Top pick: A restaurant staff member giving Chinese New Year menu recommendations to a customer in Taman Mount Austin, Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: For some families, Chinese New Year reunion dinners are planned months in advance, while for others, they are booked a full year ahead.
Eager customers have been reserving tables for reunion meals as early as a year before, determined not to miss out on the once-a-year gathering that brings extended families together over a shared meal, said a staff member at a popular Chinese seafood restaurant chain here.
“Many of our customers booked a slot for this year’s reunion dinner right after they finished their meal last year, even before knowing the menu.
“Once our menus were finalised, we contacted them to choose their desired packages,” said the staff member, who declined to be named.
He said all of the restaurant’s over 130 tables have been fully booked for the reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve, while more than half of the lunch slots have already been snapped up on the same day.
According to the staff member, most customers are regulars, comprising a mix of locals and Singaporeans who have family members in Johor.
Separately, Chef Tang Kuang Hong said bookings have also been brisk at his outlet in Taman Mount Austin, Johor Baru, with diners opting for more intimate reunion settings.
“We have more of a cafe and casual dining concept, which younger customers tend to prefer. Our prices are also lower compared to hotels and major seafood restaurants to cater to the mid-range market,” he said.
Tang said about 50% of his bookings come from Singaporean customers and Malaysians working in Singapore.
“Most of them are regulars who enjoy our signature dishes such as steamed pineapple-fed chicken, seafood items and handmade charcoal tofu,” he said.
Tang said there has also been strong demand for takeaway reunion meals this year, as some families prefer dining at home while avoiding the hassle of cooking.
“We also have customers asking us to prepare customised menus based on their preferences and budgets, ranging from RM2,000 to over RM3,000.”
Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Hotels Johor chapter chairman Ivan Teo said hotel bookings during the festive period have begun picking up over the weekend.
Looking beyond the Chinese New Year holidays, Teo said the association is working with tour groups in Guangzhou, China, to promote Johor, Singapore and Batam as a combined tourism destination.
“Johor’s Senai International Airport has direct flights to Guangzhou, so we want to fully utilise this connectivity and step up our tourism promotion.
“Johor’s proximity to Singapore and ferry services to Batam give us a unique opportunity to market the region as a single package offering different experiences in one trip,” he said.
Teo added that ongoing developments such as the Rapid Transit System Link connecting Johor Baru and Singapore, as well as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, have generated growing interest among both investors and tourists.
“The city’s hospitality landscape is also set to become more vibrant, with several international hotel brands, including Novotel, Sheraton and JW Marriott, expected to open in the near future,” he added.
