Latest news with #ASR)Festival2025
The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sony's 2025 music talent showdown in KL via a karaoke contest will see the winner walk away with a one-year contract
The Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) Festival 2025 has officially kicked off at Central Town, MyTOWN KL Shopping Centre, transforming the heart of Kuala Lumpur into a vibrant hub of entertainment, travel perks, and lifestyle experiences. And the search for the best singing talent is on. A major draw for this year's festival is the Sony Music Talent Showdown, where aspiring singers compete live via karaoke, and the winner will have the opportunity to sign a one-year recording contract with Sony Music Malaysia. The singing competition will begin during the preliminaries on Saturday (July 26), and the final round will be held on Sunday. According to Sony Music Entertainment Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Special Projects South-East Asia Managing Director Kenny Ong, the recording contract is a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for aspiring singers where the company will handle everything from songwriting, song recording, to marketing and promotions. 'If the winner performs during that period, we might consider extending the contract,' Ong said during the festival launch. "This is a ground where we welcome Malaysians to show off their talent and at the same time get a chance to make a name for themselves with Sony," said Kenny. Veteran singer Naqiu is aomg the top judges for the singing competition. For the record, veteran singer Naqiu is also one of the chief judges for the singing competition. Besides the once-in-a-lifetime singing competition, the ASR Festival 2025 also offers a lot for shopping fans, Running from July 24 to 27, the four-day celebration promises a dynamic blend of live music, exclusive hotel deals, interactive activities and prize giveaways — all with free admission. Organised by Ascott Malaysia, the festival is a highlight on the city's lifestyle calendar, attracting families, music lovers and savvy travellers alike. This year's event sees major collaborations with Sony Music Malaysia, CIMB, Astro Rocketfuel, ShopBack and Jaecoo by Weststar, making it one of the most exciting editions to date. Meanwhile, during the festival celebration period, mallgoers will also be entertained by performances from popular local artists, including Naqiu, Wany Hasrita, Kidd Santhe, Vanessa Reynauld, and Yulia, offering a front-row seat to Malaysia's rising musical talents. In keeping with Ascott's hospitality focus, the festival features unbeatable travel promotions across its brands in Malaysia and South-East Asia. Shoppers can unlock exclusive room deals, bonus rewards and flash sales, with additional perks available to ASR members. For non-members, on-site sign-ups unlock instant access to benefits like priority bookings, bonus points and giveaways. Area General Manager Central Malaysia Sharon Ang described the festival as 'a celebration of lifestyle, community and travel', adding that the event reflects Ascott's vision of making travel more rewarding and accessible. 'Whether you're discovering new destinations or discovering new talent, the ASR Festival is where those journeys begin,' she said during the festival launch on July 24. Beyond music and travel, Ang highlighted that ASR Festival 2025 delivers a fun-filled experience with interactive games, hourly lucky draws and a merchandise pop-up. The excitement peaks during the 'Happy Hour Sales', where festival-goers can snag limited-time deals and surprise rewards.
The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Ascott Star Rewards Festival 2025 promises a great time with live music, lifestyle rewards
KUALA LUMPUR: Great travel deals, equally amazing live music and even lifestyle rewards await MyTown Shopping Centre visitors this weekend at the Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) Festival 2025. The free-for-all festival from July 24 to July 27 from 10am to 9.30pm daily, will see visitors blown away by breathtaking live performances from renowned local artistes throughout the weekend. Visitors will be able to catch the performances of big names like Naqiu, Wany Hasrita, Wany Kayrie, Afifi Tirmizie, HOW1E, Kidd Santhe, Vanessa Reynauld, Yulia and Ara Johari. Organised by Ascott Malaysia, the festival will also see aspiring musicians compete in a karaoke contest with the winner walking away with a real music recording contract from Sony Music Entertainment. 'Sony Music will assist in writing and creating a song for the contest winner as well as help in the production and distribution of the song once it is complete. 'If it goes well, we plan to also sign a longer contract with the winner to help them achieve their dreams in the industry,' said Song Music Entertainment Malaysia managing director Kenny Ong during the ASR festival launch ceremony on Thursday (July 24). Travel lovers will also find a variety of amazing travel deals which include exclusive room offers of up to 40% off for all Ascott hotels in Malaysia and our Southeast Asia neighbours like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines and Indonesia. Those who make bookings at the event will also be treated to a free cash wind chamber mini-game where they stand a chance to take home instant cash prizes. The same offers will also be available for online booking three days after the festival is over from July 28 to July 30. The exclusive deals at participating hotels will only be for the staying period of between July 21 this year until March 31 next year. Visitors may also look out for exclusive lifestyle rewards from major partners at the event including CIMB, ASTRO Rocketfuel, ShopBack and Jaecoo by Weststar. Visitors will also be able to sign up for the ASR loyalty programme on-site or online to enjoy even more exclusive benefits at the festival like room discounts, bonus points, priority bookings and special giveaways. Other activities like interactive games, flash mob performances, lucky draw sessions, and even happy hour sales will be available for visitors to enjoy throughout the four-day festival. 'Whether you're dreaming of your dream holiday, exploring new lifestyle perks, or even just looking to enjoy great music, the ASR Festival invites you to Travel Your Way,' said The Ascott Limited area general manager (Malaysia and Sabah, Sarawak) Sharon Ang at the launch ceremony.
The Star
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Travel deals, rewards and more at Ascott Star Rewards Festival 2025
THE Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) Festival 2025 is set to transform MyTown Shopping Centre into a playground for travel lovers, music fans and lifestyle seekers. Organised by Ascott Malaysia, the four-day festival will take place from July 24-27, from 10am to 9.30pm daily. It will bring together the best of hospitality, entertainment and exclusive lifestyle rewards, with major partners including MyTown Shopping Centre, CIMB, Sony Music, Astro's Rocketfuel Entertainment, ShopBack and Jaecoo by Weststar. The ASR Festival will host a series of engaging events and activities such as flash mobs, lucky draw sessions, happy hour sales, a karaoke competition by Sony Music and a human chamber game, where individuals can grab as much flying money as they can within 10 seconds. With free admission, visitors can also catch live performances by local artistes, including Naqiu, Wany Hasrita, Wany Kayrie, Afifi Tirmizie, HOW1E, Kidd Santhe, Vanessa Reynauld, Yulia and Ara Johari. For the first time ever, the festival, in collaboration with Sony Music Malaysia, will host a live music showcase and talent competition, where contestants will battle it out to be the lucky winner of a real music recording contract. Travel rewards Apart from the musical festivities, visitors can enjoy a slew of travel deals, rewards and perks at the festival. Among these exclusive offers are the best room deal sales across Ascott hotels in Malaysia and South-East Asia, rewards from CIMB, ShopBack and Jaecoo, and nightly happy hour sales. There will even be interactive games, hourly giveaways and an Ascott merchandise pop-up stand. Once a purchase has been made on-site, visitors will get the opportunity to play the human chamber game. Among the participating hotels with enticing room deals are Iyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur, Domitys Bangsar Kuala Lumpur, Fox Hotel Glenmarie Shah Alam and Oakwood Hotel and Residence Kuala Lumpur. A pet-friendly lifestyle hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Iyf Chinatown offers a range of fun, spacious and functional rooms, ideal for independent, experience-led travellers. Domitys Bangsar, on the other hand, offers thoughtfully designed senior-friendly residences, ensuring comfort, safety and an active lifestyle for those who enjoy world-class services. Meanwhile, the cosy rooms and suites at Fox Hotel Glenmarie in Shah Alam are curated to meet the needs of modern business travellers, featuring plush bedding, ergonomic workstations and a fully equipped business centre. Finally, situated in the heart of KL's business district along Embassy Row on Jalan Ampang, Oakwood Hotel and Residence Kuala Lumpur offers 251 elegantly furnished rooms and serviced apartments for business, leisure travellers and families seeking a tranquil sanctuary amidst a bustling cityscape. The exclusive deals at participating hotels are for staying periods from July 21 to March 31, 2026. Festival-goers can make bookings during the event at MyTown Shopping Centre from July 24-27. For post-festival bookings, interested individuals can make reservations from July 28-30. Ascott Star Rewards Visitors are encouraged to sign up for the ASR loyalty programme on-site or online to enjoy exclusive benefits at the festival, such as room discounts, bonus points, priority bookings and special giveaways. To sign up as an ASR member online, click here. So, whether you're dreaming of a beach escape, a break from the city or simply exploring new lifestyle perks, Ascott Malaysia invites you to 'Travel Your Way' and experience the ASR Festival 2025. For event updates, visit
