918)

January-February 2014

Maximising Growth Potential In Competitive Leisure Sector

Travel & Tourism: Destinations That Deliver Issue 93 PP 11826/07/2013 (032918)

PLUS: ■ Market Outlook 2014 ■ NAP: Shifting GearJanuary-February ■ Glittering 2014 Gala Event

BMCC Jan-Feb-Cover2014.indd 3 1/23/14 11:07 AM

First Lines

elcome to our ﬁ rst issue for 2014 which is already turning out to be an exciting year W for BMCC. As many of you will know, we closed out a very busy 2013 with our Annual Corporate Christmas Luncheon. Attended by some 500 people from all sectors of industry, it was the kind of hallmark event for which BMCC has become renowned.

These kinds of events are only possible with the generous support of our corporate sponsors and partners, support which I am delighted to report is continuing into this year.

The calendar of events we have lined up for 2014 has been designed to reach an even wider audience and takes our service delivery to the next level. Working with an increasing number of diverse high calibre partners, we aim to provide the very best in opportunities for networking while delivering an enhanced member and guest experience.

On that note, we are extremely honoured to be able to announce that YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak will be attending our 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner as our special Guest of Honour. The event will also see the ofﬁ cial launching of the Doubling Trade Initiative in which BMCC is proud to be the delivery partner for UKTI. The date is Thursday 6th March and the venue is the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur. See Page 7 for details.

Our theme for this issue looks at some of the criteria needed to attract and retain leisure and business tourism. With Tourism already a mainstay of the economy, it is one of the key focus areas in the Government’s Economic Transformation Programme. The projects under this Programme and the current Visit Malaysia Year campaign offer signiﬁ cant potential to boost visitor arrivals higher still and extend the range of attractions yet further. Malaysia already has a great deal to offer in terms of connectivity, infrastructure and world-class events. It also boasts some of the most outstanding natural beauty. But competition is hot, with countries constantly vying against each other for tourism revenue. By packaging experiences in new, interesting and sustainable ways while retaining the core essence of what makes this country special, the growth opportunities for Malaysia in this sector are substantial.

With global markets ﬁ nally emerging from a period of turmoil and recession, the economic landscape, particularly in Asia, offers encouraging signs for the year ahead. See the reports on Pages 11-13. Wherever your journey takes you in 2014, from all of us at BMCC, we wish all our members a successful year and we look forward to engaging with you in the weeks to come.

BMCC 2014 Annual Sponsors & Partners BMCC

PLATINUM SPONSORS: Executive Ofﬁ ce: 4th Floor, East Block, Wisma Selangor Dredging, 142B Jalan Ampang, GOLD SPONSORS: 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +60 3 2163 1784/2163 1786 Fax: +60 3 2163 1781 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bmcc.org.my PREFERRED AIRLINE PARTNER: Follow us on:

BMCCMALAYSIA January-February 2014

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 5 1/24/14 4:51 PM The Chamber

The British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce is the leading business networking organisation in Malaysia with 350 top member companies with an outreach of over 75,000 employees. Since 1963, the BMCC has been a catalyst in providing businesses in Malaysia with support, networking, knowledge exchange and bilateral trading assistance. We serve as a dynamic hub for enterprise to thrive and businesses to connect with each other, helping to promote and foster trade and investment between Britain and Malaysia. BMCC is part of British Chambers in South East Asia or BiSEA, enabling our members to enjoy similar Chamber beneÀ ts in seven other countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Singapore.

BMCC Board of Directors: Patrons: YBhg Tun Musa Hitam HE Simon Featherstone, British High Commissioner Chairman: Dato’ Larry Gan, Catcha Media Bhd Deputy Chairman: Andrew Sill, The Royal Bank of Scotland Bhd Directors: Soo Kim Wai, Amcorp Properties Bhd Mark Burgess, Amicitia Sdn Bhd Bob Olivier, Aspac Executive Search Sdn Bhd David Ng, DHL Express Malaysia & Brunei Dato’ Justin Leong, Genting Bhd Datuk Seri Michael Yam, InvestKL Amanda Powell, KL Kudos Design Sdn Bhd Michael McIver, Plus Three Consultants Sdn Bhd Osman Morad, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd Bill Addington, TechSol Sdn Bhd Datuk Peter Wentworth, OBE, Weir Minerals Malaysia Andrew Diamond, Yakimbi Sdn Bhd Ex-OfÀ cio: Gavin Anderson, British Council Tony Collingridge, OBE, UK Trade & Investment Dr Zainal Abidin Majid, Advisor To The Board

BMCC Executive Ofﬁ ce Molly Jagpal: Executive Director Nik Tasha Nik Kamaruddin: General Manager Nabisa Kassim: SME Development Manager Stephanie Ho: Events Manager Deck Azwan: Accounts Executive

BMCC Magazine: Editor: Amanda Powell

Editorial Committee: • George Aveling • Marcus Osborne • Molly Jagpal • Nik Tasha Kamaruddin • Bill Addington Production: KL Kudos Design Sdn Bhd Printing: Tinggi Press Sdn Bhd Lot 6, Jalan Kuang Bulan, Taman Kepong, 52100 Kuala Lumpur.

Berita BMCC is published bi-monthly for distribution to BMCC members and other organisations in the business community. The views expressed or implied herein are those of the authors or contributors and do not necessarily reÁ ect those of the Chamber.

4 January-February 2014

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 6 1/24/14 4:27 PM In This Issue

Destinations That Deliver As the world ﬁ nally shows signs of emerging from a prolonged and far-reaching recession, markets are competing hard for valuable business and leisure tourism dollars. We look at the criteria needed for destinations to deliver.

Cover Story Turn to Page 15 to ﬁ nd out more.

■ First Lines ...... 3

■ Hot Happenings ...... 6

> BMCC 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner > BMCC Business Seminar with Addleshaw Goddard

■ Trade Talk ...... 8 > Britain In Malaysia: New Support Services For SMEs

> UK Appoints New Minister of Trade

■ Special Report ...... 10 Shifting Gear? The Lowdown on Malaysia's New National Automotive Policy

■ Market View ...... 11 > Asia In 2014: Better Growth Sanjay Mathur, Royal Bank of Scotland

> Rising East, Emerging West Global Research Report 2014 ■ Standard Chartered Bank Cover Story ...... 15 Travel & Tourism: Destinations That Deliver

■ Meet Our New Members ...... 30

■ News from Our Members ...... 31

■ Insights ...... 35 Top Talent Trends For 2014 from Hays

■ On The Social Scene ...... 36 Getting Festive January-February 2014

January-February 2014 5

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 7 1/25/14 8:29 AM Hot Happenings

February Thurs 20th BMCC Pub Quiz Night Sid’s Pub Bangsar South March Thurs 6th BMCC 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Launching of Doubling Trade Initiative Guest Of Honour: YAB Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak, Diary Dates Prime Minister of Malaysia Hotel Majestic Kuala Lumpur See Opposite for Details

12th–16th ASEAN Furniture Show, The Décor Show & Hospitality 360° - Singapore See Page 28 for details

Thurs 20th BMCC Seminar With Addleshaw Goddard Investing With Insight: The Power Of Attraction Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala Lumpur See Opposite for Details

25th-28th OTC Asia 2014 Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Thurs 27th BMCC Members Networking Event The Roof

29th-30th Malaysia Formula 1 Grand Prix Sepang International Circuit www.sepangcircuit.com April Thurs 10th BMCC Pub Pool Night Page 2, Publika

Sat 19th BMCC Fashion Series: Dressed To The Nines With Mimpi Kita Details to be advised May 13th-15th Asian Fashion Summit - Singapore See Page 29 for details

15th-16th Blueprint 2014 - Singapre See Page 29 for details

Tues 22nd BMCC Members Networking The Beast - Intermark KL

Data mining, commercial fraud, IT security breaches and personal identity theft. BMCC Magazine Risks to personnel, equipment and property, the threat of terrorism and soaring March-April Issue crime rates. All key issues in today’s business world. Protecting our assets has never been so critical. Does your company have the solutions to help protect Cover Theme: assets? Get in touch and let’s hear your story! We want to hear from you! Protecting Your World: Security & Safety Sponsorship and advertisement opportunities available! Deadline Imminent: Contact 03 2163 1784 or [email protected]

6 January-February 2014

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 8 1/25/14 8:32 AM Hot Happenings

BMCC 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Launch of Doubling Trade Initiative Thursday 6th March 2014 Hotel Majestic Kuala Lumpur Guest of Honour: YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia

Join us on this special occasion to mark TICKETS BMCC’s 50th Anniversary and the Launching Table of 10: of the Doubling Trade Initiative. Members: RM3,800 Non-Members: RM4,500 This prestigious event will bring together captains of industry and business leaders Don’t miss this one of to celebrate the very best in business a kind event! Contact achievement. Stephanie at the BMCC OfÀ ce for bookings. Our VVIP Guest of Honour, YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister of T: 03 2163 1784 Malaysia will ofÀ cially launch the Doubling E: [email protected] Trade Support Initiative in which BMCC is proud to be involved as the delivery partner for UKTI.

BMCC Business Seminar With Addleshaw Goddard Investing With Insight - The Power of Attraction Thursday 20th March 2014 9am-2pm Lunch included - Mandarin Oriental Hotel KL

Long a safe haven for investors from all over the world, the UK and in particular London, has been making headlines recently for its ability to attract Malaysian investment. What are the powers of attraction at work and how best can businesses and individuals PANEL OF SPEAKERS

understand the key critical pathway factors required to ensure Leona Ahmed and Phil Goodstone (above) investments are made safely and securely? Partners - Addleshaw Goddard

This Seminar, organised by BMCC and leading UK À rm Addleshaw Goddard James Petit Managing Director Head of Real Estate UK & Ireland brings together for the À rst time a full suite of advisors who are all promi- Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management nent players in the UK real estate marketplace. A unique opportunity for Siobhan Godley experienced and À rst-time investors to hear from a panel of top special- Head of Property - Deloitte Real Estate ists about the current market conditions and the areas to consider when Alistair Meadows planning or making investments in the UK. Head of International Capital Group Key Areas For Discussion Jones Lang LaSalle • Which sectors are attracting the most investment Joel Hernandez and James Hill Mourants • Key considerations for investors prior to making an investment Partners - Mourant Ozannes • Fund managers and their role in the investment • How the market works and some common pitfalls Don’t miss out! Contact 03 2163 2174 • Tax and structure considerations or [email protected] to register. • Successful execution of deals • When it goes wrong and why, and how to avoid it

January-February 2014 7

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 9 1/24/14 4:18 PM Trade Talk Step Change For BMCC Growth Opportunity For SMEs

Dr Amita Krishna, Project Director of the Overseas Business Initiative, The BeneÀ ts outlines the step change at the Chamber which will present opportunities The programme presents several ben- for sustainable growth for British and Malaysian SMEs. eÀ ts for BMCC members, including:

• Enhanced Services KTI, Britain’s trade and investment Bringing about the acceleration of the in- authority has consolidated its part- ternationalisation of the British economy • Increased membership Unership with the BMCC as the pace and achieving the Government target of • Greater lobbying and advocacy for building a competitive global British doubling exports to £1 trillion would be a potential Business Network gains momentum. major undertaking. • Greater links and access to real BMCC, selected as one of the key partners Furthermore, providing support to an addi- business opportunities participating in the 20-market pilot of this tional 100,000 SMES to export and increas- • A consistent customer experience all-important initiative, has expanded its ing the number of SMEs exporting from one commercial and business support services in À ve to one in four by 2020 would add to • Access to international partners for British À rms looking to export. the challenges ahead. Such a task would re- and networks quire a consolidated effort to achieve the • Active links to relevant, research These services will also provide opportuni- economic strategy and desired growth. base to assist with innovation ties and beneÀ ts to BMCC members and Ma- challenges laysian À rms seeking expertise, expansion A comparative review of overseas business and international partnerships. networks and their respective services was conducted by Lord Heseltine and outlined in Chambers present an integrated approach, Working alongside UKTI, the Chamber is his report ‘No stone unturned: in pursuit of involved in providing invaluable input to embedded in the local business community growth’ (2013). The conclusions indicated engaging high levels of business member- shape the strategic direction and frame- that Britain had lost its competitive edge. work for the global roll-out. With growth ship. To this end, the programme has re- being such an important political and eco- The key À ndings highlighted a number of ceived support from the highest levels in nomic issue in developed economies, it is challenges: the British Government to build the capac- not surprising that recent UK Government ity of British Chambers of Commerce to reports and initiatives have focused on sup- • Productivity lagged behind that of in- provide export services to UK companies. porting internationalisation of SMEs. ternational trading partners in the US, Germany and France The Big Picture There are several key objectives for this Background • A relative decline in export perfor- As the world faced the worst economic cri- initiative: mance; sis of modern times in 2007/8, British busi- • The programme aims to build the ca- nesses, particularly SMEs, suffered. In 2012, • Considerable complexity of local Gov- pacity of the UK’s overseas business Britain’s economic decline led to Prime Min- ernment and bureaucratic inefÀ cien- networks, mostly chambers of com- ister David Cameron seeking the assistance cies; merce, to provide a wider range of of Lord Heseltine to address the economic • Fragmented networks; and high quality business-to-business (B2B) desolation and ascertain how wealth in the support to UK small and medium enter- • An inconsistent customer experience UK could be more effectively created. prises. All of these revealed a bleak picture for • UKTI will work closely with the Cham- economic recovery for the nation. bers of Commerce in their respective markets to develop the strategic frame- Lord Heseltine’s recommendations had work for supporting the delivery of B2B their foundations in Lord Devlin’s report of support services for SMEs and will work 1972 which focused on assisting growth in in collaboration with the Chamber. the private sector through the creation of world class support systems, particularly • The UKTI will transition to focus where those offered by chambers of commerce they add most value; high value oppor- and trade associations in comparative mar- tunities; manage ongoing G2G relation- kets. ships; inward investment.

Accordingly, to emulate the success of pri- • By 2015, the programme will be avail- vate sector-led business advice and sup- able in at least 40 countries through port in these competitor economies, the Chambers of Commerce or trade asso- UK Government embarked on a programme ciations. for collaboration between UKTI, the British • BCC (British Chambers of Commerce) Lord Heseltine: Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber net- UK will accredit all overseas chambers Leaving no stone unturned to boost work and trade associations in the UK along participating in the programme to en- Britain’s competitive edge. with respective overseas chambers. sure compliance and an acceptable

68 January-February 2014

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 10 1/24/14 4:18 PM Trade Talk

“The interest in exporting to Malaysia has been pleasantly surprising and there is overwhelming support for this programme to succeed.”

standard of delivery and service for In summary, the UK Government acknowl- SMEs. edges that increased exports are impera- tive to achieving sustainable growth in • The customer experience will be en- Britain in the new economy. With a new hanced; seamless, consistent and posi- British trade minister in place (see panel), tive. boosting exports must remain a national • BMCC will be the ‘Go To’ entity for Brit- economic priority. ish SMEs wishing to export to Malaysia. Project Director Amita Krishna says, “Our The Business Model role as a Chamber has been signiÀ cantly To achieve the above objectives, the UKTI enhanced and this was further evidenced Former BT Chief is consolidating its partnership with the as I met with several trade associations, BMCC as its delivery partner to complement Chambers and majority of the regional in- Takes On New Trade Role and augment its own expertise. ternational co-ordinators across the UK in ormer BT CEO and leading businessman recent weeks. The interest in exporting to The framework developed for the business- Ian Livingston has been appointed as the Malaysia has been pleasantly surprising and F to-business support services is in place and new UK Minister of State for Trade & Invest- there is overwhelming support for this pro- several UK À rms have already beneÀ tted ment. He takes up the position following gramme to succeed. from the collaboration. Further trade ser- the retirement from government of former vices for SMEs are being developed as part “With dates for webinars and inward mis- Minister of State for Trade Lord Green of of the overall SME offering and will transi- sions in place for this quarter, the willing- Hurstpierpoint. tion to the Chamber during 2014/15. ness to support bi-lateral trade and build His role will span both the Department for strategic partnerships with the BMCC has In 2014, along with the B2B support ser- Business, Innovation and Skills and the For- been encouraging. To leverage on these op- vices, the BMCC will support the UKTI on eign and Commonwealth OfÀ ce and he will portunities, the key to success will be the trade missions, webinars, the Great Retail report to both the Secretary of State for inherent ability of a À rm to adapt and move Fashion Week, Export Week in the UK and Business and the Foreign Secretary. with the pace of change.” several other trade initiatives. He will continue the work undertaken by Dr Amita Krishna Step Change For The Chamber Lord Green on over the last three years to Amita is a senior executive with 28 years’ To make the above happen, the Chamber help Britain compete in the global race; experience in Strategic Management, Busi- and UKTI have appointed a dedicated Pro- growing the UK’s exports and attracting ness Transformation and International Mar- ject Director who will be supported by a further investment from overseas. keting. She has delivered complex business team of three. The BMCC Executive OfÀ ce and IT solutions to Government, Multina- has undergone renovation and has expand- On announcing the appointment, Prime tionals and SMEs internationally. ed. State-of-the-art equipment is being in- Minister David Cameron said, “Ian Living- ston is an outstanding business leader and stalled to support video-conferencing and Beginning her career in À nance in the City it is a testament to the importance of this hot-desking. of London, upon the business franchise be- role that he has agreed to serve in the gov- ing sold, she continued to deliver customer The Chamber is also setting up a collabora- ernment in this capacity. I know that he will and channel improvement solutions to À rms tion panel consisting of various Government make an invaluable contribution to our plan pursuing growth across various sectors in- bodies to support international trade along to help secure Britain’s long-term economic cluding, Telecoms; Banking/Finance; Hi- with an advisory panel. The advisory panel future, by helping to open new trade links tech; Media and Government. will comprise À rms who are able to support and grow our exports.” British À rms with pertinent services. Venturing into Asia in 2000, when she was headhunted to manage business initiatives Lord Livingston said: “The UK has some of The enhancement and expansion of the in the public and private sector in Malaysia the best and most dynamic companies in service portfolio of the BMCC has been and later across Asia, she delivered strate- the world and has one of the most open welcomed by several members and early gic business plans, investment plans, mar- business environments for investment. I feedback is positive. As trade opportunities ket entry recommendations and customer am looking forward to the important work increase, customers from both sides of the loyalty solutions. ahead, encouraging more UK À rms to ex- pond are leveraging on the support services port and promoting this country as a world and expanding connections through the Having completed her Doctorate in Inter- leading destination for inward investment. global network. nationalisation, in 2013 she took up her current role keen to share her experiences During his tenure as CEO of BT Group from The End Game with À rms seeking business improvement 2008 until 2013, free cash Á ow tripled and Success is deÀ ned as a simple, seamless and sustainable in international markets. BT has become one of the best performing customer journey connecting À rms locally, European Telco stocks. He oversaw one of nationally and internationally and offer- For more information on how to the fastest À bre rollout programmes in the ing practical business support at least on a beneÀ t from the services offered, world, invested in strengthening the com- par with that on offer to competitors from contact: [email protected] pany’s global presence and launched a ma- other nations. jor new TV sports service.

January-February 2014 9

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 11 1/24/14 4:18 PM Special Report

he aims of the NAP 2014 include making Malaysia an Energy-EfÀ cient TVehicle (EEV) production hub for the region, liberalising the local car market to create one that is more competitive and sustainable, as well as promoting local value-added activities and exports. A number of strategies have been outlined but most are mid- to long-term; few go into any sig- niÀ cant depth. Energy EfÀ ciency Scheme Central to many of NAP 2014’s points is the introduction and deÀ nition of the EEV, which grants carmakers that manufacture Shifting Gear? vehicles locally “customised incentives.” The classiÀ cation takes effect immediately. Malaysia’s National Automotive Policy (NAP 2014) announced just recent- Regardless of the technologies or method of propulsion used (petrol, diesel, hybrid or ly has already been the subject of hot debate amongst industry players electric), a car can be classiÀ ed as an EEV if and consumers. This article sheds some light on the key points. it meets or performs better than a set fuel economy À gure (measured according to the And take the Nissan Serena S-Hybrid: not Other grey imports include Audi, BMW and UN ECE R101 standard) for its kerb weight. really a hybrid at all, but an MPV with a Mercedes-Benz. The models are the same regular combustion engine, enhanced alter- as those being sold by the principal compa- However Malaysia does not currently have nator and additional power storage. nies here in Malaysia, who have invested in any certiÀ ed facilities for testing fuel con- the homologation process as well as built a sumption efÀ ciency. MITI says such facilities Under the CPR (Car Price Reduction) Frame- support network for these cars. can be privately set up, creating business work, MITI says car prices will gradually go opportunities, but this will take time, leav- down in the next À ve years, culminating in A limitation of 3 percent of TIV (total in- ing an indeterminate interim period of un- a total price reduction of between 20-30 dustry volume) may seem an adequate comfortable uncertainty for carmakers. percent by 2017. safeguard. However, measuring it against Levelling The Field? total TIV is misleading. The TIV for 2013 However, this will not happen through cut- was 652,000 units. Three percent of that is The so-called “customised incentives” ting or abolishing excise duties - which pro- 19,560. In 2013, BMW Malaysia sold about come in the form of Pioneer Status, In- vided the government with RM7.3 billion 7,000 units, while Mercedes-Benz Malaysia vestment Tax Allowance (ITA), grants, in- in revenue last year - but rather, through sold 5,809. Some 13,000 cars from these frastructure facilitation, lower taxes and increased competition brought about by two brands alone, which make up a huge expatriates, all accomplished without any liberalisation of the industry, which could chunk of the luxury segment. investment conditions. Exactly how much also see more OEMs entering the market. localisation or value-added activities a car- If you include Audi and Lexus, estimated at maker will have to carry out and the level If incentives are going to be “customised,” about 2,000 units each, as well InÀ niti and of incentives available is as yet unclear. the probability of an uneven playing À eld the other brands, the total numbers would emerging is actually higher, and could go so be close. Open APs are depriving luxury This “customisation” is nothing new. Even far as to put off prospective OEMs, not to brands of potential market share, and its though the last two NAPs speciÀ ed clearly mention upsetting a few existing ones. continuance will most likely discourage fur- the kinds of hybrid vehicle that are exempt, ther investment here. BMW Malaysia successfully obtained a par- Ongoing Impact of APs tial exemption for its ActiveHybrid range of Open APs (Approved Permits) are responsi- Safety Measures cars, which have 3.0 litre capacity engines. ble for the huge inÁ ux of grey import cars While there is no mention of the Vehicle (Qualifying criteria under the NAP at the from countries like the UK and Japan - such End-of-Life policy in NAP 2014, a Voluntary time required engines of less than 2.0 litre) as the Toyota Estima and Toyota Alphard. Vehicle Inspection (VVI) is being proposed. This will apply to cars over À ve years old, in a bid to keep vehicle roadworthiness in Open APs are responsible for check and improve road safety. Inspection the huge inÁ ux of grey import centres will not be limited to any one agen- cars affecting market share cy like Puspakom, but it is not clear how and investment potential. many companies will be appointed or the procedures for certiÀ cation. Inspections will, of course, be chargeable, and therefore some kind of incentive is likely.

If carefully planned and implemented, at least the VVI represents a step in the right direction towards a safer and more mature auto environment. Source: Paul Tan’s Automotive News www.paultan.org

10 January-February 2014

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 12 1/24/14 4:18 PM Market View Asia In 2014: Better growth, nothing outstanding Sanjay Mathur Managing Director & Head of Economics Research, Asia PaciÀ c ex-Japan, The Royal Bank of Scotland

sia enters 2014 poised for stronger Separately, the maturing credit cycle will growth than last year. External de- pose another challenge for Indonesia, Ma- Amand is improving, boosting exports laysia and Thailand. Each of these econo- from and investment into the region. For mies has recently seen a remarkable in- the whole year, we expect non-Japan Asia crease in credit intensity, a development to grow by 6.5 percent, moderately up from with a À nite lifespan. Beijing is also moving 6 percent in 2013. This acceleration will towards reining in the rise in its leverage. this is the only economy expected to con- come on the back of À rmer demand from tinue growing signiÀ cantly above trend in the US and EU and the ongoing pick-up in The tapering of the US Federal Reserve’s 2014. In China, we expect benchmark rates the Chinese economy. quantitative easing (QE) policy will also re- to remain steady through 2014, even with a main a potentially disruptive risk for many À rmer monetary stance reÁ ected in higher We are departing from consensus to tip a of the region’s À nancial markets, although interbank rates. Both India and Indonesia solid expansion in China for 2014, resulting it will likely be less destabilising than last may continue tightening monetary policy in from better global growth, À rmer monetary year. External imbalances have since re- the À rst half of the year to rein in inÁ ation, policy and structural reforms that will on ceded, most notably in India, Malaysia and but should regain the Á exibility to ease balance be neutral for growth. This will in Thailand. In addition, the impact of QE ta- conditions in the latter six months. turn beneÀ t Asia, as its business cycle has pering may well be offset by an overall dov- become closely intertwined with that of ish stance from the Fed, amid low inÁ ation Asian currencies are likely to appreciate China, a key export market. and weak wage growth in the US. modestly in 2014, against the overall backdrop of improving growth, a reduction in Slow Burn Managing InÁ ation imbalances and a supportive Fed policy. A few factors, however, should be noted. One bright spot is that inÁ ation is likely to On individual currencies, we forecast the Compared with previous business cycles, remain within the comfort zone of central RMB to continue to appreciate by around global trade has rebounded more slowly in banks this year, given the prospect of stable 2.5 percent this year, reÁ ecting a struc- this recovery. The higher import demand commodity prices and only gradually clos- tural surplus and productivity gains that are that is typical of recoveries in developed ing output gaps. Further, Asia’s growth in relatively stronger than those of its trading economies has been slow to manifest, con- 2014 will be driven more by external rather partners. We also expect a turnaround in In- strained by deleveraging and À scal auster- than domestic demand – a positive sign as donesia’s and India’s currencies as external ity. Growth will need to become better domestic demand has historically had a imbalances recede. This is likely to become rooted for the trade channel to become greater bearing on inÁ ation. evident in the second half of the year, when more solid. As such, Asia’s upswing will ma- elections in both countries have concluded. terialise more strongly only in the second In countries where inÁ ation is likely to re- half of this year, after a material improve- main a problem, it will be driven either by Reform Needed ment in external demand. supply-side deÀ ciencies or government pol- We end with a comment on structural re- icies. In India, government-mandated in- forms in the region. We have long argued Intra-regional divergences are also likely to creases in food procurement costs and rural for the need for policymakers to deliver be a factor. Unlike in North Asia and China, wages should continue to be the basis for productivity- and efÀ ciency-enhancing re- domestic demand in India, Indonesia and inÁ ation spikes. In Indonesia, reductions in forms, including greater market orienta- Malaysia could be inhibited by À scal aus- energy subsidies have kept inÁ ation high, a tion, lower subsidies, better governance, terity. In Indonesia and Malaysia, budget trend that is likely to persist at least in the opening new sectors to foreign direct in- plans entail signiÀ cantly slower growth in early part of 2014. A similar pattern is likely vestment and investing in human capital. government spending, including subsidy re- to emerge in Malaysia if the government ductions, which tend to hurt consumption. makes a serious effort to mitigate À scal Unfortunately, given political imperatives Higher interest rates in Indonesia to curb in- imbalances. Finally, in Singapore, the inÁ a- in many countries, signiÀ cant changes are Á ation and the current account deÀ cit will tionary impact of restrictive foreign labour unlikely. In fact, we are optimistic for re- also take a toll on credit and wage growth, policies looks set to continue through 2014. forms only for China and Malaysia in the curbing consumer conÀ dence and spending. next year or two. In China, we expect good The manageable inÁ ation and dovish US progress in À nancial and monetary reforms, In India, another year of sub-trend growth Fed suggests only moderate tightening of increasing the provision of public services is expected due to tighter À scal policy, monetary policy by Asian central banks such as health, education and social secu- weak corporate proÀ tability, stricter bank this year. We are expecting modest rate rity and better pricing and taxation of raw lending standards and the uncertain politi- hikes in South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and resources. We are also hopeful of a mean- cal environment. Its national parliamentary Thailand, reÁ ecting the need to normalise ingful reduction in subsidies in Malaysia and elections will be closely watched to see if policy conditions as opposed to squarely further progress towards the implementa- the incoming government has a sufÀ cient combating inÁ ation and overheating. Only tion of a goods and services tax. Prospects majority to undertake politically-sensitive in the Philippines do we forecast a steeper for serious reforms are, however, weaker in but growth-enabling reforms. tightening to curb inÁ ation pressures, as South East Asia and India.

January-February 2014 11

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 13 1/24/14 4:18 PM Market View

Rising East, Emerging West The 2014 Standard Chartered Global Research Report was presented to a large audience in Kuala Lumpur recently with a panel of experts from across the Standard Chartered Group providing their À nancial forecasts and insights for the year ahead.

tandard Chartered’s annual Global Standard Chartered sees emerging econo- most. More domestically-driven economies Focus report, “Rising East, Emerging mies outgrowing the Group of Seven de- such as India, Indonesia and Brazil will face SWest’’, forecasts the world economy is veloped economies by almost 4 percent in headwinds. While global growth would typi- likely to accelerate to a 3.5 percent growth 2014, even with the US accelerating to 2.4 cally support a sustained rebound in com- in 2014, up from 2.7 percent in 2013. Fol- percent from 1.7 percent in 2013 and the modity prices, the Bank expects the supply lowing years of recession and sub-par euro area emerging from two straight years overhang to depress prices in 2014. growth, a pick-up in economic activity in of contraction to post a 1.3 percent growth the US and Europe will help Asia and other in 2014. Typically, this would suggest that equity- emerging markets maintain their decade- dominated markets should outperform long outperformance. Policy will play a key role, as it has since bond-dominated markets but the Bank an- the start of the Great Recession. A bet- ticipates that this pattern will not be uni- Against a backdrop of benign inÁ ation and ter growth outlook will make it easier for form, once domestic-versus-external orien- low interest rates, the Western recovery the US Fed to start normalising monetary tation is taken into account. 2014 will be should provide additional impetus to inter- conditions. Within this, external demand- another challenging year for À xed income national trade, bolstering the more export- driven economies with strong links to the securities with markets with larger pools oriented economies across the emerging global manufacturing cycle, such as Singa- of domestic savings likely to be better in- world. pore and Thailand, are likely to beneÀ t the sulated.

Economic Outlook Major developed econo- Bank Indonesia is likely to continue to tight- mies are likely to add to Asia’s growth in en policy in early 2014 as we believe it has 2014, after years of Asian outperformance given greater weight to containing the cur- against a weak global backdrop. This out- rent account deÀ cit. In Taiwan, we expect performance reÁ ects the strength of the re- the tightening cycle to begin in Q2-2014, gion’s economies, which have proven their triggered by the second- round impact of ability to outperform in most scenarios electricity price hikes and by higher food other than a sharp global downturn. While prices y/y due to the low base effect. the backdrop for markets will be challenging in H1-2014 as the US heads towards end- Policy makers across the region have shown ing QE, the reasons for this tightening (ie a desire to tame leverage growth in the stronger growth) will likely help current ac- government, corporate and household count balances around the region. sectors. While Singapore and Hong Kong have introduced strong macro-prudential Policy In 2014, Asian countries will need policies to cool their property markets, we to implement the right policies to attract have seen more talk than action in other long-term capital after years of struggling countries, such as Thailand. with indiscriminate portfolio Á ows to the Asia: region. Such policies would support longer- InÁ ation is unlikely to be a major concern term growth prospects after years when a for most markets in 2014 as key food and Supportive global lot less scrutiny was applied to this issue. energy prices remain subdued. China, the Pressure to maintain yield spreads against world’s second-largest economy, should see growth at last US Treasuries, combined with still-elusive a consolidation of growth. We forecast 7.4 exchange rate appreciation, may mean percent GDP growth in 2014, following 7.6 David Mann pressure for tighter domestic monetary percent in 2013. 2013 saw the implemen- [email protected] conditions. We expect the majority of Asian tation of ‘easier’ reforms such as cutting economies to start monetary tightening cy- red tape and the anti-corruption drive. cles in Q3-2014 with one or two exceptions. 2014 will be about tackling the tougher

12 January-February 2014

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 14 1/24/14 4:18 PM Market View

Even with inÁ ation likely to trend higher in Malaysia: 2014, we think Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) may refrain from hiking policy rates until a External drag À rm growth trend is established. The central bank may wait until demand-pull inÁ a- diminishes tion emerges and starts to add to supply- driven inÁ ation driven by subsidy cuts. The Edward Lee current overnight policy rate (OPR) of 3.0 [email protected] percent is only 50bps below its all-time high of 3.5 percent. With the OPR at this level, we expect the real policy rate to turn negative only in H2-2014. Economic Outlook We expect Malaysia’s In addition, BNM may want to curb inÁ ation GDP growth to pick up to 5.3 percent in expectations ahead of the implementation 2014 from 4.7 percent in 2013, in line with of the 6 percent GST in April 2015. As such, Continued from opposite page the government’s projection of 5.0-5.5 per- we expect BNM to hike the OPR by 25bps cent. We also expect external demand to issues of land and state-owned enterprise only in Q4-2014. Improving external de- pick up in 2014, mitigating the expected (SOE) reform. The new leadership appears mand should support the current account. slowdown in domestic demand. determined to push ahead with these re- The current account surplus has been forms which should boost conÀ dence in the Private consumption may moderate in 2014 shrinking, but we believe it bottomed in growth outlook for 2014 and beyond. due to higher inÁ ation, subsidy cuts and 2013. We expect it to rise to 4.0 percent of high household leverage. However, we ex- GDP in 2014 from a projected 3.6 percent in Politics Elections in India and Indonesia, pect the labour market to remain healthy, 2013. We expect stronger export growth to which have Asia’s largest current account supporting wage growth and consumption. increase the net goods balance. deÀ cits, will be the political focus in 2014. Both markets may have a rough ride in early The manufacturing sector is likely to Portfolio investment may be more volatile 2014 (after a difÀ cult 2013) amid worries strengthen thanks to a pick-up in external in 2014, particularly in H1 ahead of US QE about election-related policy paralysis and demand. This should support wage growth tapering, and may not provide as much tighter global liquidity conditions. In India’s in the sector, which accounts for about 17 support to the balance of payments as in case, the key question is whether a rela- percent of total employment and saw a previous years. We expect the government tively strong or weak coalition government wage increase of about 7.6 percent in 9M- to maintain its À scal consolidation stance. will be elected. Uncertainty is high given 2013, despite softness in manufacturing. The 2014 budget was well-received and in- the long-term trend of local rather than The government will also continue to sup- cluded plans to expand the revenue base national issues driving voting behaviour, port low-income households via À scal hand- via GST implementation and reduce À scal and the fact that 20 percent of voters will outs. These handouts will total MYR4.6bn in deÀ cit targets. Moody’s responded favour- be À rst-time voters. In Indonesia, we ex- 2014, up from MYR3.0bn in 2013. ably by revising its Malaysian sovereign pect election-related spending to support credit outlook to positive from stable in No- a modest GDP growth acceleration to 5.8 Public investment may slow as the govern- vember 2013. We expect Malaysia’s credit percent in 2014 from 5.6 percent in 2013. ment delays less urgent projects to improve rating to remain stable in 2014. the current account position and focuses on Market Outlook We are generally bearish raising private investment. We expect in- Politics With national and party elections on Asian À xed income markets in 2014, vestments in the oil & gas sector to provide concluded in 2013, 2014 should be a quiet driven by Fed tapering. We estimate that crucial support to overall investment. year for politics in Malaysia, allowing the the US Fed is twice as inÁ uential in driv- government to focus on issues such as À scal ing global liquidity as the European Cen- While exports are expected to rise, imports consolidation. It will need to strike a bal- tral Bank, the next most important central may keep pace. Malaysia’s economy is also ance in 2014 between further strengthening bank. We prefer relative value strategies, now less open than before – the trade-to- its À scal position, particularly via subsidy in line with the broader theme of current- GDP ratio was 160 percent in 2012, down cuts, and managing potential negative pub- account-deÀ cit, bond Á ow-driven cur- from about 200 percent in 2005. The more lic feedback on such moves. rencies underperforming currencies with domestic orientation of the economy may current account surpluses and dominant limit the improvement in net exports. Market Outlook We have Neutral short- and equity Á ows. This favours Northeast Asian medium-term FX weightings on the Malay- Policy We expect headline CPI inÁ ation to currencies and bonds over their Southeast sian ringgit (MYR). In 2013, negative factors rise to 3.4 percent in 2014 from a projected Asian counterparts. Expected Japanese yen for the MYR included the falling current ac- 2.1 percent in 2013, slightly higher than the weakening in 2014 may limit potential up- count surplus, election uncertainty and À s- government’s forecast of 2-3 percent. Fuel side for the Taiwan dollar and Korean won. cal consolidation risks. Domestic factors are price hikes in September 2013 will continue likely to be more supportive of the currency ASEAN economies are likely to continue to to add to y/y inÁ ation readings until Sep- in 2014. However, we expect the currency grow strongly in 2014, helped by structur- tember 2014. We also expect the govern- to underperform in H1-2014 due to heavy ally supportive factors. These factors in- ment to gradually lower subsidies through- bond inÁ ows in recent years. This is largely clude competitiveness gains versus China in out the year, although the exact timing of based on our view that the Fed will start QE the Mekong delta region, which will attract the cuts is difÀ cult to predict. The healthy tapering in June 2014. We expect the MYR more FDI Á ows; continuing urbanisation as labour market will also add to inÁ ation to rally in H2-2014, once tapering is fully more industries develop; and the imple- pressures, as businesses may À nd it easier priced in and against a backdrop of contin- mentation of infrastructure projects. to pass on cost increases. ued Chinese yuan (CNY) appreciation.

January-February 2014 13

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 15 1/24/14 4:18 PM CEO Spotlight

14 January-February 2014

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 16 1/24/14 4:18 PM Cover Story

The world of travel and tourism is changing as rapidly as the technology around us. Business and leisure visitors are seeking more exciting, unusual and sustainable experiences whether it’s for an annual conference, a teambuilding event, a family vacation or a short getaway. Competition is stiff as countries Destinations try to attract these visitors and keep them coming back for more. Malaysia certainly has many advantages to offer in terms of infrastructure, hospitality That Deliver and connectivity. But so too do other locations. We take a look at some of the criteria involved for achieving success in this potentially lucrative sector. Turn the page to learn more.

January-FebruaryJanuary-February 2014 2014 131115

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 17 1/24/14 4:18 PM Cover Story Catching The Wave

Visit Malaysia 2014:

• Heritage & Culture

• Adventure & Nature

• Wellness & Spa

• Islands & Beaches

The À rst half of 2013 saw international tourism grow beyond expectations stantial growth in tourist arrivals in the À rst with global tourist arrivals reaching almost half a billion, a growth of 5 six months, which grew by 7.9 percent to 12,552,731 compared to 11,632,478 during percent compared to the same period during 2012. This article by Zerin the corresponding period the previous year. Properties takes a look at the trends closer to home. Singapore remained the main contributor to tourist arrivals with a whopping merging markets witnessed stronger Against this background, Malaysia contin- 6,295,567 arrivals, an increase of 7.9 per- growth of 6 percent in tourist arrivals ues to be one of the top tourist destinations cent, followed by Indonesia and China with Ecompared to 4 percent growth in de- with an increasing inÁ ux of tourist arrivals. 1,242,055 (+12.1 percent) and 943,756 veloped countries. Leading the pack of this The United Nations World Tourism Organi- (+24.5 percent) arrivals respectively. robust growth was the increase in tourist sation (UNWTO) has been acknowledging arrivals for Asia-PaciÀ c and Europe regions. this on a regular basis by listing Malaysia In general, tourist arrivals to Malaysia from Asia-PaciÀ c recorded an increase of 6 per- in its annual top ten list of the most-visited most countries recorded growth with the cent with arrivals to South-East Asia and countries in the world. In 2012, Malaysia exception of Thailand (-8.9 percent), India South Asia up by 12 percent and 7 percent attracted some 25 million international (-4.6 percent), New Zealand (-8.1 percent), respectively. tourist arrivals, garnering RM60.6 billion in and some Middle East countries. tourism receipts. Europe, on the other hand, observed an Meanwhile tourist receipts, as of À rst quar- increase of 5 percent in international tour- Tourist Arrivals ter of 2013, also grew by 16.7 percent, ist arrivals despite the economic crisis. The In the Klang Valley, the hospitality market generating RM14.99 billion in revenue as Americas recorded a weaker than antici- performed reasonably well during the À rst compared to RM12.84 billion during the pated growth at 2 percent while Africa sus- half of 2013, in spite of General Election corresponding period in the previous year. tained its 4 percent growth. jitters. This was mainly driven by the sub-

16 January-February 2014

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Malaysia is ranked as one of the top À ve destinations for health tourism.

lion arrivals with RM75 bil- jor MICE events, attracting a total number lion in tourism receipts. If of 61,659 delegates and an estimated rev- achieved, this will contrib- enue of RM597 million. ute signiÀ cantly to the ulti- mate target set out in the Accommodation Malaysia Tourism Transfor- As of June 2012, the total number of hotel mation Plan of 36 million rooms in the Klang Valley stood at 41,495. tourists and RM168 billion The closure of the 5-star Crowne Plaza Mu- in receipts by 2020. tiara Kuala Lumpur (565 rooms) to make way for the proposed new mixed develop- As a result, Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism Niche Tourism ment project known as the “Tradewinds was predicting a 7.1 percent growth in In recent years, Malaysia’s tourism indus- Centre” was offset by the opening of two tourist arrivals for the full year and was try has been evolving towards a number of new hotels during the À rst quarter of 2013. targeting RM65 billion in tourist receipts. specialised niche sectors, thus branching These are the 484-room Aloft Hotel at KL Klang Valley Hospitality Market out from being solely dependent on conventional tourism. Sentral - Starwood Hotels & Resort’s sixth hotel brand and largest Aloft hotel in the Visit Malaysia Year 2014: The Visit Several of these niche tourism subsectors world - and the 90-room Premiera Hotel Malaysia Year 2014 campaign, launched are growing rapidly due to demand from at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, a four-star in early 2013, is targeted at delivering a tourists from across the world, the most brand created by the Impiana Group. major boost to the tourism and hospitality prominent being medical tourism and MICE sector, one of the National Key Economic – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Ex- From the current total of 41,495 rooms, Areas under the Government’s Economic hibitions. about 30,148 rooms or 72.65 percent are Transformation Programme (ETP). located within Kuala Lumpur and the re- Medical Tourism: Malaysia is ranked as maining 11,347 rooms (27.35 percent) are The campaign is loosely based around the one of the top À ve destinations for health located outside the city limits. four main themes of Heritage & Culture, tourism. The number of foreign patients Adventure & Nature, Wellness & Spa, and seeking treatment in the country is growing The present supply of 3-star, 4-star and Island & Beaches, focusing on the diverse at an annual average of about 18 percent. 5-star hotel rooms in Klang Valley stands at attractions of Malaysia. In 2012, Malaysia received 671,000 medical 9,412, 14,527 and 11,836 respectively. Various promotional packages and tours tourists with majority originating from Sin- A major project was announced recently by are being offered or are planned under the gapore, Indonesia, Japan, and West Asia. KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd that will see the Campaign, the goal being to attract 28 mil- For 2013, the Malaysia development of a new mixed-use commer- Healthcare Travel Council cial project on a 1.6-hectare plot between (MHTC) expected to receive Suria KLCC and the Asy-Syakirin mosque in 700,000 medical tourists and joint venture with the Qatari Investment to earn RM630 million from Authority. The development will consist medical tourism compared, of a 76-storey hotel, serviced apartments, to RM600 million generated residences and associated facilities; 64-sto- in 2012. rey ofÀ ce tower; six-storey retail podium; and basement car park. The development is MICE Tourism: Business expected to be completed by end of 2017. tourism is identiÀ ed as one of the key sectors to stimu- Recently, Alila Hotels & Resorts group also late economic growth under announced plans to debut in Peninsular the government’s Economic Malaysia with a boutique hotel - the Alila Transformation Programme. Bangsar KL. Slated to open by early 2017 at a mixed development known as The Es- Malaysia has set its sights on tablishment, opposite Menara UOA Bangsar, becoming a favourable MICE the Alila Bangsar will comprise 124 rooms destination and is targeting and will be housed on the top À ve Á oors of an increase in business tour- the 41-storey mixed development. ism arrivals from 5 percent (1.2 million) to 8 percent The hospitality market will see further ca- (2.9 million) of the overall pacity coming on stream with the entry of tourist arrivals by year 2020, additional branded hotels in the near future contributing RM3.9 billion to such as the St. Regis in 2014, The Regent in Gross National Income. 2015, Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur and W Kuala Lumpur in 2016. This along with In conjunction with this, in the continuous effort to promote Malaysia 2012 MyCEB (Malaysia Con- as prime tourist destination and recent fa- vention Exhibition Bureau) vourable Budget measures, augurs well for successfully secured 45 ma- the country’s tourism industry.

January-February 2014 17

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 19 1/24/14 4:18 PM Cover Story Placemaking: Bringing It Together

Over 50 per cent of the world’s population now lives in urban environments and that percentage is only set to grow. Malaysia is no exception. How can cities accommo- date this steady inÁ ux while creating places where people can live, work and thrive?

n the long-established cities of the Peter Heath, design director of public Rural Development estimates that 300 mil- world’s mature economies, most public realm for Atkins in London, echoes this sen- lion people currently living in rural areas Iplaces evolved organically, from open timent. “This type of work moves beyond a will move into cities from 2010 to 2025. plazas to well-connected train stations, single professional design discipline or iso- growing in clusters around places of wor- lated group of disciplines – architect, land- “We are seeing a growing acceptance of ship, transport hubs or intersections. Few scape architect, highways engineer, urban the multi-disciplinary approaches that have were intentional; people simply gathered designer, artist – imposing a physical design proved successful elsewhere in the world,” there or travelled through them on their solution on a site for a single client. says Harrison, whose team has been in- way from A to B. creasingly engaged in such projects in Bei- “Instead, it’s a partnership of multiple jing and beyond in recent years. “The au- In some cases, their popularity worked experts, working with multiple end users thorities are looking at how to apply them against them: the more people who Á ocked and their clients and other representatives in ways that will work in China.” to a public area, the more cluttered they to develop and implement the making or became. Transport routes backed up, im- remaking of somewhere with an acknowl- As Harrison points out, “What works in Lon- perfect short-term À xes outstayed their edged, sustainable design life.” don or Budapest may not prove successful welcome and what was once a suitable pub- in Beijing. For example, personal space is lic space became an unruly mess. This approach was at the heart of the Tra- generally perceived differently in Asia com- falgar Square masterplan. Despite being a pared with Europe. In Europe and America, At the other end of the spectrum, new-built focal point for London life, Trafalgar Square people tend to prefer a bit more distance. cities in emerging economies had the op- had become an unwelcoming place by the portunity to design and build bespoke pub- 1990s. Six lanes of vehicle trafÀ c, pollu- First-time visitors to China might see groups lic places, only to À nd they weren’t being tion, poor sight lines and difÀ cult access dancing in a public square in the evening or used to full capacity, whether due to a lack meant fewer people were visiting and those doing early morning Tai Chi together in the of public interest or developers being un- who did wouldn’t stay long. morning. These are all unique to the Asian able to deliver on their original plans. – and speciÀ cally Chinese – experience and Collaborating with a multi-disciplinary need to be accommodated in any place- Placemaking is all about striking the right group of experts, Heath and his team de- making process.” balance. The ability to satisfy that instinc- signed linked spaces that were safe, con- tive human desire to gather while taking venient and attractive. These provided a The National Advertising Industry Park pro- advantage of all the beneÀ ts it can bring place that could serve as a stage for a wide ject, which sits alongside the Tonghui River – from sustainability to vibrant commercial range of cultural activities and stimulate and began in 2012, is one of many Atkins ex- activity – without producing a city-sized existing and new uses, while supporting an amples which reÁ ects the speciÀ c demands white elephant. increased number of visitors and users. of Chinese culture, history and urban tradi- tion when it comes to placemaking. All In The Approach Since work was completed in 2003, the re- According to Mark Harrison, design director vitalised Trafalgar Square has regained its Atkins was asked to develop a masterplan with Atkins in Beijing, “The creation of a spot at the centre of national celebrations for a new advertising and creative arts zone ‘place’ is about more than technical issues, (free concerts and public events have re- on the edge of the central business district like land use zoning or individual building turned) and enjoyed a signiÀ cant uptake in (CBD) in Beijing. The plan includes over 30 design. Placemaking involves multi-disci- both visitor numbers and satisfaction. buildings, ranging in size from small-scale plinary and multi-stakeholder approaches creative industry studios, to a museum and Changing Face of China – that’s one of its key features.” conference centre as well as a series of In China, the Ministry of Housing and Urban- landmark towers and ofÀ ce buildings.

18 January-February 2014

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While it takes some inspiration from creative hubs like Soho in London and New York’s Madison Avenue, the Beijing project has a distinctly Chinese aspect. Sitting on the edge of the historically signiÀ cant Grand Canal, which extends all the way from Hangzhou to Beijing, the plan opens onto the canal and incorporates it within this welcoming and important public space. A public square and pedestrian zone sit at the heart of the plan, with a bridge connecting the CBD and a new museum and Park Attractions conference centre.

“Our aim was to create a place that is unique while giving it an urban feel and a alaysia has been making a name for RM4 billion investment under the GITP will sense that was related to its history – in this itself as the theme park capital of be used to develop new hotels, infrastruc- context, the setting by the canal,” explains MSoutheast Asia in recent years, and ture and amenities and modernise existing Harrison. is home to the continent’s À rst Legoland hotels by 2016. amusement park, located the Iskandar de- “What could have been a ‘campus style’ velopment corridor near the southern city The GITP will include a RM1 billion invest- area now looks and feels like it’s part of of Johor just across the border from Sin- ment to set up the world's À rst internation- the surrounding urban space, giving it a gapore. The RM750 million park opened in al 20th Century Fox World theme park and ‘streetscape’ feel. This was deliberate at- September 2012 with 40 rides, shows and the region's second Premium Outlet Centre tempt to create an urban feeling within the attractions, and added a new water park in offering branded goods. development while remaining sensitive to October last year. Due to open in 2016, the Theme Park will the local culture and history.” Now, the country will add to its collection feature rides and attractions based on 20th A Place In The Middle of major tourist attractions with the addi- Century Fox blockbuster titles, including Dubai is recognised for its iconic buildings tion of East Coast Economic Region (ECER) Ice Age, Rio, Alien vs. Predator, Planet of towering over the skyline, but very lit- has also received a boost with the launch the Apes and Night at the Museum, among tle placemaking activity has taken place of Twentieth Century Fox’s À rst ever theme others. around them, says Janus Rostock, associate park. The Park will be developed as part of According to chairman and chief execu- design director with Atkins Middle East. the RM5 billion Genting Integrated Tourism tive of Genting Malaysia, Tan Sri Lim Kok Plan (GITP) which also includes extensive “Now, there is growing recognition that de- Thay the theme park will pave the way for upgrades of the Resorts World Genting com- velopers and designers need to tie together continued growth of Resorts World Genting plex. the spaces between those buildings.” with a next-level family entertainment ex- Resorts World Genting which is home to perience which will attract tourism dollars Much of the work has focused on converting Malaysia's only casino, has been in opera- to Malaysia. The new park will target fami- existing rights of way for cars into public tion for the past 35 years. Over the last two lies and adults and aims to lure in strong spaces, by re-zoning neighbourhoods and years, it has recorded more than 20 million numbers from both within Malaysia and developing public squares that offer natural international and domestic visitors but the across Southeast Asia and China, as tourism shade and ventilation - critical in a country company is looking to grow that À gure. The numbers in the region continue to climb. where soaring temperatures make sitting outside problematic for half the year.

At the same time, teams working on these schemes had to keep in mind the “wellness” agenda that is currently taking root in the Middle East. “The UAE has one of the highest rates of diabetes among young people. People eat rich food with too much sugar and take very little exercise,” says Rostock. As a result, the Atkins plans have focused on incorporating walking, cycle and public transport links into the Middle East’s growing cities.

In an ideal world, placemaking projects such as these will be able to incorporate input from diverse sources and deliver a solution that works for city dwellers, businesses, transit systems and visitors alike. www.atkinsglobal.com

January-FebruaryJanuary-February 2014 2014 13211119

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 21 1/24/14 4:18 PM Cover Story Making Room: Maximising Asset Values

n certain markets, the conversion of of- business taking place at these premises, tourism sector as a key economic driver are À ce buildings to hotels is a productive it also means the loss of hundreds, if not creating demand for conveniently located, Iway to maximise asset values and is re- thousands of RM a day in rent, not to men- affordableBy Andrew accommodation. Sill This demand sulting in big changes in the way new hotels tion the knock-on effect to other businesses could be met by converting the many va- are coming onto the market. in the area. cant ofÀ ce buildings in the main cities, which often beneÀ t from prime locations A good example of positive proÀ t being Compare this to the UK where nationally near to popular holiday destinations. made can be seen in Germany. With a large around 12 per cent of ofÀ ces have stood amount of ofÀ ce-to-hotel conversions be- empty in recent years, with some areas in- Local Examples ing used for budget accommodation, new cluding Birmingham reporting 18 per cent A number of Malaysian entrepreneurs, look- franchises located around Berlin near busy of commercial property standing empty. ing to achieve higher yields, have already transport lines are seeing large gains in There the Government believes that these begun such conversion programmes. Take room occupancy and revenue per avail- unoccupied premises could be converted Mak Hoong Weng, the ardent property in- able room (RevPar). Furthermore, a drop into homes (rather than hotels) while still vestor for example, who over the past ten in the VAT rate for accommodation from 16 meeting future demand for ofÀ ces when percent to 7 percent has allowed not only the economy picks up. It is thought a va- Plaza Atrium Conversion reductions in room rates but also invest- cancy rate of just 5 per cent would be suf- ment, improvement of service quality and À cient to cope with the ‘churn’ of ofÀ ces as additional services. businesses start up, grow or in some cases fail. In Malaysia, the NAPIC (National Property Information Centre) Commercial Stock Re- With Malaysia’s current vacancy rate at port for 1Q2013 revealed that in the Klang nearly double that of Britain and numerous Valley alone there is a total of 104 million untenanted ofÀ ce buildings in the main cit- sq ft ofÀ ce space and the overall vacancy ies, there is therefore a bigger gap in the rate in the market is reported at 23 per market for ofÀ ce-to-hotel investments. In cent. Although slightly lower than the 25 addition, an increase in tourist arrivals, per cent recorded in the previous quarter, which in 2012 reached an all-time high of this still means that not only is there no 25.03 million, and the development of the

Piccolo Hotel, Jalan Bukit Bintang

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With the current vacancy rate of ofÀ ce space in Malaysia at 23 percent coupled with the massive future supply of ofÀ ce space, there is stiff competition to secure tenants. Conversion to an alternative use such as hotel or serviced apartment could deliver better returns.

into hotels to capture the increase in tour- pected to be the start of a trend of convert- ist arrivals. The former KKB building was re- ing ofÀ ce buildings to hotels, as there is a developed to provide the 80-room Abell Ho- strong demand for hotels in in the city due tel while the former Kuching Tower Building to acute shortage of existing hotel stock for was converted into the 50-room Lime Tree sale, thus making more ofÀ ce conversions a Hotel. These two redevelopments are part real possibility. Tune Hotel Kings Cross of a RM28.55 billion investment deal in order to build 14 mega projects in the Sarawak Why Convert A vacant building will be losing thousands of years, has racked up a respectable collec- Corridor, that will amount to RM334 billion any currency a week on rent and depend- tion of buildings that stretches from Kuala in investments from 2011-2030. ing on how long the ofÀ ce remains vacant, Lumpur to Malacca and Kuantan. Last year The current trend of investment in ofÀ ce could cost a property owner millions. Con- Mak, the Director of Art Form Enterprise building redevelopment seems to be fo- verting the space to hotel accommodation Sdn Bhd which manufactures footwear, an- cused on older properties. The growing allows yields to be maximised and income nounced plans to convert 10 of his buildings number of new Grade A ofÀ ce buildings in to be constant (even in low season). into hotels by the end of 2013, offering over prime locations and with better facilities 1,000 rooms. prompts tenants to vacate older buildings With the current vacancy rate of ofÀ ce space in Malaysia at 23 percent coupled One such project is Star Luxury Hotel at the and move to newer more stylish premises with the massive amount of future supply junction of Jalan Raja Chulan. This devel- even if it means higher rental rates. Older of ofÀ ce space, there is stiff competition opment by Mak saw the conversion of two ofÀ ce buildings that are in strategic loca- to secure tenants, meaning it could be ofÀ ce towers into an upmarket boutique tions and close to tourist attractions and months even years before vacant ofÀ ce hotel that charges between RM280 and transport links generally make better can- space is À lled. Conversion to an alternative RM1,500 a night. Even before the Hotel was didates for redevelopment into hotels, use could bring better returns. In terms of opened, the main tower had appreciated maximising yields and boosting income dra- when to develop, entrepreneurs seem to be beyond the original purchase price, with an matically due to far higher gain margins. investing in a recovering market. offer of nearly three times the cost price Looking Abroad received to part with the building. Mak has Tune Group of Hotels recently expanded also acquired a number of other buildings in to London with properties now situated in Key Factors the vicinity, the most notable being a multi- prime areas across London including Kings storey heritage building at Jalan Tun Perak. Deal Structure International opera- Cross and Paddington. In September 2011, a Presently, the ground Á oor has been leased tors will usually require either a man- substantial vacant ofÀ ce building, formerly to food and beverage operators and upper agement agreement or franchise, both the headquarters of Unite Union, located Á oors rented to a budget hotel operator. of which have pros and cons. at 324 Grays Inn Road, Kings Cross, was ac- On Jalan Bukit Bintang, the Wisma Peladang quired by the Group. Opening a few weeks Planning Issues Expert advice must ofÀ ce building underwent a complete ret- ahead of the London Olympics, the Tune be sought at the outset to establish roÀ t in 2006 in order to create the current Hotel Kings Cross shot to popularity with oc- whether a change of use will be sup- Piccolo Hotel (opposite). The 13-storey of- cupancy rates of 95 percent. It consistently ported by the local authorities and to À ce building was transformed into a mod- achieves an average Expedia guest rating of determine whether the building has the ern 4-star hotel and Berjaya Land immedi- 4 out of 5 and 95 percent of people recom- capacity to function as a hotel. ately struck interest in the hotel, buying 51 mend the hotel on tripadvisor.com, showing Market Demand Analysis A detailed percent ownership. As of September 2013, the immediate success of the investment. feasibility study must be conducted to the Hotel was clocking average room rates Permission was also granted recently to identify demand for the type of hotel of RM246 with 80 percent occupancy. convert a 1960s eight-storey ofÀ ce build- and ensure viability of the conversion. Still in the city centre, the Plaza Atrium ing on Red Lion Street in Central London's Design Considerations Factors such building (opposite page), located on Lorong Bloomsbury district into a 150-bedroom ho- as suitability of existing structural P Ramlee, is currently under reconstruc- tel, a project in line with the London Plan's design, lift failities, M&E and Fire & tion by Pinehigh Development Sdn Bhd. strategic need for increased hotel space. Safety systems etc all have a potential Originally designed by renowned architect The trend is similar in other parts of the impact on the viability of the scheme. Kenneth Yeang it was completed in 1984. world. In the USA, the Trump Organisation In 2005, approval was granted for redevel- Life Cycle Costing To ensure that is planning a US$200 million redevelopment opment and the former corporate ofÀ ce whole life costs are minimised when of the iconic Old Post OfÀ ce Building on tower is now being converted into 109 ser- capital costs for conversion are being Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC, into viced apartment units over 34 Á oors in an considered. a luxury hotel. In New Zealand, internation- annexed wing. al hotel operator Accor Hotels announced Roja Rani Similar developments are happening else- it would open a boutique operation in the Head of Research & Consultancy where in Malaysia. In Sarawak, two ofÀ ce Reserve Bank ofÀ ce building on Customs Zerin Properties buildings in Kuching have been converted Street in downtown Auckland. This is ex- Email: [email protected]

January-February 2014 21

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 23 1/24/14 4:19 PM Cover Story Healthy Returns

While the concept of Health Tourism might not be new, the rapid expan- just to medical services and consumables sion of this industry in the last À ve years is now catching the attention such as prostheses or implants, but also in accommodation expenses - hotels, food of new market players every day. This article looks at how the concept is and transport are all very accessible. This taking hold in Malaysia. makes the overall cost of treatments affordable to many visitors that could not practical information - the MHTC has now proceed with, sometimes life-changing been responsible for positioning Malaysia treatments back home. has one of the Top 5 destinations in the On top of this, Malaysia’s renowned warm world for Healthcare travellers in 2012. hospitality goes hand in hand with exten- Malaysia seems to be playing its cards right sive choices in beach and Spa retreats, in this game and the Government’s strate- amazing gastronomic experiences, and, last gic investment is paying dividends. but not least, a vibrant cosmopolitan urban culture - again, cheaper than back home. So, what are Malaysia’s key strengths in this À eld? Effective medical services, delivered Interestingly, Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery is at a recognised international quality stand- one of the medical À elds that attracts most ard for an affordable price are seen to be visitors within the Healthcare Tourism mar- the key differentiators. ket and represents a large share of the sur- gical demand. In Malaysia, an international patient will À nd world-class hospitals and medical cen- Born out of desire to meet the perceived tres, accredited by national and interna- opportunities for this niche market in the tional accreditation bodies like the Joint region, Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre Commission International (JCI) or the Ma- (BWMC) opened to the public in May 2012 laysian Society for Quality in Healthcare as one of the only integrated beauty medi- (MSQH). cal centres in Malaysia.

These facilities have been built or enhanced After just two years in operation, BWMC al- with Government support, providing only ready represents a substantial contribution the most modern, innovative and efÀ cient to Malaysia’s Medical Tourism sector and is treatments. To add to this, Malaysia has a ambitiously looking to double its capacity in panel of English-speaking or even multi-lin- 2014. While, at this point, some 60 percent gual specialists in a diverse array of medi- of BWMC clients come from Australia and he medical tourism growth À gures cine À elds, trained and accredited interna- New Zealand, BWMC is looking to expand from the main travelling hubs have tionally in countries like Australia, the US or its reach and attract clients from Singa- Tnot gone unnoticed to the Malaysian UK. This is vital when working with patients pore, Indonesian, Middle East, US and UK. Government, which has rapidly realised from across the world. All this, with short Until now, the trend for medical travellers that it has all the right attributes to get waiting times for the patient and costs up from those countries has been to head for involved. As such, it is making bold moves to 80 percent less than back home. places such as Thailand and Korea for their to divert part of the US$100bn (RM320bn) cosmetic procedures – two top competitors worth of business generated by health tour- Malaysia’s lower cost of living is reÁ ected globally in the À eld of cosmetic health for ism into Malaysian territory. in the price to the consumer, applying not Malaysia.

In 2009, the Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) created a specialised organisation to focus on promoting and emphasising Malay- sia as a preferred healthcare destination in the region: the Malaysia HealthCare Travel Council (MHTC).

With this ambitious target in sight, the MHTC immediately began developing programmes and strategies to support registered home-grown medical facilities and a variety of healthcare service providers and professionals, responsible for transforming a medical need into a health tourism “experience” in Malaysia.

Collaborating with a variety of different healthcare stakeholders - including the customer directly by providing a wide range of

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With its main centre in Jalan Tun Razak, just a few minutes from Kuala Lumpur City Centre, BWMC offers cosmetic plastic surgery, non-invasive aesthetic treatments and healthy ageing therapies all under one roof. The Centre À elds a team of highly-skilled specialists with extensive experience, offering an wide range of treatments under these three main specialities.

For Cosmetic, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BWMC counts among its number internationally renowned surgeons Dr.Nasir Zahari, Dato’ Dr. Jalil Bin Jidon and Dr. Eileen Fong. Aesthetic treatments are offered by Dr. Liow Tiong Sing, Dr. Karen Po and Dr. Wong. Healthy Ageing services, consisting of health and genetic screening and stem cell therapy are provided by A./Prof. Dr. Chin Sze Piaw. All of these specialists trained overseas and have acquired extensive experience in their respective À elds. For example last year, I performed at BWMC The concept of BWMC is clear and simple. the À rst Body Lift procedure using the new- It is the À rst and only integrated beauty est technology TIGR® Matrix in collabora- hospital in the region and offers world-class tion with the specialists of University of San facilities, top professionals and the latest Diego. I À nd it exciting and inspiring at the technologies. We are registered with the same time. Ministry of Health and every standard of safety and care has been adhered to. How does Malaysia fare in the global industry of cosmetic surgery? What are Patients seeking cosmetic or aesthetic its competitive key points? treatments are healthy people and want Malaysia is fortunate to possess the right a personalised service. They want to walk attributes to become very successful as a into a comfortable and luxurious medi- medical tourism hub. The top three factors cal centre rather than a general hospital that people look for are quality, afford- where the ambience will differ. We know ability, and ease of communication. Good the importance of personalised service. The quality results are a must, there are no two patient’s experience at BWMC bears no re- ways about it. Malaysia has the infrastruc- semblance to what they would encounter in ture and the Government has laid out strict a General Hospital. rules and regulations for medical centres How signiÀ cant is the UK Consumer for to comply with, so that patients are reas- the Cosmetic Tourism Industry? sured with safe procedures and quality of service. BWMC takes great care in ensuring Quite signiÀ cant, actually. The UK is ranked the safety of its clients and has made sure 16th among countries with the highest num- In Conversation with Dr. Nasir Zahari every safety measure is implemented. ber of cosmetic procedures. An estimated Plastic, Reconstructive & Cosmetic 100,000 UK citizens travel every year for While Thailand also offers high medical cosmetic procedures to various destinations Surgeon Medical Director at BWMC standards and is relatively inexpensive for in Europe, Asia and even South Africa. A big Why did you specialise in this À eld? cosmetic surgery, not all specialists are bi- proportion of Thailand’s health travellers My interest in this area began during my lingual. As a result, there are some commu- are coming from the UK. tenure as a general surgeon. Cosmetic nication issues that can lead to misunder- surgery is where science combines with standings between what the patient hopes art. Science is where we learn about the to achieve and the results delivered. It’s for anatomy and the physiological changes in this reason that we have been seeing a lot the body that result in sagging skin and loss more patients who were previously treated of muscle tone. The art comes in the en- in Thailand, now coming to Malaysia. hancements that we can make to change What is Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre someone’s appearance and boost their con- bringing of added value to this industry? À dence or quality of life. The idea to establish this medical centre Everyone sees things differently and subjec- was born about three years ago. The aim tivity usually deÀ es science. The challenge was to set up a one-stop centre to provide for me is consulting different patients and comprehensive aesthetic and cosmetic identifying and developing ways to meet treatments. We offer various non-invasive their expectations. The desire to excel in procedures from injectables to different achieving results for the patient is what types of laser treatments and a wide range Continued On Page 25 drives me to work with new technologies. of cosmetic surgery procedures.

January-February 2014 23

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 25 1/24/14 4:19 PM Cover Story

Top Destination A further advantage is that all the KLCC precinct features and attractions are conveniently accessible via an air-conditioned un- derground tunnel and overhead pedestrian walkway linked directly to the Centre. The 562-metre walkway also connects the Centre to Pavilion Shopping Mall and other nearby tourist landmarks. It currently records a foot- fall of some 3.3 million each month.

At the Centre, a number of initiatives have been put in place to ensure a positive visitor experience. One example is Culinaria, an offering designed by the award-winning culinary team to highlight the Malaysia’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.

It encompasses traditional and contemporary cuisine that goes beyond standard convention centre fare, providing guests with entic- ing dishes and F&B options that meet a wide range of taste, event and dietary require- ments. A range of Culinaria promotions is planned throughout the year.

ith the MICE (Meeting Incentives choice,” says Alan Conferences & Exhibitions) market Pryor, the Cen- WidentiÀ ed as an important sector tre’s recently ap- under the Tourism NKEA of the Economic pointed General Transformation Programme, Kuala Lumpur Manager. Convention Centre is set to make a signiÀ - cant contribution to the sector. This will be “The world-class particularly the case during Visit Malaysia facilities at the Year 2014 with the Centre helping to raise Centre itself of- Malaysia’s proÀ le as the business tourism fer a number of destination of choice. advantages that help make it an In 2013, between 1 January and 30 No- attractive landing site for business tour- On the technical front, the Centre is invest- vember, the Centre hosted 1,430 events ists. These are complemented by the fact ing RM7.5 million over the next year on four and served over 1.7 million delegates and that the iconic Kuala Lumpur City Centre technology projects. These include upgrading visitors. For the coming year, the Centre precinct is literally on the doorstep.” the data centre backbone infrastructure to 10 anticipates a signiÀ cant increase in visitor Gigabytes, introducing a digital walkie-talkie The precinct offers a stimulating envi- numbers and its 2014 calendar is already system, implementing an IP (Internet Proto- ronment in which to work, visit, explore, À lling up with high proÀ le events. col) CCTV system and improving the virtual- dine, shop and enjoy. “There’s world- ised server environment for the data centre. Among these are the International Conven- class shopping, leisure and cultural action of Toastmasters International 2014, tivities right through to the memorable The upgrades will provide delegates and visi- Million Dollar Round Table 2014, Meetings & attractions that make up Malaysia’s Iconic tors with an enhanced quality AV experience Events Australia (MEA) Annual National Con- Experience in Kuala Lumpur,” he adds. and ensure faster and more stable connection ference 2014, ASEAN Federation of Cardiol- speeds. The improved infrastructure will also These attractions provide visitors with an ogy Congress 2014, 25th International Fed- provide team members with better monitor- insight into the heart and soul of the na- erate of Surveyors (FIG) Congress 2014 and ing and control mechanisms to help increase tion, making it the ideal way to start any Offshore Technology Conference Asia 2014. productivity levels. Improved video surveil- exploration of Malaysia. They include the lance capabilities with better quality video “These events will bring large numbers of PETRONAS Twin Towers, Suria KLCC Mall, coverage at more locations throughout the delegates and business visitors to Malay- Petrosains Discovery Centre, Dewan Phil- venue will enhance safety for visitors while sia, many for the À rst time. Making a good harmonic PETRONAS, Galeri PETRONAS, at the Centre. impression will be fundamental to creating Aquaria KLCC and KLCC Park to name a a lasting impact of Malaysia as a top MICE few. www.klccconventioncentre.com

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Continued From Page 23

The concept of “value for money” is quite important for this population and they start to fully understand the beneÀ ts of travelling abroad to have their procedures carried out safely and with great results. While some of these travellers are already coming to Malaysia and to BWMC, we believe in continuing to excel in delivering results and growing our excellent reputation based on the testimonies from our patients, to increase these numbers.

This is an industry in which trust and Luxury personal advice carry a lot of weight. That said, the most sought after procedures by the UK population are those where BWMC has particular expertise and is already well-known: Haven Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift, Facelift, Tummy Tuck and Liposuction We also offer the award-winning Li- and on the non-invasive side, Botox posonix Slimming Treatment. Keep- he island of Langkawi recently continued its bid and Dermal Fillers Injections. There- ing up with the latest versions of the as a high-end business and leisure destination fore, I am conÀ dent that the number treatments imparted at the Centre is Twith the ground-breaking of two new landmarks of UK health travellers arriving to Ma- a prime directive. We aim to be one – the Hotel St Regis Langkawi and Langkawi Interna- laysia will grow exponentially in the of the most sought-after beauty medi- tional Convention Centre (LICC). The two develop- next two to three years. cal centre in the region. Around 70 ments will be located adjacent to the existing Westin percent of our clients come from Aus- Hotel Resort & Spa Langkawi. The developments are At our Healthy Ageing Centre, we im- tralia, US, UK and New Zealand with scheduled for fast-track completion in time for the part knowledge and tips on how to the majority seeking treatments such ASEAN Summit due to be held in April 2015. maximise the beneÀ ts of healing and as Face Lift, Breast Augmentation, ageing gracefully with therapies, diet Tummy Tuck and Liposuction (Cosmetic Indonesia-based Rajawali Group will undertake the and exercise. Surgery) or Botox and Fillers and Laser projects with an investment of more than RM400 mil- Resurfacing (Aesthetic Medicine). lion. A sum of RM300 million is allocated to build 84 The Centre is À tted with 5-star suites suites and 11 villas for St Regis Langkawi, with the and a Day Care Centre, overlooking The latest development for us is a help of strategic partner Starwood Hotels & Resorts the Royal Selangor Golf Club course, newly opened clinic at Tropicana City Worldwide, which is operator of the luxury St Regis for clients to recover in maximum Mall, which focuses on non-invasive Hotel chain. comfort and privacy. A wide range and dermatological treatments. of dental services is also provided The group is also investing over RM100 million to build by Beverly Wilshire Dental Specialist Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre a 5,000 sq ft convention centre which can accommo- Centre at the same location. Level 6, 8 & 9, Dijaya Plaza, date up to 1,000 delegates. The company À rst started 237 Jalan Tun Razak, its investment in Langkawi in 2005 with the acqui- BWMC is the À rst medical centre in 50400 Kuala Lumpur. sition of Sheraton Perdana Resort, which was later Malaysia to offer Suction Assisted Fol- Tel: +603 2118 2888 rebranded as Westin Hotel Resort & Spa. licular Extraction and Reimplantation Email: enquiries@beverlywilshiremedi- (S.A.F.E.R), for hair transplantation. cal.com Together with the Westin, the island already offers several luxury resorts including the Andaman, Casa Del Mar, Datai, Danna, Four Seasons, Meritus Pelangi, Seri Cenang, Sheraton and Tanjung Rhu Hotels.

Tourist arrivals in Langkawi had already exceeded the target set under the Langkawi Tourism Blueprint 2011-2015 with 3.06 million visitors, the original target set for 2015. There is a view however that the island has the potential to attract additional high-end international tourists and that with selected strategic anchor investments and top-class brand names, it can become a leading nautical tourism destination. Langkawi also offers three marinas in strategic locations around the island archipelago with a range of facilities for marine tourism including cruise charters and diving.

January-FebruaryJanuary-February 2014 2014 13211125

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 27 1/24/14 4:19 PM Cover Story Winning Class

Etihad Airways is one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world. Estab- lished just ten years ago, this dynamic, multi award-winning organisation has expanded its network, increased its Á eet and formed strategic partnerships to become a global force in this highly competitive sector. We talk to Dave Walsh, General Manager Malaysia, to get the latest updates.

Etihad has introduced a number of new Etihad Airways’ guests now have the choice facilities and services during 2013 includ- of a morning or evening departure from ing double daily Á ights from Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur and shorter connection times since June and the introduction of the in Abu Dhabi to many destinations in the Check-In Desk at KL Sentral. What impact UK, Ireland and Europe. are these changes having? The introduction of a city centre check-in Dave Walsh The introduction of a second daily Á ight has service at KL Sentral Station has greatly signiÀ cantly boosted Etihad Airways’ pres- improved the travel experience for Etihad ence in the Malaysian market and has also Airways’ guests; it’s now a much easier and enhanced the airline’s offering and appeal more convenient option. to travellers. Guests can check-in at KL Sentral up to four hours before their Á ight and have their bags Award-Winning Pearl Business Class checked all the way through to their À nal destination. This enables guests to catch train to Kuala Lumpur Airport – without the burden of suitcases - and bypass check-in queues once at the airport. The journey only takes 28 minutes and the trains are frequent and reliable.

Etihad recently signed a 3-year agreement with VisitBritain. How will this roll out in the Asia PaciÀ c markets? SpeciÀ - cally SE Asia and Malaysia?

The new programme will be focused on encouraging more travellers from South East Asia to visit Britain and to Á y with Etihad Airways, of course.

The two organisations are currently working on a range of consumer and travel trade marketing activities to highlight Great Britain’s most popular attractions and to promote Etihad Airways’ Á ights to London Heathrow and Manchester.

Business Class Lounge Abu Dhabi

Etihad’s Flying Nanny Service on long haul Á ights

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À rm plans to add new destinations in the UK and Ireland in the immediate future.

Turning to your own career, what was it that made you want to join Etihad? What are your impressions of the Malaysian business scene so far and away from work what do you like to spend time doing?

I came from an airline background and had always admired Etihad Airways’ impressive

World-Leading Diamond First Class

Etihad Airways will also have a signiÀ cant experience – over and presence on VisitBritain’s digital platforms, above the technologi- including its website - VisitBritain.com. cal enhancements and features of each air- Turning to 2014, Etihad recently an- craft type. When the nounced extensive expansion plans with A380 and 787 enter new destinations added to the network. service in late 2014, How does this position Etihad in terms Etihad Airways will of global coverage vis a vis other airlines introduce its next generation product in leadership, rapid growth and the top qual- that use the Middle East as their hub? all cabins – offering Diamond First, Pearl ity service the airline delivers. So when I had the opportunity to join such a fantas- In conjunction with our partners, Etihad Business and Coral Economy Class guests a tic, world-class organisation I needed abso- Airways offers a global network of more travel experience that is truly best in class. lutely no persuasion. than 375 passenger and cargo destinations. Are there any plans to add other destina- This is more than any other Middle Eastern tions in the UK and Ireland besides Lon- I am settling into KL well and really enjoy airline. don, Manchester and Dublin? meeting and getting to know Etihad Air- ways’ loyal customers. I am looking forward We have achieved this global reach by in- Etihad Airways already has a strong pres- to getting more involved in expat commu- creasing the number of destinations we ence in the UK with its three-times-a-day nity activities and to continuing to build serve in our own right to 102 (including service to London Heathrow, twice daily Etihad Airways’ proÀ le in the Malaysian eight that will be added in 2014) and es- Á ights to Manchester, as well as many re- market. tablishing extensive codeshare partnerships gional destinations served by its codeshare with like-minded airlines across the globe. partners. Our 10 weekly services to Dublin Outside of work, my priority is family – wife and children - who are excited about the This strategy enables us to offer more in Ireland are also popular with travellers move from Ireland. I also enjoy watching Á ights to more destinations than would be from Malaysia as are connecting codeshare and playing as much sport as time and other achievable by a single airline. Á ights with our partner Aer Lingus to Cork, Shannon and Kerry County. commitments permit. I like to play Gaelic New aircraft due to be added to the Á eet football, football and golf and, since mov- in 2014 include the À rst Airbus A380s Etihad Airways is always examining oppor- ing to KL, I have enjoyed an occasional jog and 787-9 Dreamliners. What impact will tunities to expand our network but has no around KLCC park. these aircraft have on capacity and passenger experience? www.etihad.com The introduction of new, state-of-the-art aircraft will have two main beneÀ ts for travellers. First, it will increase the number of destinations we Á y to and second, increase the number of seats we offer to popular destinations such as London Heath- row and New York. The Airbus A380, for example, has the potential to nearly double the number of seats on a particular route compared to some of the aircraft we currently Á y.

The Airbus A380s and 787 Dreamliners will also have a positive impact on the guest Expanding Fleet

January-FebruaryJanuary-February 2014 2014 131127

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Singapore Solutions

Against a backdrop of growing opportunities from both traditional out- Expo with its MAX Atria wing, are all suita- bound markets including the US, Europe and Japan, and high-growth po- ble for large-scale international exhibitions and conferences. tential markets such as China and India, Singapore has set its sights on Some of Singapore’s attractions also meet ensuring that the tourism sector in the country remains competitive and the growing demand for more interesting continues to be a key contributor to the economy in the years to come. and non-traditional meeting venues and experiences outside of the conventional he Business Travel and Meetings, In- Extensive trade links also provide com- board room and hotel meeting facilities. centive Travel, Conventions and Exhi- panies with greater market connectivity Some attractions that integrate MICE facili- Tbitions (BTMICE) sector is a key con- through the reduction of tariff and non- ties together with unique leisure offerings tributor of tourism receipts. In 2012, the tariff barriers. The Republic currently has include the S.E.A. Aquarium, River Safari, number of business visitors rose to 3.35 mil- the most extensive network of free trade Gardens by the Bay, ArtScience Museum, lion, an increase of 4 per cent from 2011. agreements (FTAs) in Asia. Universal Studios Singapore, Goodman Arts Expenditure by these business visitors also Centre to name a few. rose by 2 per cent to an estimated S$5.73 Pro-Business Environment Choice in accommodation billion . Strong trade and investment makes Singa- pore the second most competitive country With more than 150 hotels and over 50,000 Why Singapore? in the world and Asia’s most competitive rooms, there is an answer to every budget (World Economic Forum’s Global Compe- and preference – from no-frills accommo- Strong Knowledge Economy tiveness Report 2013-2014). The World dation to boutique hotels, modern business Singapore's extensive global trade and Bank also ranks the Republic as the World’s hotels and luxury beach resorts. Most ho- communications networks provide market easiest place to do business (Doing Busi- tels offer fully-equipped business centres, access and trade Á ows to Asia PaciÀ c and ness 2014 Report) and the Economist Intel- meeting facilities, broadband Internet ac- the world. Singapore is also the home base ligence Unit ranks Singapore as having the cess and other conveniences for business of thought-leadership and innovation with best Business Environment in Asia PaciÀ c travellers. unique strengths in knowledge-based and and the world (EIU Country Forecast Report knowledge-driven industries such as bank- 2011). UPCOMING EVENTS ing & À nance, biomedical sciences, energy, ICT & media, energy and environment, as Singapore is also currently rated the best 12 – 16 March 2014 well as transport & security. place in Asia and 9th in the world for IP International Furniture Fair Singapore rights protection (IMD World Competitive- 1st ASEAN Furniture Show 2014 Strategic location and accessibility ness Report 2011). Similarly, the World The Décor Show 2014 Singapore is one of Asia’s main air, sea and Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Hospitality 360° telecommunications hubs with market ac- Report 2013 - 2014 ranks the island as hav- As Asia’s premier design-led furniture cess to some 3.3 billion people within a ing the best IP protection in Asia, and the and furnishings sourcing platform IFFS/ 7-hour Á ight radius. second best in the world. AFS continues to attract recurring and Positioned in the middle of the fast-grow- Variety of venues À rst time quality exhibitors with more international as well as design-brimmed ing and emerging Asia-PaciÀ c markets of State-of-the-art convention centres, exhi- afÁ uence. Close to 300 international China, India and ASEAN, business travel- bition halls, and meeting venues for MICE, companies have already registered. lers can easily convene in Singapore, with are available that suit a variety of needs more than 100 international airlines Á ying and budgets. Marina Bay Sands Expo & Con- www.IFFS.com.sg to some 250 cities in 60 countries and ter- vention Centre, Suntec Singapore Conven- www.TheDecorShow.com.sg ritories worldwide. tion & Exhibition Centre and the Singapore www.Hospitality360.com.sg

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15 – 16 May 2014 13 – 15 May 2014 1 – 3 October 2014 BLUEPRINT 2014 ASIA FASHION SUMMIT WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL The fashion trade gateway for East-West Global fashion looks to the East at the Marina Bay Sands Exchange in Asia. Currently into its 5th 5th Asia Fashion Summit in Singapore. The world’s largest festival and live awards year, BLUEPRINT specialises in launching As Asia’s premier fashion business con- competition dedicated to celebrating, Pre-Spring collections and curating fresh ference, the summit aims to provide and sharing architectural excellence from and forward menswear, womenswear an avenue for industry practitioners to across the globe. and accessories from Asia’s best emerg- analyse and understand the intricacies ing and established talents, as well as of and business opportunities in the dy- Featuring seminar and keynote programme guiding international brands looking to namic Asian fashion market. with some of the most inÁ uential and in- enter Asian markets. novative architects working today. Plus Organised by the Textile & Fashion Fed- experience the breadth of international ar- As a multi-faceted trade show, BLUE- eration (TaFf), the event provides in- chitectural excellence in the WAF Festival PRINT enjoys substantial domestic and sights and shares expert views on topics Gallery, displaying all WAF award entries. overseas buyer and media attendance that are important to fashion industry annually. professionals and retailers in Asia. Enter the WAF awards and your work is guaranteed to be seen by over 1,900 mem- A core facet of BLUEPRINT is EMPORIUM, It examines trends, addresses sector bers of the global architectural community. a two-day off-shoot of the tradeshow challenges and discusses industry best that allows consumers to partake in the practices. It provides tools that enable What’s waiting for you at WAF? gathering of designers with a massive brands and designers to elevate their Every shortlisted architect will present shopping and lifestyle event. retail experience end-to-end: from their award entry in front of WAF’s illus- turning service staff into “brand ambas- trious international judging panels, and BLUEPRINT is a key event of Singapore's sadors”, delivering more personalised you can see as many as you can À t in to fashion week known as Asia Fashion service, to engaging customers. three days! Hear the inside story on over Exchange and receives strong support 400 projects. Plus À nd out what the WAF from International Enterprise Singapore, Participants are set to gain a wealth of judges think of all À nalist schemes, includ- Spring Singapore and Singapore Tourism insights covering innovation business ing yours. Judges include Dietmar Eberle, Board. approaches, best practice and more. Jeanne Gang and Patrick Bellew. blueprint.sg www.asianfashionsummit.com www.worldarchitecturefestival.com

TURN YOUR COMPANY’S ECONOMY SEATS INTO BUSINESS CLASS FLAT BEDS

Announcing Etihad BusinessConnect, our loyalty programme for businesses that links your colleagues’ Etihad Guest accounts to an extremely generous company scheme. So while they’re racking up points for themselves, they’re also amassing them for your company, earning even more free ﬂights and upgrades. Sign your company up now and receive 5,000 miles just for registering. The only reason not to is if you really don’t like getting something for nothing. For more information, please contact Etihad Office at 603 2687 2222

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www.anyahindmarch.comFREE FLIGHTS AND MORE FOR YOUR BUSINESS November-DecemberJanuary-February 2014 2013 131123

11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 31 1/24/14 4:19 PM New Members A warm welcome to our new members!

SJ Grant Thornton Member À rm of Grant Thornton International Ltd providing assurance, tax, corporate À nance, restruc- turing and other specialist services to private and public listed companies. In 2013 named by the Inter- national Accounting Bulletin as the ‘Network of the Year. Four ofÀ ces across Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and Kuantan, and access to over 35,000 Grant Thornton people across 100 countries. Level 11, Sheraton Imperial Court, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2692 4022 Email: [email protected] www.gt.com.my Dato NK Jasani – Managing Partner

Bakhache Luxuries Sdn Bhd Unique one-stop-facility for premium brands to access the Malaysian market. Representing and managing some of the world’s leading luxury brands including: Mouawad - exclusive jewellery and timepiece collections; ChristoÁ e – prestigious French silversmith specialising in gifts, Á atware, tableware, decorative items, and jewellery; TrueÀ tt & Hill: London’s À nest traditional gentlemen’s grooming specialist and perfumier: Maison Francis Kurkdjian - International perfumier; and Facets, Gallery of Fine Jewellery. 63-2, Jalan Bangkung, Bukit Bandaraya Bangsar, 59000, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2095 5755 Fax: +603 2201 1316 Email: [email protected] www.bakhacheluxuries.com Antoine Bakhache - Managing Director

AKAL Corporate Advisors Providing a broad spectrum of corporate secretarial services including: company formation, attending meetings, provision of advice on various corporate exercises, accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, paymas- ter, work permit applications and tax advice to all private limited and public companies, foundations and foreign branches and representative ofÀ ces. AKAL chartered secretaries are associate members of Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators (MAICSA). Extensive portfolio of local counsel covering wide range of jurisdictions within Asia, Europe, Australia and USA. 43-2 Plaza Damansara, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur. Tel & Fax: +603 2011 4745/+603 2011 5745 Email: [email protected] www.akalcorporate.com Alwizah Al-YaÀ i Kamal – Founder & Managing Director

Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar Accor’s Á agship hotel for Malaysia, strategically located in Bangsar, mid-point between Kuala Lumpur city centre and Petaling Jaya, offering 513 contemporary comfortable rooms. Situated next to Menara Telekom and close to Pantai Hospital Bangsar, providing easy access to all major areas of the city via the Kerinchi Link LRT station across the road. KLIA is just 28 minutes’ away via KLIA Xpres from nearby KL Sentral Railway Station. Selection of restaurants, bars and deli, offering sociable and vibrant settings, combine with 12 meeting rooms and 2 large ballrooms with 2000-guest capacity. No.1, Jalan Pantai Jaya, Tower 3, 59200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel. +603 2298 1888 Fax: +603 2298 1999 Email: [email protected] www.pullmanhotels.com Klaus Gottschalk - General Manager

Chai-Ramsay Brand Consultants Sdn Bhd New brand consultancy specialising in brand positioning, theme and concept development, and full implementation and production across all brand/ consumer touch points; CI, theme/content creation; conventional, digital, outlet/outdoor media; PR, event and sponsorship channels. Founded by Ma- laysian Jennifer Chan and Brit Paul Loosley, who between them have some 70 years of accumulated experience in strategic planning, brand management and creative direction, providing choice, cost efÀ ciency and individu- ally tailored brand solutions. Tel: +6012 207 0578 (J Chan) +6012 283 3825 (P Loosley) Email: [email protected] Jennifer Chan Paul J Loosley Email: [email protected] Executive Director Director www.chai-ramsay.com

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4th Round Of Scholarships From Alice Smith School Enables Deserving Students To Pursue A Levels

For the fourth year running, the Alice Smith School recently awarded three full scholarships to deserving post-SPM Malaysian students, enabling them to pursue their A Level studies. The three recipients, who were selected based on a set of stringent criteria, are: Andrea Chew, who aims to go on and study Psychology; Wong Leh Theng, who has a keen interest in Art & Design; and Tee Chen Giap, who dreams of studying medicine. The scholarships run from January through to July and covers tuition fees, building levy and enrolment fee, all textbooks and materials, external exam fees and curriculum-based trips. To date, the Alice Smith School has invested in 14 young Malaysians to help them realise their full academic potential.

In addition to A’ Levels, the three will have access to the AQA Baccalaureate, a qualiÀ cation that builds on a student’s core A Level subjects, adding value through wider learning and enrichment activities. Students are required to complete 100 hours of enrichment activities in the core areas of work related learning, community participation and personal development activities. The Alice Smith School is one of the À rst schools in Asia to offer the qualiÀ cation.

Intercontinental Wins Big At HAPA Awards Provides Support To Soup Kitchen

The New Year has already ushered in good fortune for InterConti- nental Kuala Lumpur with the award of nine prestigious accolades announced during the recent Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards (HAPA) 2013 – 2015 Malaysia Series. Now in its À fth series in Malaysia, HAPA recognises and rewards the crème de la crème of the hospitality industry at all levels.

Contending alongside over 500 nominees across 13 cities in Malaysia, InterContinental was vying for awards in several categories. The sweep of awards and accolades include HAPA Hotel of the Year - Extraordinary Stay – Best 5; General Manager of the Year, Ambassador of Hospitality: Phil Riley – Best 5; 5-Star Hotel, Exceptional Experience – Best 5; F&B Personal- ity, Champion of Innovation: Mr. Conor Hadlington – Best 5; and King of Kitchens, Ambas- sador of Cuisine: Executive Chef Darrell O’Neill – Best 10.

The Hotel also won big in the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia International Golden Chef Cooking Competition 2013, with Chef Lim Vee Kee scooping the Special Gold Medal with his winning dish of Pheonix Oriental Cod Fillet. His colleagues Chef Lim Swee Lee and Chef Foo Se Tong each won the Gold Medal with their creative dishes.

In other news, a team of volunteers from the Hotel joined forces with local charity Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) to provide food to the city’s homeless. Wholesome vegetarian meals and freshly baked gingerbread and raisin cookies were prepared by the Hotel’s chefs.

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More Shared Services Hubs Likely In Malaysia Says Survey

According to the latest annual Global Salary Survey 2014 from international recruiter Robert Walters, recruitment in Malaysia is likely to remain active with the entrance of more shared services hubs in the country. In particular, accounting and À nance and IT professionals will see increased opportunities.

Sally Raj, Country Manager of Robert Walters Malaysia, says: “With continu- University Of Nottingham ing government initiatives to improve Launches Research Entity the infrastructure, Malaysia has become an ideal business environment for The University of Nottingham Malaysia an increasing number of multinationals. Campus recently launched Nottingham This is likely to drive competition be- MyResearch Sdn Bhd. This is the À rst tween À rms for the best talent. company, owned by a private univer- “In order to fulÀ l the demand for qual- sity, to receive MIDA R&D status and ity Malaysian professionals, we can enables Malaysian companies to invest look towards the government’s efforts in Research & Development in a very to bring overseas nationals home. This tax-efÀ cient way. group of candidates with international The launch was marked by a number exposure is expected to raise standards of keynote talks by Professor Christine as well as impart technology and in- Ennew (left), CEO & Provost of Malaysia Campus and Pro-vice Chancellor of dustry knowledge to the current work- University of Nottingham, Ms Manjit Kaur - Senior Deputy Director, R&D Design force.” Division, MIDA, and Professor Graham Kendall (above right), CEO of Nottingham Figures from the survey suggest that on MyResearch and Nottingham MyRIAD and Vice-Provost, Research & Knowledge average, professionals who secure new Exchange, Malaysia Campus. positions will expect a whopping 20-30 Professor Kendall, said, “This is the À rst time that a company owned by a pri- percent salary increment in 2014. While vate university has been granted MIDA R&D status. We are now looking forward those who remain in their current em- to working with a wide range of companies, who wish to access university ex- ployment can anticipate a 5-7 percent pertise. Companies are also able to beneÀ t from the double taxation beneÀ ts pay increase in line with GDP. that a MIDA company provides. The University on the other hand is able to work As Malaysia increases focus on becom- on an exciting variety of real world problems that can inform both our research ing a global leader in Islamic banking, and teaching.” professionals with a proven track re- Contact: [email protected] or [email protected] cord in this area will À nd new opportunities. In IT, the areas most likely to see impressive growth include big data, cloud services, mobility and social com- Head Of Treaty puting. Appointed At HLAP Among FMCG companies, increased Andrew Harris has been appointed as Head of Treaty opportunities for sales and branding at HLAP Limited. Prior to joining HLAP, Andrew was professionals are anticipated as com- CEO of Guy Carpenter in Singapore, and more recent- panies seek strong commercial talent ly Director of Huntington Partners, Singapore, where to launch new brands or categories in a he has expanded his areas of expertise to include highly-competitive market. Mergers & Acquisitions transactions in the Insurance sector across the region. In manufacturing, companies focusing on operational efÀ ciency will require Andrew brings with him a full 30 years of Reinsur- people with skills and experience in ance experience specialising in Treaty Reinsurance continuous improvement, lean and programme design and placement. He is also a regular speaker in the region on project management. And in HR, hir- “Catastrophe Risk Management”. ing managers will seek candidates with experience in employer branding, com- Andrew’s appointment will mainly be focused on improving HLAP’s business pro- pensation and beneÀ ts as well as talent À le specialising in all classes of Treaty Reinsurance business with clients. management.

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Othere

Weekend Wind Down With Best Western BBQ Sensation

Hugo’s on 6 at the Best Western Dua Sentral is the place to head for a weekend wind down. Stylish décor, landscaped gardens and views over the city across an inÀ nity pool – all conducive to a relaxing start to the weekend while enjoying a selection of fresh seafood, succulent meats and much more; all marinated and grilled to perfection. BBQ Sensation from 6.30pm to 10.00pm at RM70.00++ per person. Live entertainment from 9.30pm onwards.

After supper, call in at Punch Bar & Lounge offering an extensive range of cocktails, specialty spirits, wines, international beers and non-alco- holic beverages in a modern, yet intimate and relaxing setting. Or ad- journ to the Grand Trinidad Cigar Divan with its wide range of cigars from the best craftsmen. Tel: +603 2272 8888 www.bestwesternmalaysia.com

New Appointments At Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has announced a series of appointments in management and sales positions. Former Deputy General Manager Alan Pryor becomes General Manager Designate taking over the helm from Datuk Peter Brokenshire who retires at the end of March 2014 after 11 years with the Centre. Before joining the Centre in 2011, Pryor was Director of Operations at the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC).

Joining the Centre to take up the role of Deputy General Manager is Simon Lomas, with responsibility for day-to-day operations of the Centre including managing AV and technical services, catering, event co-ordination and exhibition services as well as international, regional and local promotional activities. Prior to joining the Centre, Lomas was four years with the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia’s largest business events venue,

In Conventions & Conferences, Oh Kin Tat has been appointed as Sales Man- ager with responsibility for capturing the business tourism segment. Oh has over 17 years’ experience in the hospitality industry including more than 10 years in the business tourism division of a À ve-star hotel.

And in Meetings & Events, Thien Tsen Kiat has been appointed as TenOnCall Sales Manager. TenOnCall provides a combined space of 10 Á exible meeting rooms for 15 to 150 guests. A graduate of Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, Thien has over 14 years’ experience in Corporate Sales from retail, Top Left: Alan Pryor Top Right: Simon Lomas telecommunications and more recently, food & beverage, industries. Above Left: Oh Kin Tat Above Right: Thien Tsen Kiat

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Leadership Changes At GIS New Heads for Secondary & Primary

After seven years of leadership for both the Sec- ondary and Primary Schools of Garden International School, Graham Wilson and Neil Smith will be leaving in July 2014 for pastures new. During their tenure, signiÀ cant advances have been made in the ed- ucational model being provided at GIS, focusing on skills development, a critical element in life today.

Taking over as the new Head of Secondary is Dr Nicola Mason who joined GIS in 2009 as the Head of Science. Dr Mason holds a PhD in Pa- thology (Medicine) from Imperial College University of London. She was appointed as Deputy Head - Curriculum in 2011.

Colter Watt has been appointed as the new Head of Primary. Originally from the US, Colter has taught in London and led primary schools in Shanghai. He is currently the Head of Primary at the British School Warsaw in Poland.

Both Dr Mason and Mr Watt will continue to build on the work of their predecessors in main- taining Garden International School as one of the leading British schools in Asia, developing new opportunities for every student.

The latest collection from British handbag designer Anya Hindmarch is literally inspired by space, planets, mineral formations and weightlessness. “I took my inspiration partly from a levitating mag- netic toy that I found in Tokyo airport!” says the iconic designer.

Titled Out Of This World, the Spring/Summer 2014 range features deconstructed mod- Out Of This World Collection els to optimise functionality From Anya Hindmarch and weightlessness. The season sees signature styles reworked through evolved technologies, while also introducing new families to the fold in white, pale blue, clementine, mustard, grey and London blue with pops of orange, yellow and burgundy – the colour palette for SS14.

The Albion comes in three forms (clutch, hobo and top handle) in white, light blue capra, natural or clementine python. The Featherweight Ebury and drawstring Vaughn feature gorgeous capra skins with vivid contrasting linings.

And in a humorous touch, everyday items have been reworked into luxury pieces. The Crisp Packet - a solid metal and me- tallic piece molded to resemble a slightly crushed crisp wrapper while Imperial Clutches are crafted as matchboxes made of solid brass overlaid and printed.

Stores at KLCC Suria & Pavilion Tel: +603 2382 0877

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11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 36 1/24/14 4:20 PM Insights

“Malaysia’s economy remains strong and companies continue to grow, which is keeping the recruitment market active,” said Chris Mead, Regional Director of Hays in Ma- laysia & Singapore. “In the year ahead, vacancy activity is tipped to increase and employers will place precedence on candidates with experience gained in true MNCs. The contract market will continue to evolve, while we’ll see a general acceptance of the value of language skills and understanding people in their own language.

“A big area of growth in 2014 will be crossover roles – as the technology, marketing and À nance worlds integrate it will be key to À nd people who can move across all sec- 10 Talent Trends For 2014 tors, with multilevel knowledge. Also the ability to har- Working out which Big Data skills are actually needed ness the whole notion of social media will be important, and better understanding of social media as a channel to the point where it is not an add-on but is seamlessly are just two of the top talent trends that will shape incorporated into the main game,” said Chris. Malaysia’s recruitment landscape in 2014, says Hays.

Big Data Dilemma: The desire to process Business analysis is another example where attract and engage with the right talent at huge amounts of data in near real-time will professionals have a functional background the right time.” drive innovation for how data can be har- and in-depth knowledge of their industry Staff Retention: Employers are often nessed to inform business and marketing and company, but also need to translate re- blind to the cause of staff turnover and in opportunities. quirements in technical areas. As a result, marketing and À nance professionals will 80 per cent of cases an employee chooses In 2014, there will be increased demand need to enhance their technology skills to to leave due to the job itself, pay and con- for IT Project Managers and Business Ana- remain competitive. ditions or work relationships – all issues lysts who are involved in data manipulation employers can do something about. As em- projects. ‘Data Scientists’ will also be in Skills Shortage Catch-22: High-level ployees become more conÀ dent and start increasing demand; the Harvard Business skilled professionals are likely to be in short to explore their options in the jobs market, Review named the role ‘the sexiest job of supply in 2014. Unemployment is very low employers will really need to turn their fo- the 21st century’ since these professionals and employers continue to struggle to at- cus back to retention.” can recognise patterns in data from multi- tract highly skilled and experienced people. Aptitude for Learning: Globalisation, ple sources and then make observations and MNC Experience Valued: Employers in the shift towards a knowledge economy predictions, crucial to business success. Malaysia will look for candidates with ex- and the sheer pace of technological change Mobile App Development: The in- perience gained in true MNCs. They prefer are creating a need for employees who can creased usage of tablet-based applications such candidates over those with solely Ma- learn and respond to both their employer’s and the associated user experience is driv- laysian business experience as they believe and the market’s changing demands. With ing demand for strong JavaScript Devel- they possess better communication skills, this in mind, candidates should not only opers, particularly those with HTML5 and are more commercially minded and can cre- meet the required technical and soft skills CSS3 skills for web development. Very few ate a stronger success-based environment. for a role, but also possess an aptitude and candidates combine both elements and are desire for learning. Evolution of Contract Jobs: The con- therefore able to build complete systems. tract market in Malaysia will continue to Borderless: “In our global economy the Given insatiable customer demand for apps grow in response to the recognition of the world is becoming borderless and in order and an improved user experience, this skills value of this method of engagement. to achieve career development people are shortage will become a more pressing con- willing to change countries more readily. cern in 2014. Resourcing digital & social strategies: With this in mind speaking another lan- As conÀ dence returns to the jobs market, Technology’s Integration: In 2014 tech- guage is a hugely important business skill, the candidate is again ‘king’ however most nology will no longer sit in the domain of and it will only become more so in future. organisations are yet to fully embrace digi- the CTO or CIO, but will instead integrate tal and social media effectively when it For those looking to move up, these skills with both marketing and À nance. This inte- comes to recruitment. and the cultural intelligence they often gration will see staff in these departments come with are equally indispensable for become jointly responsible for outcomes. It The expectation is that a presence and today’s global executives and the organisa- will create a need for people with multilev- activity on social media such as posting a tions they lead. The insight to understand el hybrid knowledge. Meanwhile marketing job is enough, but the commitment and people on their own terms and in their own analytics professionals use modelling and resources that are really needed to build language will be increasingly valued in the analytics practices to improve their market- effective relationships is vastly underesti- years ahead,” notes Chris. ing outcomes. mated by most, making it very difÀ cult to

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11592_BMCC_Jan-Feb_2014.indd 37 1/24/14 4:20 PM On The Social Scene Getting Festive

he air was buzzing with chatter. The sound of young voices singing Christmas carols Tdrifted across the foyer. Guests were were milling around catching up with contacts and avidly eyeing the desirable items in the Lucky Draw. And the Ballroom looked stunning. Over 500 guests had arrived to enjoy a very special occasioni ini theth BMCCBMMCC Calendar: The BMCC Annual Corporate Christmas Luncheon!

With everyone À nally settled at their appointed table, the festivities began with a carol performance by the children of the Alice Smith School. Then it was time for our Chairman Dato Larry Gan to take to the stage and share some interesting insights with the assembled crowd, in particular the latest news from a certain football team... !

Our venue partner, Mandarin Oriental KL, excelled on every level. Tra- ditional Christmas fare was presented with a delicious contemporary twist and the service was impecca- ble.Then from out of the darkness came a voice, an incredible voice, followed by another voice and another - voices that almost lifted the roof off. What was happening? The guests were being treated to a sneak preview of Seussical Jr’s Musical by the incredibly talented EnÀ niti Acad- emy. Wow!

The excitement continued further still with the Prize Draw and the lucky winners were genuinely thrilled with the fantastic prizes being handed out. Hampers À lled with luxury items, exclusive timepieces, a weekend motoring experience and the icing on the cake: return Á ights for two to London with Etihad Airways!

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A number of guests took advantage of the festive spirit to at- tend the After Party later. The following week, the BMCC team visited our chosen charity homes, Rumah HOPE, Rumah Kebaji- kan Kanak-Kanak Home of Peace and Rumah Keluarga Kami to distribute the beautifully wrapped gifts brought by the guests. The smiles on the children’s faces were the best present ever!

Finally, a huge thank to our Diamond Sponsors, Standard Char- tered Bank, Amcorp Berhad and Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur and Platinum Sponsors DHL Malaysia, Talent Corp and Safeguards G4S for their great support in making this event possible.

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DIAMOND SPONSORS:

PLATINUM SPONSORS:

PRIZE SPONSORS:

SCHMIDT MARKETING

VENUE PARTNER:

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