Hotel bookings have been affected due to uncertainty over when the 13th general election will be held.
According to hoteliers, this has not only affected room reservations but also seminars, meetings and weddings.
1881 Chong Pian Cultural Hotel director Seah Kok Heng said it has not received many bookings from locals even though it is the school holidays.
“We only have 40% to 50% occupancy this month.
“Usually, our hotel would be at least 80% full during school holidays,” he said.
Seah added that this could be due to uncertainty over the GE date, while some may be tightening their belts after Chinese New Year.
Empire Hotel group general manager Ricky Ho said bookings for seminar meetings have slowed down this week.
“Corporations would prefer to hold them after the elections,” he said.
Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners executive director Shaharuddin M. Saaid said many people have put on hold their travel plans, business deals and even weddings due to the elections.
“They are waiting for the GE to take place,” he added.
However, Malaysian Association of Hotels vice-president Christina Toh said bookings were picking up as many people believe the GE will not take place this month.
“They are confident it will be after the school holidays,” she said in a phone interview yesterday.
In the last few days, hotels nationwide have been receiving last-minute bookings, she said.
Toh, who is also Dorsett Regency Kuala Lumpur's general manager, added that the domestic market contributes about 20% to 30% of hotel stays.
Many Malaysians met during the MATTA Fair held earlier this month said they were putting their vacation plans on hold until after the elections
Source : STAR
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