SABAH’S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY FIESTA

INSPECTING ....Datuk Masidi Manjun inspecting a pastry showpiece with Datuk Wong Khen Thau.

By : SHALINA R

“CELEBRATING the Hospitality Workforce in Sabah” is the theme of this year’s 15th Sabah Hospitality Fiesta (SHF) held at Karamunsing Complex on the 3rd and 4th November recently. This annual gastronomy event was organized by the Asian Tourism International College (ATIC) on its own this year.

Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau, CEO of ATIC, said that the turn up in terms of participation this year is the highest and largest ever. Replacing the hotel category with the professional category has allowed budget hotels, boutique hotels, bakeries and stand-alone restaurants to participate. Bunga Raya island Resort and Spa, The Sutera Harbour Resorts and Spa, Sabah’s Shangri-La hotels, Party Play Lifestyle Café and The English Tea House & Restaurant make up some of the 17 organizations participating in the Professional Category for 2012.

The overall Challenge trophy for the hotel category and college category has been removed this year. Cosmopoint College Kota Kinabalu, ATIC and Chef Siew Cake Art & Culinary Sdn Bhd are just some of the total of 8 organizations participating in the College Category this time around.

ATIC has long been raising awareness on the importance of the hospitality industry in parents and young adults. Wong holds the view that this industry along with the tourism industry has great potential to develop, but many industry players have overlooked the importance of developing the essential group of dedicated professionals and personnel who deliver the service.

Echoing Wong’s sentiments, guest of honor Datuk Masidi Manjun, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment said improving the benchmark in all these services is important as Sabah is becoming a popular destination for international travellers.

Masidi said, “All hotels and private colleges that provide courses in hospitality industry will compete to make the best presentation.” He added, “This to some extent has helped increase the quality of food at the restaurants, especially in Sabah.” The event aims to draw out the best local talents in the industry and provide a platform for them to showcase their talent.

The fiesta is also an avenue for young aspiring talents to gain experience and rub shoulders with the more seasoned veterans. The Minister advised, ”Getting a diploma or degree is one thing but that does not guarantee that you will be a good cook. It’s up to you to add value to your academic qualification.”Acknowledging that there is room for improvement in this industry, he urged the future candidates to make full use of what has been learnt by doing practical application of the knowledge that has been gained.

Jason Justin, 19 year old Sabah Skills & Technology Centre (SSTC) culinary arts student, certainly values the opportunity to be one of the eight to represent his institution.

As the event also provides a platform for professionals and students to meet in one location, he savors the rare experience of watching the professionals in action live. The first time participant said, “You get to observe how they organise themselves for their culinary presentation. “If given the opportunity, I will definitely participate again next year," Jason said.

Jason has developed a taste for cooking since he was a young boy. His mother was his first teacher. The Penampang boy plans to pursue a culinary arts degree and hopefully garner enough experience to open his very own restaurant in the future. He aspires to invent new delectable dishes based on Sabah’s diverse local cuisine and plans to serve this in his future restaurants. (Insight Sabah)