A tower run up a 51-storey hotel in Kuala Lumpur will link sports and hospitality, with organisers hoping the new event will make it into the nation’s calendar of happenings.
The inaugural MAH Tower-running Championship 2026 (MTC2026) on April 11 will see participants racing up 1,186 steps over 198.7m at The Face Suites in Jalan Sultan Ismail.
Organisers Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) and Malaysia Towerrunning Association (MTA) said the industry-led initiative was meant to position Malaysia as a sports tourism destination.
The event would also add to the country’s urban sports calendar, they said at a press conference following formalisation of their collaboration through the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
MTC2026, they said, marked the start of a long-term partnership to develop tower running in Malaysia and strengthen sports tourism.
MAH organising chairman BE Lim said the goal was for the competition to become a recognised fixture on Malaysia’s tourism calendar, attracting local and international participants.
“We hope it will demonstrate how hotels can serve as exciting sporting venues, opening new ways for the hospitality industry to engage with the public, youth and the growing fitness community,” he said.
MTA president Ravinder Singh said tower running could transform everyday buildings into sporting arenas using existing infrastructure.
“By hosting this championship, MAH is showing how hotels can evolve beyond accommodation, becoming platforms for wellness, sport and meaningful experiences, aligning perfectly with how today’s travellers and communities think,” he said.
Visit Malaysia 2026 Secretariat head Akbal Setia said travellers were seeking meaningful and memorable experiences beyond sightseeing.
“Supporting emerging sports events with strong potential is part of our strategy to develop distinctive tourism attractions, and initiatives like MTC2026 contribute directly to this direction.
“It demonstrates how different sectors can work together to create new and compelling tourism opportunities.”
MAH chief executive officer Isaac Raj said the association also had other sports events scheduled this year, including the 14th edition of its Treasure Hunt and a state-level football competition.
“With Visit Malaysia 2026, our calendar is packed with events that strongly support sports tourism in Malaysia,” he said.
MTA secretary and tower running world champion Soh Wai Ching said anyone, regardless of experience or fitness level, could take part in tower running.
