Latest news with #StephaneThong
The Star
23-05-2025
- The Star
Malaysia ranks high in numerous categories in 'best in Asia' list
Be it family-friendly attractions, scenic stays or wonderful dining options, Malaysia has a wide range of experiences that is sure to delight every type of traveller. This unsurprisingly results in Malaysia leading the Asia-focused categories of '2025 Global Rankings'. Named the best in a total of 19 categories, ranging from accommodations to nightlife, the country boasts several establishments that received multiple recognitions. The popular island of Langkawi in Kedah earns repeat mentions for its hotels and villas, as well as its Underwater World attraction. Langkawi was also named one of 'Asia's best coastal destinations'. The only other place in Malaysia crowned best coastal destination is Semporna, a scenic seaside town in Sabah's east coast. Meanwhile, the state's capital city Kota Kinabalu joins Semporna, Langkawi, Melaka and Kuala Lumpur in the 'best destinations' category. Understandably, KL, being the capital of Malaysia, draws many visits from local and foreign tourists alike. Many of its attractions and restaurants are highlighted in the rankings. Some of the categories that the city appears in are 'best family-friendly destinations' (the only Malaysian spot in this category), 'best nightlife (bars)', 'best gourmet hotels', and 'best things to do'. The latter includes PETRONAS Twin Towers, which was also recognised under 'Asia's best night attractions'. 'It's truly exciting to see Malaysian establishments being recognised across so many categories in this year's 2025 Global Rankings,' Stephane Thong, general manager of Malaysia, said in a press statement. 'From family-friendly hotels and scenic resorts to local culinary gems and iconic attractions, this recognition reflects the richness and diversity of our travel offerings. 'We hope this not only inspires Malaysians to rediscover local favourites but also encourages more international travellers to explore what Malaysia has to offer – especially as we gear up for Visit Malaysia 2026,' Thong added. Updated annually, is a signature collection of curated travel rankings by the international one-stop travel service provider The rankings are based on an AI-driven analysis that combines expert insights with user data, which includes verified user ratings, reviews and booking trends. Aside from Asia, the rankings also focus on other parts of the world. Global highlights include luxury and experiential stays (Paris in France, Tokyo in Japan, and New York in the United States lead the 'global 100 luxury hotels' list) and dining as part of the journey. Paris, New York, Singapore and Bangkok top the fine dining lists. Seasonal experiences, such as autumn foliage viewing and water-themed fun are now featured in the new categories Fall Views and Water Fun, due to travellers' growing interest in them. Family travel continues to thrive, with world-class resorts like Atlantis Sanya in China and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan being named among the best 'global family-friendly destinations'. Theme parks like Walt Disney World (US), Universal Studios Japan and Shanghai Disney Resort remain popular on the 'global best things to do' list. Another highlight is the 'Destinations For The Months' feature, which helps travellers plan the best seasonal itineraries, such as heading for Kyoto in winter or Seoul in spring. Malaysia offers theme parks and aquariums that are ranked as the best family-friendly attractions in Asia. — Legoland Malaysia/Facebook Top recognised Malaysian establishments in the 2025 (Asia) list Best luxury hotels: The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, Kedah Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Kedah One&Only Desaru Coast, Johor (now permanently closed) Best family hotels: Legoland Malaysia Hotel, Johor Club Med Cherating Beach, Pahang Parkroyal Langkawi Resort Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur Parkroyal Penang Resort Best scenic hotels: The St Regis Langkawi The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort, Terengganu Anantara Desaru Coast Resort, Johor The Danna Langkawi Best cultural hotels: The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang Cheong Fatt Tze, Penang Most Instagrammable hotels: The Luma Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Best villas: The Datai Langkawi Four Seasons Resort, Langkawi Ambong Pool Villas Langkawi Best things to do: PETRONAS Twin Towers Legoland Malaysia KL Hop-On, Hop-Off Best family-friendly attractions: Legoland Malaysia Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Aquaria KLCC Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park, Pahang Underwater World Langkawi Best night attractions: PETRONAS Twin Towers Kuala Lumpur Tower KL Hop-on Hop-off Best nightlife (bars): Vertigo Restaurant & Bar, KL Penrose KL Whisky House Kuala Lumpur SKY51, KL The Iron Fairies KL Heli Lounge Bar, KL SkyBar, KL Best local restaurants: Sun Fong Bak Kut Teh, KL Madam Kwan's, nationwide Hai Kah Lang TRX, KL Limapulo: Baba Can Cook, KL Restoran Meng Kee Grill Fish, KL Best fine dining restaurants: Dewakan, KL DC Restaurant, KL Sushi Taka, KL Best restaurants for views and experiences: Alva KL Manten Omakase, KL Dewakan Blackbyrd KL Best destinations: Kuala Lumpur Semporna, Sabah Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Langkawi Melaka Best coastal destinations: Semporna Langkawi
Arabian Post
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arabian Post
LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort Launches Asia's Biggest LEGO® School Challenge 2025
JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 May 2025 – Ready, set, build! The most anticipated LEGO® school event in Asia is back—and it's bigger, bolder, and more inspiring than ever. The LEGOLAND® Malaysia School Challenge 2025, organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education, kicks off its fourth edition with a mission to unlock the boundless creativity of students across the region. (From left to right) Ms Stephane Thong, General Manager, Malaysia, Ms Thila Munusamy, Director of Sales and Marketing, LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, Mr Samuel Lee, Deputy Director General of the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board, Mr Mohamad Zaidi Bin Ishak, Deputy Director of Sports, Co-Curricular and Arts Department, Ministry of Education Malaysia and Mr Cs Lim, Vice President, LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Since its inception in 2022, the Challenge has become a regional phenomenon. Following record-breaking participation in 2024, this year promises an even more thrilling experience, packed with new features and prizes that spark imagination and ignite a passion for learning. New Theme, New Thrills: 'Build Your Dream Destination' Now open to three age categories (7–9, 10–12, and 13–17), the 2025 edition challenges students to design their ideal travel destination using LEGO bricks. Whether it's a futuristic underwater world, an island of imagination, or a dreamland among the stars, participants are encouraged to combine creativity, storytelling, and technical building skills to bring magical destinations to life. What's New in 2025? Two major updates make this year's Challenge truly unmissable: Grand Prizes Go Global: Winners from the Primary and Secondary Categories will experience a trip to LEGOLAND Korea, while Junior Category champions will enjoy a getaway at LEGOLAND Malaysia. Speed Building Showdown: For the first time, the finale will feature a high-energy Speed Building Challenge. The Top 5 finalist teams in each category will compete live in front of a judging panel and audience, racing against the clock to create an original LEGO build in just 45 minutes. Each finalist team will also enjoy a 3D2N stay at LEGOLAND Hotel, receive exclusive LEGO trophies, exciting LEGO sets, and Annual Passes to LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort. See also iFLYTEK Debuts On-Prem LLM All-in-One Solution at GITEX ASIA 2025 Inspiring Young Innovators: A Story of Growth Among the Challenge's most inspiring alumni is Nathanael Yap, a three-time Grand Prize winner. At the launch event, he shared: 'Being part of the LEGOLAND School Challenge for three years in a row was honestly one of the best parts of my school life. Every year, I got to team up with friends, solve problems in creative ways, and build something we were proud of — brick by brick. It taught me how fun learning can be when you get to think outside the box. Even though I've graduated and can't take part anymore, the experience has stayed with me. As I look ahead to university and start thinking more seriously about my future, I realise how much the Challenge helped shape my interests — especially in areas like design, engineering, and creative thinking. I'm excited to see what this year's participants will build, and I hope they take the chance to push themselves and discover what they're capable of.' His story reflects what the Challenge is all about – empowering young minds to explore, imagine, and create. Shaping Future Creators, One Brick at a Time Cs Lim, Vice President of LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, remarked, 'The LEGOLAND School Challenge has always been more than just a competition. As an event centered around our LEGO DNA of learning through play, it helps cultivate essential skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and innovation in our future leaders. Since we expanded last year to include participation from schools across Asia, this has also become an avenue for cultural exchange for students and teachers alike. We look forward to welcoming more participants this year across the region and seeing their creativity unleashed.' The 2025 Challenge is proudly supported by the Ministry of Education, Tourism Malaysia, Group, and the LEGO Group—all sharing a common goal: to ignite the passions of the next generation of builders, dreamers, and doers. Register for the LEGOLAND School Challenge 2025 The competition is open to students aged 7 to 17 across three separate categories: Junior: Ages 7 to 9 Primary: Ages 10 to 12 Secondary: Ages 13 to 17 Each team must consist of 3-4 students and 1 teacher. Registration is open from now until 15 June 2025 via Follow us for updates, tips and behind-the-scenes on Facebook and Instagram. Let your imagination run wild. Build your dream destination—and win the trip of a lifetime! Hashtag: #LEGOLAND® #LEGO® The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort brings together a LEGOLAND Theme Park, Water Park, Hotel and SEA LIFE in one LEGO® themed location. It is the ideal family holiday destination with more than 80 hands-on rides, slides, shows, and attractions. It is the first of its kind in Asia that offers comprehensive adventure, education, and fun for either an action-packed day trip or a short break destination ideal for families with kids aged 2 to 12 years old. The Theme Park is divided into eight themed areas containing thrilling rides, exciting LEGO workshops, awe-inspiring Miniland where Asia's interesting landscapes, countries and landmarks are recreated in miniature made with more than 30 million LEGO bricks. The Water Park is the largest LEGOLAND Water Park in Asia which features 20 unique slides, waves, wade pools, interactive water-play structure and Build-A-Raft River. LEGOLAND Hotel Malaysia is the first LEGO themed hotel in Asia. Choose your preferred theme room at a hotel all equipped with LEGO theming elements, giving you choices to be trained like a NINJA, playing pirate, commanding a Kingdom or embarking on an adventure option. All rooms include a king-sized bed for parents and a separate private sleeping area for 3 kids. Participate in our in-room treasure hunt activity and stand a chance to win cool LEGO gifts. SEA LIFE is the world's largest international aquarium brand with more than 50 outlets in the world and it is the latest addition to LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort. This attraction will immerse all guests in an intimate and interactive journey underneath the waves. All guests will have a chance to enjoy up-close experiences with sea creatures and be inspired to learn more about our blue planet's invaluable natural marine assets through magical storytelling, interactive displays and hands-on encounters. SEA LIFE Malaysia has more than 25 display tanks in 11 habitat zones featuring 13,000 amazing sea creatures. The Malaysian Rainforest is one of the unique exhibit zones featuring local creatures in Malaysia. Don't miss this special zone where you can never find it in other SEA LIFE attractions.
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Rakyat Post
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rakyat Post
[Photos] LEGO Dreams Take Flight: Malaysia Launches Asia's Most Epic Brick Battle
Subscribe to our FREE Remember when building LEGO meant sitting on your bedroom floor, dreaming up castles and spaceships? Well, LEGOLAND Malaysia just cranked that childhood dream up to eleven with their 2025 School Challenge – and this time, they're sending winners all the way to Korea. This isn't your average school competition: kids from across Asia, armed with nothing but LEGO bricks and wild imaginations, competing to build their dream destinations. Whether it's an underwater city or a space colony, if you can dream it, you can brick it. LEGO's Got Talent: Meet the Brick-Building Prodigy Who's Seen It All 'It's basically like 'Masterchef' meets LEGO, but cooler,' says 17-year-old This competition changed my whole outlook on learning. Who knew education could be this fun? What's New in the Brick Game? This year's challenge is serving up some serious upgrades. For starters, they've added a speed-building showdown that sounds like it came straight out of a reality TV show – 45 minutes to build something amazing while judges and spectators watch. Talk about pressure! The Prize Package: Where Dreams Get Oppa-Sized But here's the real deal: winners get to jet off to LEGOLAND Korea (if you're in the older categories) or score a sweet staycation at LEGOLAND Malaysia (for the junior builders). Plus, all finalists get to live it up with a 3D2N stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel – because who doesn't want to sleep in a room where even the walls are LEGO-themed? The challenge is split into three age groups: Junior Builders (7-9 years) Primary Powerhouses (10-12 years) Secondary Masterminds (13-17 years) Each team needs 3-4 students and one teacher (probably to make sure nobody eats the pieces). From Bricks to Big Breaks: Why This Isn't Just Child's Play CS Lim, LEGOLAND Malaysia's VP, isn't just playing around. 'This isn't just about building cool stuff,' he explains during the launch event in TRX today. We're talking problem-solving, critical thinking – the kind of skills these kids will need in the real world. Even online travel agency getting in on the action. Their Malaysia GM, Stephane Thong, is stoked about sending winners to Korea. Think about it – these kids will go from building their dream destinations to actually visiting one! Want In on the Action? If you've got kids (or are a teacher with some LEGO-obsessed students), registration's open until 15 June. Just hit up This isn't just another school competition – it's where dreams get built, brick by brick. Whether your kid's the next master builder or just loves creating, this is their chance to turn LEGO dreams into reality. And hey, who knows? They might just end up building their way to Korea. READ MORE : READ MORE : READ MORE : READ MORE : READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
The Star
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysians travelled more during Hari Raya holiday season
Shanghai topped the list of international destinations that Malaysians are travelling to. — Unsplash Positive growth in the travel industry during this year's Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday season indicates that the rising cost of living is no deterrent for Malaysians to continue travelling, whether locally or beyond the borders. A 111% growth is seen in international travel bookings made by Malaysians during Hari Raya (March 29-April 6), according to This is in comparison to the previous year's (April 6-14, 2024) numbers. Meanwhile, domestic travel bookings have doubled (+103%) this year. The online travel service provider based its findings on its website's booking data for international flights, hotels and attractions, for the aforementioned March-April 2025 (and April 2024) travel periods. Theme parks prove to be Malaysian travellers' favourite when it comes to family-friendly experiences, as five of the highest-booked attractions during Hari Raya were Universal Studios Japan, Shanghai Disney Resort (China), Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park, Hong Kong Disneyland and Sunway Lagoon Theme Park. Theme parks, like Genting Skyworlds, are favourites among Malaysians travelling during the Hari Raya season. — Handout Stephane Thong, general manager of Malaysia, says in a press statement: 'We're seeing that this festive season is also becoming a moment for travel discovery, where many are choosing to explore new places while reconnecting with family and friends.' The rise in bookings for secondary cities and long-haul destinations illustrates this, with cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu – all secondary cities in China – securing top spots in the top 10 list of international destinations (cities) for Malaysian travellers. Shanghai places first, while Guangzhou places third (after Singapore and before Bangkok, Thailand), and Chengdu places fifth, ahead of Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul (South Korea) and Taipei. Two of the Chinese secondary cities are also listed among the international destinations with the biggest growth in travel demand – 261% for Chengdu and 241% for Guangzhou. Malaysians are also travelling to farther destinations, like New York (United States). There is additionally a 300% increase in bookings for travel to places like Spain, Italy, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and the Maldives, in comparison to the previous year. Overall, spending on international flights and hotels sees an increase of 14.5%, indicative of Malaysians' eagerness to explore more international destinations. Not only that, Malaysian travellers are also making their bookings further in advance. The average booking window has increased to 48.10 days in 2025, compared to 42.63 in 2024.
