Concierge train to meet daily challenges

SEREMBAN: The second Les Clefs d'Or Malaysia Junior Concierge Training saw more than 50 participants tackle the challenges of serving the needs of guests in hotels.

The three-day seminar, organised by the Society of Golden Keys Malaysia, was held in Royale Bintang Resort, here, with the support of the Tourism Ministry, local and international speakers from the industry.

Besides talks on airline ticketing, in-bound tours, self-grooming, motivation, and golfing, participants were given a group project to present on the last day of the training.

Society president K. Ragu said the concierge or frontline staff such as reception, guest service, doorman, bellman are ambassadors of tourism.

"They are the first people whom guests come in contact with when they first step into the hotel. Concierge are known to be problem solvers throughout a guest's stay.

"A topic we touched on was about airline and ticketing because nowadays air tickets are paperless. The concierge needs to update their knowledge and learn how to read e-tickets while understanding restrictions on discounted tickets.

"They will be able to assist guests on travel enquiries. This is to their advantage," said Ragu, who is the chief concierge of Prince Hotel and Residence Kuala Lumpur.

Ragu, who presented certificates and prizes to the participants of the winning group, said he hoped the second batch of participants would share the knowledge and skills learnt at the training with their peers.

Also present were Tourism Ministry promotion board communications division editor Ritzeryann Rashid, MST Golf tour operations manager Ching Ching Aung and First Impression Image Consultant Group, director Albert Lee.

The speakers were from Singapore Les Clefs d'Or Malaysia, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents.

Read more: Concierge train to meet daily challenges http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/4junn/Article#ixzz1QYGZxqRL

90 per cent of hackers of Government, private websites were locals

PUTRAJAYA: Ninety per cent of the hackers who attacked 200 goverment related and private websites since four days ago, were locals, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister

Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

He said the police and the relevant agencis were now in the process of identified them. 

"We have come to know that most of the hackers were locals, not from, abroad," he told a press conference here today. 

He said this when asked to comment on the group calling itself 'Anonymous', which claimed to be based abroad and threatened the attack the government's official portal, www.malaysia.gov.my.

Maximus said as the head of the ministry which promoted safe use of the Internet and handled the infrastructure that dealt with cyber ecurity, he appealed to Malaysians to use the Internet profesionally for education and the development of the country. 

"Because you cannot go very far when you want to do criminal activities within cyberspace itself," he added.

Asked whether the Cabinet had made any decision to form a special task force to solve this problem, he said he could not confirm that yet. -- BERNAMA