By Vincent D’Silva

JOHOR BAHRU: The spirit of camaraderie and unity filled the air at Medini Gateway, Iskandar Puteri, as over a thousand hoteliers from across Johor gathered for the annual MAH Run 2025, a 5km fun run organized by the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Johor Chapter.

The event, held recently, brought together representatives from 44 hotels — from 3-star to 5-star properties — symbolizing the strength and solidarity of Johor’s hospitality community as it gears up for Visit Johor Year 2026.

The run was officially flagged off by Tourism Johor Director, Mohammad Nazrul Abdul Rahim, who attended as the official representative of the Johor Chief Minister, YAB Datuk Onn Hafiz Dato’ Ghazi. He was joined by Datuk Haji Hasrin Kamal Hashim, Mayor of Iskandar Puteri; Lim Choong Sean, Vice President of MAH; and Ivan Teo, Chairman of MAH Johor Chapter.

Speaking at the event, Mohammad Nazrul expressed his pride in seeing the overwhelming turnout.

“I feel very proud because this year’s event successfully gathered participation from 44 hotels in Johor, including 3-star to 5-star hotels, and attracted a total of 1,018 participants — an increase of 30% compared to last year,” he said.

“This achievement clearly shows that all the hotels in Johor are united and stand firm in supporting our efforts towards making Johor Visit Year 2026 a success.”

The MAH Run, which began as a small-scale initiative to promote fitness and fellowship among hotel employees, has now evolved into one of Johor’s most anticipated hospitality events.

Its success reflects the growing enthusiasm within the tourism and hotel industry as Johor positions itself for a major tourism surge in the coming years.

Highlighting Johor’s bright prospects, MAH Vice President Lim Choong Sean noted that the coming years hold immense potential for the state’s tourism growth.

“With the opening of the RTS Link at the end of 2026 and the establishment of the Special Economic Zone with Singapore in progress, Johor is expected to experience a major tourism boom,” Lim said. “This is both an opportunity and a responsibility for us, as the custodians of hospitality in Johor.”

He added that beyond the competition and the run, the event was about something much deeper.

“Such events build a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and pride among Johor hoteliers. They remind us that staying and working here is not just about a job — it is about being part of a strong, united community that values and supports one another.”

The MAH Johor Chapter, led by its chairman Ivan Teo, is not stopping there. The association will be taking Johor’s hospitality to the international stage next month.

“Our executive committee will be in Guangzhou from November 8 to 11 to promote Johor directly to Chinese travel agents,” Teo said. “With direct flights from Senai to Guangzhou via AirAsia, we are optimistic about attracting more international visitors to see Johor as their destination of choice.”

In addition, MAH Johor has been collaborating with MyBHA (Malaysian Budget Hotels Association) to raise the overall quality of the state’s hospitality sector.

Recently, both organizations jointly conducted a series of training sessions to enhance English proficiency and reinforce core service skills among frontline staff.

“Our goal is simple,” Teo added. “We want every visitor who comes to Johor to experience the warmth that Malaysians are known for — to feel the professionalism, hospitality, and multicultural richness that make Johor so special.”

The MAH Run 2025 wasn’t just about participation — it also celebrated excellence and teamwork among the hotels. Top runners were recognized in male and female categories, while the coveted Overall Hotel Winners title went to:

• 1st Place: KSL Hotel & Resort
• 2nd Place: Legoland Malaysia Resort
• 3rd Place: Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast
• 4th Place: Pulai Springs Resort

The run also marked the culmination of the MAH Games 2025, a year-long series of sporting events including badminton, bowling, futsal, and even an e-sports tournament — Mobile Legends. The overall champions were:

• 1st Place: Legoland Malaysia Resort
• 2nd Place: KSL Hotel & Resort
• 3rd Place: Le Grandeur Palm Resort
• 4th Place: DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru

With its growing portfolio of hotels and strong industry leadership, Johor’s hospitality scene is rapidly expanding. The state currently holds the position as Malaysia’s third largest hotel market, boasting 18,365 rooms — behind only Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

More 4- and 5-star hotels are expected to join the MAH Johor Chapter by the end of 2025, further strengthening the association’s voice and vision for the future.

As the sun set over Medini Gateway, the sense of unity among Johor’s hoteliers was unmistakable. More than just a run, the MAH Run 2025 became a celebration of passion, teamwork, and pride — setting the pace for what promises to be a remarkable year ahead for Johor’s tourism and hospitality industry.

“When we run together, we move forward together,” Lim said in closing. “That is the true spirit of Johor hospitality — always united, always moving forward.”