RM30m facelift for PJ Hilton rooms

RM30m facelift for PJ Hilton rooms
BY NICK LEONG

PETALING JAYA: Hilton Petaling Jaya, which has just spent RM7mil to renovate its ground floor, plans to pump in at least RM30mil more to refurbish its rooms.

Business development director Markus Kaliss said the hotel had proposed to pay between RM60,000 and RM65,000 per room pending approval.

“We have various scenarios for refurbishment because we can only do it in phases and don't forget, next year is Visit Malaysia Year 2007,” he told StarBiz recently.

He said PJ Hilton last refurbished its rooms two to three years ago at about RM50,000 per room.

PJ Hilton consists of a 10-storey West Wing and a 21-storey East Wing and has a total of 553 rooms. The first international hotel in Petaling Jaya also operates four restaurants and one lobby lounge cafe – the Paya Serai Restaurant, Toh Yuen Restaurant, Genji Japanese Restaurant, Uncle Chilli's Restaurant and Caffe Cino.

Kaliss said the ground-floor renovation would be completed by year-end.
“The reception area is completed and it is more spacious and luxurious,” he said.

He said the completely rebuilt Uncle Chilli's was expected to start operations early next month.
Kaliss said PJ Hilton looked forward to Visit Malaysia Year 2007, and commended the Government for its initiative to boost the tourism industry.

However, he was concerned about the emphasis on cheap products and discounts.

“When the activities are price-driven, we will never get good quality. In the long run, hotels will not be able to continue giving the best service,” he added.
Kaliss said PJ Hilton expected revenue to grow about 10% next year.

“We expect room rates this year to finish at about RM200 (a night) and increase to RM215 to RM220 next year, which is good compared with international standards,” he added.
He said the hotel had an average occupancy rate of about 76%, with most guests being business travellers.

News Source : STAR

[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]