In the news: Malaysia Airlines returns to Kota Kinabalu, Agora Place Asakusa’s special services for Muslim guests, Pan Pacific debuts in Myanmar

MAS reinstates Kota Kinabalu as its eastern hub

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has reintroduced direct flights to Narita International Airport, Tokyo, from Kota Kinabalu, reopening Sabah’s capital city as its eastern hub.

The thrice-weekly Kota Kinabalu-Tokyo flight resumed operations on October 28, with services on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

MAS is using the Boeing B737-800 aircraft with a two-class configuration with 144 economy class seats and 16 business class seats for this route.

“Malaysia Airlines had previously suspended various routes flying out of Kota Kinabalu to the Far East. The suspension was part of our network consolidation involving single-aisle aircraft operations,” said MAS’ group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.

“As promised, we reviewed the decision and, with market demand, have decided to reinstate this route. We are confident that this route will serve us well and at the same time be a valuable addition for our customers,” he added.

Ahmad Jauhari also said the new service will support the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 campaign.

Special services for Muslim guests at Agora Place Asakusa

The 145-room Agora Place Asakusa in Tokyo has a unique concept known as “Style My Stay”. Instead of crowding rooms with amenities and gadgets, it offers simple, basic-service rooms and a range of items for purchase or rental at the lifestyle shop on the lobby floor from which guests can select just the things they want and personalise their stay.

The hotel has now made this popular accommodation style more available to Muslim travellers by offering halal-certified products and other services tailored to their religious needs.

It also rents, free of charge, prayer rugs and iPads with an app indicating the direction of Mecca, and provide information about halal restaurants, grocery stores and mosques in Tokyo. Certified halal food items include Japanese green tea and rice crackers. .

All the hotel’s staff have completed halal training, supervised by Malaysia Halal Corporation Co. Ltd, which covers the basic tenets of Islam, proper manners when welcoming Muslim guests, and Muslim travellers’ customs.

The hotel’s shop also offers souvenir products that meet Muslims’ health and safety requirements,

Agora Place Asakusa, which is managed by AGORA Hospitalities Co. Ltd, plans to expand the “Style My Stay” concept to cater to the cultural compatibility of guests from every part of the world, said its general manager, Kageaki Jojima.

Pan Pacific debuts in Myanmar with joint venture hotel

Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) will open the 348-room Pan Pacific Yangon to mark the brand’s debut in Myanmar in 2016

The company has entered into a conditional joint venture with Shwe Taung Group (STG), one of Myanmar’s leading corporations in real estate and infrastructure development, to develop the first Pan Pacific hotel in Myanmar. The partnership will also see Pan Pacific manage the hotel.

STG has the majority stake in the JV with 60% share, Pan Pacific 20%, with the remaining 20% held by City Square Pte Ltd.

Pan Pacific Yangon will be part of a mixed-use development that also comprises serviced apartments, retail and office spaces. It is strategically located along Shwedagon Pagoda Road and Bogyoke Aung San Road in the heart of Yangon city centre.

The hotel group already has a presence in Myanmar where it owns and has been operating the PARKROYAL Yangon for the past 12 years.

In addition to Pan Pacific Yangon, the Group also signed two management agreements for PARKROYAL resorts in Bogor (opening 2015) and Bali (opening 2016), paving the way for the brand’s debut in Indonesia.