The Pearl of the Orient gets a “reshine”

Arbind K. Shrestha, general manager of the “new” Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang, is a happy and excited man. This is because the hotel, which was closed for the past 21 months for a RM100 million (US$27 million) redevelopment exercise, finally re-opened on September 28.



The resort’s “rebirth” not only heralds a property that will appeal to discerning travellers, but also see it helping to put the shine back on the “Pearl of the Orient” which has become lack lustre in the past few years.



Shrestha, who has been in Penang for the past four and half years, said apart from the Rasa Sayang Resort, two other premier properties will soon be making their appearance soon - the Hard Rock Hotel (currently Casuarina Penang) and the rebranding of the former Mutiara Beach Resort into an InterContinental property. Together these three deluxe properties will reposition Penang as a destination with luxury products. Unlike other destinations which have failed because of lack of air accessibility, Penang is serviced by a number of international airlinesincluding Singapore Airlines with three daily B777 flights, Cathay Pacific with three flights a week and Korean Air with two weekly flights.



Indian airline, Kingfisher, has expressed interest to fly to the island soon and lowcost carrier AirAsia may also fly there.



“All these indicate that the shine is returning to Penang. Attesting to this is also an increase in hotels’ occupancy island-wide, averaging 12 percent, with beach resorts enjoying an average occupancy of 68 percent and city hotels 72 percent, ” said Shrestha, who is also chairman of the Penang chapter of the Malaysian Association of Hotels.



Added boost is the RM15 billion that are pumped into Penang for new infrastructure under the 9th Malaysia Plan (2006-2010). On the drawing board are a monorail, the inner ring road, the second bridge and tourism infrastructure.



“Things are happening,” said Shrestha. Adding to the happening is the “new” Rasa Sayang that, as he put it, “will create a destination within a destination”.



And what makes this redeveloped 304-room hotel qualify as a destination by itself is what it has to offer – 12 hectares of gardens; the signature CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La; a nine-hole golf course; three swimming pools; restaurants and bar with innovative dining concepts.



“To create an environment of exclusivity and privacy we have reduced the room inventory from 514 to 304 and enlarged the rooms.”



The rooms are spread over two wings – The Rasa and The Garden – each with its own grand lobby and lounge.



The Rasa Wing is the resort's top-notch premier product with private entrance, private lounge, private pool, 24-hour butler service, private swimming pool and oversize rooms measuring 62sqm. The Garden Wing too come with its own lobby and lobby lounge and large rooms at 42sqm.



Rooms at the Rasa Wing are priced between US$350 and US$500 while the Garden Wing rooms are priced from US$200 to US$350.







Shrestha pegged the average room rate for the Rasa Wing rooms at US$350 per night and the Garden Wing rooms at US$225 per night.



“The whole transformation of Rasa Sayang is geared towards the discerning and upscale leisure and corporate travellers. But at the same time we are providing our wholesalers with a deluxe, premier product,” he explained.



While its concentration is on this market segment, the resort is not leaving out the business events market. A main section has been designed to cater for executive retreats and incentive group gatherings, complete with a whole range of meeting and banquet facilities. Apart from the majestic Pelangi Ballroom, there are 14 meeting and function rooms – all of which are intelligently linked in a seamless layout that includes the business centre.



“About five percent of our business mix will come from the business events market,” said Shrestha.



The resort’s key markets are the UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, the US and Malaysia.



Shrestha said advance bookings are encouraging, with reservations stretching up to April 2007. He forecasts average occupancy in the mid-60s percent for the rest of the year from opening day. For 2007 he is confident of achieving occupying in the high 70s.



The debut of the luxurious CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, the first in Malaysia, will add to the hotel’s saleability.



Shrestha is gung ho that his hotel will promote Penang and restore its shine.



"It is slated to emerge as the icon for Asian hospitality and the timing is just right to leverage on Visit Malaysia Year 2007,” Shrestha said.