LOS ANGELES "“ The Honorable Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Minister of Tourism, Malaysia, led a whirlwind Sales Mission tour through the United States and Canada from September 8"”14, 2007. The tour started in New York, then continued in Canada’s Toronto and Vancouver, and concluded in Los Angeles last Friday evening.
The Los Angeles event took place at the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel in San Pedro, California 
and coincided with the grand opening of the hotel. The Minister delivered speeches at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and the special press conference prior to the dinner event, as well as at the dinner itself.
During the dinner, the Minister announced a new partnership with First Vietnamese American Bank for a contest for a free trip to Malaysia and honored tour operators and restaurant partners for their efforts in supporting tourism to Malaysia in 2007.
The Minister also received a special peace mural, created by students, teachers and members of the Peace Corps from the Lawndale District, as a symbol of friendship and cooperation. In addition, the Deputy Chief of Protocol from the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, Ms. Lourdes Saab, presented a scroll of appreciation to the Minister for his visit to the area.
The dinner festivities featured sape and gambus musicians, dance performances by the Tourism Malaysia Los Angeles Cultural Troupe, special video presentations, and a delectable selection of cuisine. To conclude the evening, the Minister drew the names of three lucky winners for plane tickets to Malaysia, courtesy of Malaysia Airlines, EVA Air and Singapore Airlines.
While in Los Angeles, the Minister met with media, travel agents, tour operators, community partners and other friends of Malaysia. The central purpose of his visit was to build and strengthen relationships within the travel industry, as well as to renew the country’s support and appreciation toward these partners’ efforts in promoting Malaysia as a destination.
The tour comes in the wake of Malaysia’s 50th anniversary of independence. The country, which currently is celebrating Visit Malaysia Year, commemorated its half-century of growth and progress"”as well as its peaceful mix of diverse ethnicities, cultures and religions"”on Aug. 31, 2007.
For more info about Malaysia at ITKT
