Flynas charts expansion plans

By Sharen Kaur
sharen@mediaprima.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia's carrier Flynas will raise over US$100 million (RM330 million) by the end of this year to help fund its growth, which includes expansion into Malaysia.

Flynas chief executive officer Raja M. Azmi said the airline is mulling over issuing sukuk or other financial instruments, such as securitisation of assets or revenue.

"We are talking to Arab and Malaysian banks. It is to partly finance the airline's growth and develop the global flight routes," said Raja Azmi, formerly AirAsia Bhd executive vice-president and group chief financial officer.

Flynas, owned by Nas Holdings, which is controlled by Arab royalties, offers flights within the Arab region, Turkey, Sudan and Egypt.
From April, it will offer regional travellers access to affordable, high-value air travel to Europe, Asia and Africa, operating out of its hub in Jeddah.

The new destinations include Kuala Lumpur, London, Gatwick and Manchester in the United Kingdom, Paris, Jakarta, and Casablanca.

In the near future, it will fly to Pakistan and India.

The global expansion is part of the airline's aim to fly 20 million passengers annually by 2020.

Last year, Flynas flew 3.5 million passengers and the target this year is to serve five to six million passengers, Raja Azmi said.

At a press conference after the launch of the Kuala Lumpur-Jeddah route yesterday, Raja Azmi said Flynas will use the A330 planes to offer three weekly flights starting early April.

The frequency will be doubled by the end of the year.

"We will fly out of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang. If there is a good offer, we will fly from klia2.

"Our flight fares will be lower than the local airlines, especially AirAsia. In fact, we are talking to MAS, AirAsia and Malindo Air for code sharing and alliance," he said.

Raja Azmi is bullish on the airline's prospects here, targeting the 200,000 Muslims who travel for their annual pilgrimage to Mecca, as well as non-Muslims.

Flynas is also targeting Arab holidaymakers. In the first nine months of last year, some 73,000 Arabs visited Malaysia.

YTL unit aims to expand Vistana hotel chain nationwide

By Sharen Kaur

KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Corp Bhd's hospitality arm, YTL Hotels & Properties Sdn Bhd, aims to expand the Vistana hotel chain nationwide over the next few years.

Deputy managing director Datuk Yeoh Seok Kian said YTL Hotels is also eyeing luxury hotel brands to include in its classic collection.

YTL Hotels owns and manages a collection of hotels and Spa villages locally and in Thailand, Indonesia, China, Japan and Europe.

These include Pangkor Laut Resort, Cameron Highlands Resort, Tanjung Jara Resort, The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, The Majestic Malacca, Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur and JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur.

Vistana Hotel is a business-class hotel operated by YTL Hotels.

The company currently owns Vistana Hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan and Penang, which underwent refurbishment recently.

It is believed that YTL Hotels invested around RM50 million to RM60 million in the refurbishment exercise.

The company launched the refurbished properties last week, providing better offerings for both business and leisure travellers.

The refurbishment of Vistana Hotel Kuala Lumpur involved the hotel's 360 executive deluxe rooms and two executive suites, while for Vistana Hotel Kuantan, it involved 210 executive deluxe rooms and five executive suites.

For Vistana Hotel Penang, the exercise involved retrofiting its 221 executive deluxe rooms and 17 executive suites.

The refreshed hotels all have a modern and stylish look, offer 24-hour gyms equipped with FreeMotion Fitness equipment, free WiFi, and "grab-and-go" coffee bars.

Yeoh said YTL Hotels' investment to upgrade the hotels is to capture the growing tourism market as well as to cater to the demand arising from Visit Malaysia 2014 events.

For Visit Malaysia 2014, the government is targeting 28 million in tourist arrivals and RM76 billion in tourist receipts.

It is expected to contribute to the realisation of the government's target of receiving 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in tourist receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan 2020, which is part of the National Key Economic Areas.

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.