Game changer for tourism industry

The grand entrance at Monopoly Mansion.

DATUK Seth Yap, the chief executive officer of M101 Holdings Sdn Bhd and a lawyer by profession, is a brilliant brand builder. He does things that create headlines as game changers for the tourism industry. M101, which he founded in 2012, has partnered luxury brands such as Studio F.A. Porsche and Hasbro Inc, an American worldwide toy and board game company, for horizontal brand penetration.

The company is bringing to Malaysia the world’s first integrated development with a Ferris wheel designed by Studio F.A. Porsche, the world’s first Monopoly-themed hotel known as Monopoly Mansion (under a licensing agreement with Hasbro), and Asia’s first Planet Hollywood Hotel.

There is no stopping for Yap as he is planning to bring in more international brands and help take Malaysia’s tourism industry to greater heights.

There are opportunities in the current challenging market environment, said Yap.

He cited the stake that M101 acquired in lossmaking public-listed company Meda Inc Bhd last year which is set to provide his company a golden opportunity to build an international tourism destination in Melaka.

Meda has since been renamed Meridian Bhd. With its record-proven property tourism strategy, M101, which ranks among the most dynamic development companies in Malaysia, is revamping Meridian.

Yap said he bought a stake in Meridian because the company owned about 252ha of land in Kuala Linggi, Melaka.

Meridian will develop Malaysian Tourism City (MTC), which will comprise Hasbro-themed water park, thematic hotels, adventure and eco-tourism parks, hospital and University College, as well as bungalow lots.

Monopoly Mansion is targeted to open in early 2020.

There is opportunity in a soft market. When you have the right product, in the right location and with the right brand and partners, the current soft market shouldn’t deter your plan to grow.