MALAYSIA. Malaysia Airports has named the winners of its annual KULinary Dining Awards, which are a highlight of the KULinary 2024 food festival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport terminals 1 and 2. The event showcases the diversity and excellence of food & beverage outlets at the airport, with dishes prepared by KLIA’s top F&B partners.
The KULinary Dining Awards recognised F&B partners across 11 categories, including Best Ambience, Best Services, Most Innovative Dish, Best Newcomer and Best Overall.
Malaysia Airports announced the winners at a special ceremony, attended by local celebrities such as Scha Alyahya, Awal Ashaari, Thanuja, Ceddy Ng, Uyaina Arshad and more.
This year, Malaysia Airports teamed up with lifestyle title Tatler Dining for the first time, adding what Malaysia Airports termed “a new layer of prestige” to the KULinary event. Each F&B outlet was evaluated by mystery diners and a panel of experts, including professionals from Tatler Dining, industry leaders and tastemakers. This ensured a comprehensive assessment of the best dining experiences KLIA has to offer, said the airport company.
“This year’s winners have truly redefined what airport dining can be. Our partnership with Tatler Dining allows us to spotlight the remarkable culinary gems at our airports. From top-tier service to creative, high-quality dishes, these outlets represent the crème de la crème of airport dining,” said Malaysia Airports Senior General Manager, Commercial Services Hani Ezra Hussin.
“This isn’t just about offering great food, it’s about raising the bar for every F&B outlet at our airports. We’re challenging our operators to push boundaries, innovate and deliver a dining experience that stands out on the global stage.” she added.
Reflecting on the performance of F&B, she also noted that the channel had delivered RM177 million (US$28.3 million) in sales in the first half of the year, surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 figures by +33% and outperforming last year’s performance by +53%.
“This success is not only a testament to the exceptional efforts of all our F&B players but also to the diverse mix of dining options we offer.
“With 60% of our stores representing international brands and 40% showcasing homegrown, local flavours, we are proud to deliver a dining experience that caters to a wide range of tastes and preferences. This drives us to continue delivering the very best dining experiences for our passengers, as we strive to elevate the culinary experience even further.”
Launched in 2016, KULinary is an annual showcase hosted by Malaysia Airports to recognise outstanding F&B outlets at the airport. The campaign highlights culinary excellence in food variety, quality and value, while also seeking to motivate partners to elevate their service standards.
From 27 to 29 September, the festival will host over 300 guests daily. Attendees can savour 16 diverse dishes and beverages while participating in activities led by celebrity chefs and culinary experts. Highlights include a food photography workshop with Trisha Toh, food plating with Noritake and a cooking demonstration by Chef Dato’ Fazley Yaakob.
*As reported, Hani Ezra Hussin is among the high-profile names confirmed as part of a stellar speaker line-up for The Trinity Forum 2024. The event takes place on 5-6 November in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Trinity Forum, co-hosted by Airports Corporation of Vietnam and Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG), is the world’s most influential travel retail and airport commercial revenues conference. It is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report and organised in partnership with Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East and ACI World. ✈
