DESPITE a few difficult years in the tourism industry, a number of hotels in Kuala Lumpur are investing in upgrading and refurbishing their properties.
Some owners feel it necessary to refurbish their hotels. The trick is to do it when the market is soft as occupancy would be low and they can close rooms in phases to carry out the work.
Others feel the need for it as they want to be able to compete with new hotels entering the market.
It was reported that 98 hotels, with 25,537 classified rooms, would enter the market from this year to 2021. Luxury and upper-luxury hotels will account for 46 per cent of total room supply.
Dorsett Kuala Lumpur, which has been a mainstay in the city centre for almost two decades now, has invested heavily in the business over the past number of years.
This was a key indication of the hotel’s commitment to not only the tourism sector, but also the local area, said its new general manager Adele Ang.
Dorsett Kuala Lumpur, a four-star hotel parked under the Dorsett Hospitality International (DHI), is located right in the heart of the Bukit Bintang Golden Triangle and at the start of the Bintang Walk.
According to Ang, the hotel had invested RM40 million on refurbishment in a bid to increase its share of the business event and leisure markets.
The hotel took almost two years to transform, following there furbishment that started early last year, she said.
Renovations included an extension and complete refurbishment of the existing meeting rooms, all of the hotel’s 322 rooms, food and beverage outlets, and public spaces.
“We embarked on the refurbishment to bring new life to the hotel. In order for us to remain as popular as ever with our customers, we must be relevant in the market, thus the need to invest and retrofit the hotel,” she said.
“The timing of the refurbishment is perfect. It’s crucial to renovate and refurbish now so that in time to come we can compete with all the key hotels that are coming up.
“In the hotel industry, if you do not upscale yourself, you’ll be left behind when new properties enter the market, and when the economy recovers,” she added.
Malaysia’s tourism sector had shown signs of recovery with positive grow thin tourist arrivals and receipts last year. There was an increase of four per cent in the number of tourist arrivals compared with 2015.
Last year, Malaysia welcomed 26,757,392 tourists, mainly from Singapore, Indonesia, China, Brunei and Thailand. The receipts were RM82.1 billion, growth of 18.8 per cent compared with RM69.1 billion in 2015.
This year, the industry is expecting a bigger market from China and India with the e-visa facility,
besides the usual travellers from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei.
Dorsett Kuala Lumpur targets the milennial market for business growth.
“Dorsett Kuala Lumpur is a four-star brand. I would say, in terms of scale, it is up-market and the brand goes really well with what we are targeting - the millennial market. If you are looking for hotel rooms with value-for-money, that’s where we are,” she said.
“Millennials look for accommodation, offering great value for money and distinctive experience. They like the idea of engaging with local culture and they look for convenience to move around.”
Dorsett Kuala Lumpur is within walking distance to BukitBintangWalk,Pavilion, Starhill Gallery, Fahrenheit 88, Lot 10, Sungei Wang, Berjaya Times Square, Plaza Low Yat, the Kuala Lumpur ConventionCentre and the Petronas Twin Towers.
Meanwhile, DHI has opened Dorsett Residences Bukit Bintang — the first integrated residences annexed to Dorsett Kuala Lumpur — and would manage 52 studios and two-bedroom suite residences.
“We are delighted to announce the first residence opening under the group, and are confident that it will prove to be the preferred choice for families and holiday makers. With this property, guests can enjoy the additional space of the studios or two-bedroom suite residences while extending their stay amid the contemporary design of the rooms,” said Ang.
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