Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has made four general manager appointments across its portfolio of luxury properties in Asia-Pacific.
Taking the helm at Anantara Quy Nhon Villas and sister property Avani Quy Nhon Resort, both in central Vietnam, is Sarah Moya, who holds more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. Moya’s career started in her native Philippines where she climbed the sales and marketing ladder to lead teams for Hyatt, first in Manila and then on to Siem Reap in Cambodia.
Her journey continued at the Shinta Mani Luang Prabang hotel before joining Anantara in 2018 as general manager of Anantara Angkor Resort in Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Pitak “Chin” Norathepkitti, a Thai-born part-time university lecturer, joins Anantara Angkor Resort from Sofitel Luang Prabang and 3 Nagas Luang Prabang, both in Laos, where he rose through the ranks to become cluster general manager. Prior to his new role, Chin held various executive management positions in sales and business development at several luxury hotels in his hometown of Bangkok.
Over in Thailand, Emanuel Grosch has stepped into his new role at Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort. His journey with Anantara began in 2019 as resort manager of Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort in the Thai capital, before travelling south to Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort.
An international hospitality professional with 15 years’ experience in upscale and luxury hotels and resorts, Grosch has also spent time learning the ropes under Capella Group.
Finally, Stephan Moonen joins the flagship resort Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort in Sri Lanka, after a 10-year journey with Marriott Hotels in the UK. Moonen started his 15-year career in F&B in his native country, the Netherlands, and has since taken on leadership roles for global brands in rooms and F&B, gaining experience in Europe, China and the Middle East.
Domestic travel across Malaysia will be prohibited from January 13 to 26 in a bid to arrest the rising number of Covid-19 infections, with potential for extension subject to risk assessments before the ban expires.
Besides a ban on interstate travel, social activities involving mass gatherings will also not be allowed in all states except for Sarawak and Perlis – two states that have recorded fewer number of new infections. Social gatherings in the two states will be subjected to strict standard operating procedures.
Face-to-face business events will be temporarily impacted too.
Residents of Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Sabah as well as the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya will face further inter-district travel restrictions as these regions are regarded as “high risk states” and healthcare services are almost stretched to their limits.
The Movement Control Order (MCO) enforced on these states and the Federal Territories will be similar to the strict conditions imposed from March 18 to May 4, 2020, where residents were only allowed to move within 10km of their home and only two people were allowed to travel to purchase groceries.
In a televised address to the nation, Malaysia prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the government had decided to take these strict measures to break the chain of transmission of Covid-19 infection, thus reducing the number of daily positive cases to a more manageable level.
He said that the country’s healthcare system was “at breaking point”.
“In the Klang Valley, the rate of ICU bed use for Covid-19 patients at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and the University of Malaya Medical Centre had reached 100 per cent while at the Sungai Buloh Hospital it has reached 83 per cent. The rate of use of ICU beds for Covid-19 patients in Perak, Selangor, Melaka, Terengganu and Sarawak has exceeded 70 per cent,” he elaborated.
Malaysia reported 2,232 new Covid-19 infections on January 11, 2021, and four fatalities, bringing the death toll nationwide to 555.
While travel and tourism leaders expressed understanding for the need to curb infections, they also urged the government to appreciate the resulting impact on an already distressed industry.
Malaysian Association of Hotels CEO, Yap Lip Seng, said: “We need to stress on the need for the government to make the right decision in balancing lives (and) livelihood. With the…MCO implementations, businesses are again expected to lose all revenue streams.
“The government must support the industry and its people. With little or no revenue, businesses will not be able to retain its people, will not be able to pay salaries, and will have no option but to let go of its employees.”
Yap underlined the urgent need for a wage subsidy structure of 50 per cent for employees within a pay structure of RM4,000 (US$988) and 30 per cent for those earning up to RM8,000.
Malaysia Budget Hotel Association national deputy president, Sri Ganesh Michiel, also urged government understanding and assistance.
Meanwhile, Uzaidi Udanis, president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, advised members to adapt to the new situation, pivot their businesses towards digitalisation, and step up on hygiene procedures to rebuild customer confidence.