TTG mena
Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur is no ‘muddy estuary’ as its translation from Malay suggests, but is instead fast becoming the nerve centre of Malaysia following only 150 years of growth. Alexandra North reports
What was once a tin mining destination has developed into a sprawling, vibrant metropolis, synonymous with value-for-money. Kuala Lumpur – affectionately known as KL – really is a landscape of contrasts: fine dining restaurants sit next to hawker stalls; imposing skyscrapers stand erect next to quaint traditional rows of houses; designer shops are interwoven with the city’s famous night stalls providing a shopper’s paradise; and crucially, luxury hotels don’t always mean luxury prices.
Though its history is relatively short, it has nonetheless been colourful with a mix of cross-cultural influences and traditions – a fact that is well portrayed in the rainbow of different cuisines that has arched across the F&B market in the city.
Recipe for success
Providing testament to the attractiveness of KL as a leading tourism city of the world, general manager, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Peter Brokenshire told TTG of the various areas in which KL is successful. “Safety, security and stability: Malaysia’s status as an Islamic country has increased her attractiveness as a destination for Middle East visitors. Malaysia’s stability – political, social and economic – provides a peaceful and conducive environment for business and leisure.
“Excellent air linkages: KL is well equipped with first-class infrastructure such as the expressway linkages, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and the Putrajaya administrative city, with high-speed road and rail links. KLIA is home to 47 airlines while national carrier, Malaysia Airlines flies 100 destinations globally, covering all six continents. Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways offer direct flights from Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi respectively, while AirAsia flies direct to Abu Dhabi,” he continued.
A strategic location, a plethora of hotel options and places of interest are also key to KL’s success, according to Brokenshire. “There are more than 1,500 hotel rooms on-site [at KLCC], Traders Hotel, Impiana Hotel & Spa and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala Lumpur, and a further 12,000 rooms in four- and five-star properties within 10 minutes of the Centre,” he confirmed.
Arabic appeal
Appealing directly to the Middle East and North African traveller, KL offers a range of specific services and facilities, in addition to a wealth of F&B outlets providing Arabic cuisine and halal dishes. “These facilities include welcome announcements and written messages in Arabic at KLIA, Arabic-speaking staff to assist Middle Eastern and North African visitors at KLIA, special immigration lanes for Middle Eastern and North African tourists with families, hotel rooms with Arabic movies and cable TV, and street signs in Arabic,” he told TTG.
And to add further cultural value to an Arabic traveller’s experience, KL also boasts one of the largest museums of Islamic art in Southeast Asia, the Islamic Arts Museum, which houses more than 7,000 artifacts, Islamic books and has one of the world’s largest scale models of Mecca’s Masjid al-Haram.
And the award goes to…
It is this commitment to providing a little something for everyone that gives KL its distinctiveness.
As a result of this variety, vibrancy, and full throttle approach to the future, KL has been able to scoop a number of key awards in the tourism industry. Evidence of this is never clearer than at the recent 16th World Travel Awards which voted Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur International Airport Hotel as the World’s Leading Airport Hotel for the second year running. In addition, Hilton Kuala Lumpur picked up two titles, namely Asia’s Leading City Hotel and Asia’s Leading Design Hotel.
The Club at The Saujana’s new luxury spa has also won acclaim. “KL and Klang Valley remains Malaysia’s top destination for high-end travellers, and The Saujana’s new luxury spa can only add to its appeal,” remarked Minister of Tourism, Malaysia, Dato’ Seri, Dr. Ng Yen Yen. “We are Malaysians; we are about warmth and gentleness and care, and as such we are able to deliver a unique service experience that is talked about and well remembered.”
Set in a tropical rainforest landscape, The Spa and Med Beauty at Saujana features six single spa villas, two double spa villas, two beauty studios, a spa boutique and four Med Beauty treatment rooms. With a spacious relaxation lounge overlooking a reflection pool, the spa aims to offer the ultimate environment for relaxation and rejuvenation without the need to go further than half an hour’s drive from the city.
Attached to The Saujana and The Club at The Saujana hotels, The Spa and Med Beauty is dedicated to the restoration of strength, beauty and balance of mind, body and spirit. The final ingredients to its success are the therapists. Trained by spa director, GHM, Brenda Ramen, therapists undergo meticulous training to ensure treatments are provided to the satisfaction of customers.
MICE hotspot
However, it is not only the hotel industry that is being applauded for its efforts. Malaysia is fast becoming recognised internationally as a hotspot for MICE business, and further bolstering this position is KLCC, aka the Centre, which recently announced that it clinched a total of 28 conventions in 2009 – adding more events to its growing business tourism portfolio which ranges from the medical, science and technology sectors to Islamic finance. The 28 conventions are expected to bring in more than 16,000 delegates to KL from now until 2014.
Brokenshire commented: “It is indeed heartening to note that, despite the global economic scenario and increasing competition, international and regional meeting planners continue to consider and choose Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur as the destination for their important events.”
He went on to attribute this to the ongoing joint efforts of Team Malaysia, comprising Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Centre, for promoting Malaysia and KL as a value-for-money destination for business tourism, complemented by excellent infrastructure, a wide range of pre- and post-tour options and professional world-class services.
Centre of excellence
KLCC has also made Malaysia proud with prestigious accolades such as the CEI Industry Awards 2009’s ‘Asia’s Best Convention and Exhibition Centre’ and ‘Asia’s Best MICE Sales Team’ (joint third) and winning gold for ‘Best Marketing Campaign’ and silver for ‘Best Use of Budget’ at the Meetings Industry Marketing Awards 2009 held in London.
On the home front, KLCC was the only recipient from the hospitality industry to be presented the ‘Prominent Company’ award 2009 at the inaugural Malaysia Independence Award 1957 for its contribution towards building the country’s reputation as a preferred destination for meetings and exhibitions.
Being a purpose-built facility, the Centre comprises two auditoria, a plenary hall and plenary theatre seating 3,000 and 500 respectively, a grand ballroom, three conference halls, a banquet hall, five exhibition halls providing 9,710m2 of column-free exhibition space on a single level, 20 meeting rooms plus the latest in 3G telecommunications and digital audiovisual facilities.
Aside from the physical aspects that help to make the Centre a winner is a dedicated team, according to Brokenshire. “Above all, the Centre is supported by a passionate and loyal team who continuously work to enhance the clients’ experience and in turn, contribute to the growth of the meetings and exhibitions industry in Malaysia. As always, it is the human factor and attention to detail that will keep clients coming back. After all, as we say at the Centre, a client’s success is our success.”
