Majestic Hotel reigns high

By Sharen Kaur

THE Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, a jewel in YTL Corp Bhd's classic hotels collection, has exceeded the expectations on both revenue and occupancy in its first year of operations.

Director of sales and marketing Anna Olsson said the hotel achieved high occupancy, thanks to support from clients and business partners since its opening in December 2012.

"The driving forces have been to stay true to our product and service level. In this day and age where information is so easily accessible, hotels must stand out by offering unique services and experiences for their guests.

"I believe The Majestic Hotel is a hotel that provides just that; a national treasure with its colonial heritage dating back to 1932 and unique experiences," she told Business Times here, recently.
The 300-room hotel offers 24-hour butler service in the Majestic Wing suites, Truefitt & Hill gentlemen's grooming centre, and private dining room with chef on call at The Smoke House and Afternoon Tea at the Orchid Conservatory.

It is the only hotel in Kuala Lumpur that is part of The Leading Hotels of The World's (LHW) luxury hotel collection.

LHW is the world's largest collection of luxury hotels with more than 430 properties in 80 countries.

The original structure of the British colonial-inspired hotel was designed by Dutch architect Von Leangeanderg and built in 1932. It closed in 1984.

YTL Corp restored and reopened the property in 2012 as a luxury hotel after a hiatus of 18 years.

The Majestic Hotel has picked up several awards in its first year of operations, winning the prestigious Hotel of the Year award at the recent HAPA awards, Best City Hotel and Excellence Award for Best Boutique Stay at the Best of Malaysia Awards by Expatriate Lifestyle, as well as being included in Conde Nast Traveller's Hot List of the world's best new hotels and DestinAsian's exclusive The Luxe List.

"Sometimes the resurrection of a hotel can herald a second renaissance. The hotel has been a national treasure since 1932 and is now beautifully and authentically restored," Olsson said.

Olsson said 2014 looks promising, with the Visit Malaysia 2014 campaign and the hotel is confident it will achieve new goals and expectations.

She said the campaign should help the hotel increase awareness and bookings especially for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) and leisure travellers.

YTL's classic hotels collection also compriseCameron Highlands Resort in Pahang, Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai in China, and Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel in the UK.

YTL keen on UK boutique hotels

By Sharen Kaur

STAYING POWER: Company has the funds and close ties with bankers to expand there, say sources

YTL Corp Bhd, which owns Wessex Water Services Ltd in the United Kingdom, is scouting for more assets in the country, sources said.

They said YTL, which is controlled by Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, is eyeing completed luxury boutique hotels there.

“YTL is bullish on its prospects in the UK. It also has the funds and close ties with bankers to expand its business there,” a source told Business Times.

Its subsidiary, YTL Hotels & Properties Sdn Bhd, will be opening Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, its first hotel in the UK, in the third quarter of this year. It will offer 99 rooms starting from £289 (RM1,572) a night.

YTL Hotels bought the property, which is located at the Unesco World Heritage City of Bath, for around £18 million in 2012. It then invested another £12 million to build a new wing, the Spa Village Bath, and thermal pools.

The hotel is YTL’s third UK asset, besides Wessex Water. YTL Hotels had recently acquired Thermae Development Co Ltd, which holds the licence to operate the Thermae Bath Spa complex, for £12 million.

Mercury Securities head of research Edmund Tham believes that the YTL group will expand its existing businesses in the UK for future gains.

“Just like Genting Bhd, SP Setia Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund, all of them seem to like investing in the UK because of the returns and future prospects.

“Yeoh has developed a high taste and niche for luxury assets and the UK is the right place to accumulate those properties,” he said.

The Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel is the fourth in the YTL Classic Hotel collection after Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands Resort in Pahang and Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai in China.

YTL Hotels also owns Gaya Island Resort in Sabah, Tanjong Jara Resort in Terengganu, five city hotels managed by various Marriott brands, the Muse collection of bespoke properties, Niseko Village in Japan and The Surin in Phuket, Thailand.

Tham said profit contribution from the current UK assets will be huge because of foreign exchange gains.

YTL Hotels executive director Datuk Mark Yeoh Seok Kah said although its investment in Bath is small, the accretive value is positive.

Meanwhile, Majestic Hotel KL sales and marketing director Anna Olsson said YTL Hotels will examine the possibility of further additions to its existing collection.

“YTL Hotels will expand when the opportunity presents itself,” she replied via email.