Cora Jean Cantwell makes history as Malaysia’s top bartender, marking a milestone in HEINEKEN Malaysia’s commitment to raising service excellence nationwide.
HEINEKEN Malaysia Berhad has officially crowned Cora Jean Cantwell from Langkah Syabas Beach Resort, Sabah, as the first female National Champion in the history of the prestigious Star Academy programme. Her standout performance at the 2025 National Finals earned her an exclusive trip to Amsterdam, the Home of Heineken®, where she will explore the brand’s legacy and innovations up close.
Celebrating its seventh consecutive year, Star Academy continues to strengthen Malaysia’s services sector by training and upskilling local bartenders, boosting standards within the hospitality and tourism industries. To date, the programme has trained over 11,000 bartenders nationwide.
This year also marked the debut of “Tap Into The Future”, an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) learning module. The multisensory experience uses gamified scenarios to teach pouring techniques, product knowledge, and customer service—redefining how bartenders learn and master essential skills.
HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Managing Director, Martijn van Keulen, said:
“Star Academy reflects our long-term commitment to elevating the services industry and supporting a thriving F&B ecosystem. We are proud to see the programme continue setting new benchmarks for service excellence.”
The 2025 National Finals brought together top finalists from KL/Selangor, Sarawak, Sabah, Penang, Perak, and Johor, judged by a panel of experts including HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Commercial Quality team and special guest judge Jason Dennis D’Cruz, the 2024 HEINEKEN Global Draught Champion.
Sales Director Jimmy Ding added:
“We appreciate the support of our trade partners and the dedication of bartenders nationwide. Their passion drives this industry forward. This year’s new VR training module takes our commitment to the next level with a more immersive, hands-on experience.”
Expressing her excitement, National Champion Cora Jean Cantwell said:
“I’m incredibly proud to represent Sabah and win this year’s title. Thank you, HEINEKEN Malaysia, for this amazing opportunity—I can’t wait to visit Amsterdam!”
For more updates on HEINEKEN Malaysia and its initiatives, visit www.heinekenmalaysia.com.