Billionaire Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is making a USD 190 million bid for a five star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, a local daily reported.
The prince is making a bid for Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, a joint venture between IGB corporation Bhd and Hong Kong's New World Group.
In an interview with London's financial times earlier this year, Prince Alwaleed said his Dubai listed kingdom Hotel Investments has USD 1 billion that would be used for expansion in Asia.
Source : Travelweekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]
Showing posts with label renaissance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label renaissance. Show all posts
Monday, June 25, 2007
Renaissance turns 11 and has got some things Dished out for its Birthday
 |
Variety: Chef Tan with some of his creations. |
At a special price of RM111 per person, diners can enjoy special celebration set menus at different establishments in the hotel.
At the Chinese restaurant Dynasty, Chef Tan Kim Weng has come up with three set menus, which combines both traditional and contemporary elements in the dishes.
The first menu offers Golden Scallop and Herbs Braised Beef, Braised Shark Fin soup with freshly peeled crab meat, Braised Soon Hock (fish) with Lotus Leaf Sauce, Braised Bean Curd Patties with Fish Maw and Shredded Chicken and Szechuan Spicy Noodles with minced pork and eggplant.
The second set starts off with a barbequed dish of three meats, followed by Braised Shark Fin Soup with Dried Scallop and Shredded Chicken, crispy Soon Hock with garlic flavoured oyster sauce, poached vegetables with assorted eggs and superior soup and fried rice with seafood and X.O sauce.
Both these sets are available for dinner and lunch while the third menu is only available for lunch. It starts off with a dim sum platter followed by double boiled dumpling soup with mini abalone, baked prawn with spring onion and supreme sauce, poached Hong Kong cabbage with superior soup and bean curd and steamed chicken and salted fried rice served in bamboo cup. All three sets end with a dessert of the day.
At the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant Med@Marche, two special menus are available for both lunch and dinner.
The first menu features Wild Mushroom Escabeche, gruyere and green onion crackers, Chestnut and smoked garlic soup with black truffle cream, seared king prawns on squid ink pasta, rock-melon sorbet, balsamic and crisp parmesan, roasted tenderloin beef, braised borlotti bean with sauteed herb gnocchi and chocolate flan with rhubarb cinnamon compote for dessert.
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Tempting: The Soon Hock fish is cooked in two different ways at Dynasty Restaurant. |
Both menus have a selection of fish dishes to replace the mains – grilled white tuna and saffron risotto with peas, bell peppers and lemon butter or steamed fillet of cod scented with roast shallots, sugar snap peas and wild mushrooms.
Japanese restaurant Sagano also has three different menus with interesting dishes to offer.
The special set menus will now be available until July 15 and each setting requires a minimum of two diners.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Renaissance's Baze - A hip and happening place
SOME three months after its launch, Baze Club has garnered its own hip and trendy crowd with music that crosses genres.
One of the first things that strike guests is the club's decor, which is a mix and match of lifestyles from different eras.
 |
Cosy: The Baze Club at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel. |
The dance floor is lined with real vinyl, giving the club an old school music vibe that is a hit with music lovers.
Glamorous is the theme for the club’s fittings with the lounge area featuring leopard prints, starlit ceilings, multi-coloured lights and even an aquarium.
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Really cool!: The DJ console resembling a giant radio at the Baze Club. |
“There is also a special VIP area for private functions equipped with its own sound system and screens for privacy.”
Different concepts rule the roost on different days of the week. Mondays are Back to Baze-ics, Tuesdays are Masquerade Nights, Wednesday celebrates Moulin Rouge, Thursdays are Whiskey A -Go-Go, Fridays are Vodka is Personal (VIP) while Saturdays are Organised Chaos.
“We will also be hosting gigs by local and international artistes in the future,” said Logan.
Happy Hours at Baze, from 5pm to 9pm on weekdays, has big discounts on drinks.
“We have many people coming after work so Happy Hours is a good thing for the customers,” said Logan.
 |
A lure: The dance floor lined with real vinyl is a hit with music lovers. |
“We want our guests to be smartly dressed to keep up the image of the club and of course drugs are a no-no,” Logan said.
At the door, the staff check the clubbers before they are allowed to enter.
‘“Membership to the club is by invitation and is extended only to females. Members will be treated to a host of activities that include product launches and events that focus on the needs of women,” said Logan.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Tastes of the Mediterranean
 |
Delightful deserts: Marche’s Tiramisu Ice-Cream (left) and Tiramisu Cake. |
2nd Floor West Wing
Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Corner of Jalan Sultan ismail and Jalan Ampang
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21622233
Business Hours: Mon-Fri, lunch (noon-2.30pm); dinner (6.30pm-10.30pm). Saturday, dinner only. Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
It was to bring together the three culinary regions of North Africa, Southern Europe and Eastern Mediterranean that Med@Marche chef de cuisine Tim Yee created the new eclectic menu for the restaurant.
“This new menu focuses on the robust and clear flavours of the Mediterranean, and at the same time, the choice of ingredients used coupled with the uncomplicated preparation,” said Yee, comparing it with the old menu in which flavours were simpler.
The First Element section of the new menu offers seven choices of starters – Fennel Crusted Yellow-Fin Tuna, Marinated Lentils served with Smoked Corn and Cucumber and the popular Marche’s MED.Plate of Sambucca Tiger Prawns, Fennel Spiced Tuna, Pickled Artichoke and Mushroom Al Ajilio.
For appetisers, the 30-year-old recommended the Lamb and Borlotti Beans Soup, which consisted of braised lamb shank parcel and tomato concasse. It was a truly hearty soup for which Yee had first to saute the lamb shank before adding it to vegetables such as onions, celery, leeks, carrots, tomatoes and capsicums and cooking them with lamb stock and chicken stock in a pot. The lamb shank is removed before Borlotti beans are added into the pot and cooked till they soften. Wrapped in filo pastry, the lamb shank parcels were served together with the bean soup.
For the main course, the restaurant has retained two items from its previous menu – the Roasted Fillet of Cod in a Seafood Brodetto, Bell Pepper and Tomato Bouillon and its specialty, the Roasted Rack of Lamb.
For the review, though, Yee introduced the Grain-fed Beef Tenderloin and the Baked Fillet of Red Snapper.
Yee said the beef was served in Mushroom Jus, Truffle Leek Puree and Sautéed Spinach while the snapper was served in Spiced Carrot Sauce, Braised Fennel and Asparagus Bundles.
 |
Introducing the new menu: Yee with dishes from the new menu. |
“We try not to use imported ingredients as they might lose their freshness by the time they arrive,” said Yee, who prefers to use local ingredients.
Although it is not a sin to skip the deserts, forgoing Yee’s Sin Selection may come as a regret. The New Zealander made sure we tried his specially prepared Tiramisu Ice Cream even after we had tasted the awesome Chocolate Tortino, Pistachio Creme Brulee with Strawberry Gelato and Mango Souffle with Saffron Ice Cream.
The new menu also offers a selection of pizzas and pasta.
Besides the new line-up, the restaurant has a three-course Express Set Lunch priced at RM40++ for busy executives and those on the go. It is available from Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays. A vegetarian option is also available.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Take a Break and Enjoy some Malaysian Hotel Packages - Sunway Resort, Westin, Sheraton, FHI Hotels, Cyberview, Equatorial, Renaissance
Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa
Enjoy a family vacation in an oasis just 30 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur. The Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa’s Cuti Sekolah Package at RM358++ per night includes one night’s chalet stay, breakfast and dim sum lunch for two and entry to the Sembunyi Spa Wet Area for two. An additional RM38++ will be charged per child under 12 years old. Valid from March 10-March 18. Or you could enjoy the Family Retreat Package at RM598++ per night for a chalet inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner for two adults and two children, plus entry to the spa for adults.
Reservations: (03) 8312 7000 or visit www.cyberview-lodge.com
FHI Hotels
FHI Location Sensations packages offer one-night stay in a deluxe room at the Crown Princess Kuala Lumpur at RM208++, superior room at The Federal Kuala Lumpur at RM198++ or a superior room at Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur for RM178++ (all per room, per night, inclusive of breakfast). Valid until May 31.
Reservations: visit fhihotels.com (book online and receive a fruit basket)
Hotel Equatorial Penang
For those planning to get away to Penang for the weekend (Friday to Saturday included), the five-star Hotel Equatorial Penang is ideally located just minutes away from the Penang Bridge, Penang International Airport and Queensbay Mall – the largest shopping centre in the island. Its Weekend Retreat Package priced from RM260++ per room per night includes one night’s accommodation and a RM100 food and beverage credit redeemable plan at any of the hotel’s five outlets. Half of the unused credit will be given to you upon checkout. Valid till Dec 31.
Reservations: (04) 643 8111, e-mail info@pen.equatorial.com or visit www.equatorial.com
Renaissance Kuala Lumpur
An Olympic-sized swimming pool, 24-hour fitness centre, fine dining restaurants and shopping await in the Renaissance Weekend Escapade. The package offers a Superior Room at the East Wing for RM275 or the Deluxe Room at the West Wing for RM315 (both per room per night) inclusive of buffet breakfast for two adults and two children below 12. The hotel has a shuttle service to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre at just RM2 per person (one way). The package is valid until June 30.
Reservations: (03) 2164 8877/toll free 1800 80 7706 or visit www.klrenaissance.com
Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort
The Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort offers a Feast Your Eyes Package between March 15 and May 31 at RM1,120. It includes two night’s stay in a Superior Room, breakfast for two, a buffet dinner for two, one cocktail per guest and complimentary use of the fitness centre, gym, sauna and Jacuzzi. Garden Rooms are priced at RM1,200 or try a Partial Sea View Room at RM1,260.
Reservations: (04) 952 8032 or visit www.sheraton.com/langkawi
 |
Unwind: You may choose to do it on a roller-coaster or merry-go-round at the Sunway Lagoon Theme Park. |
Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa’s Family Affair Package, which is packed with leisure activities, valid until Jan 1 next year. The three-day/two night package for two adults and two children (below 12), is priced at RM888++ at the Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa or RM688++ at the Pyramid Tower Hotel. Included are breakfast and one-day admission to the Sunway Lagoon Theme Park for two adults and two children, welcome drinks, fruit basket, RM100 food and beverage credit and a privilege shopping card for the Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall.
Reservations: (03) 7492 8000, e-mail bookroomsrhs@sunwayhotels.com or visit www.sunwayhotels.com
Westin Langkawi
Lots of possibilities are offered at the newly re-branded Westin Langkawi. The Private Ocean View Pool Villa Getaway at RM2,500 offers a free night’s stay with any one night booked in its luxurious one-bedroom villa with private infinity pool.
The package covers American breakfast in the villa, usage of I-pod player, free high speed Internet, 30-minute massage treatment for one guest within 24 hours of arrival, complimentary use of the Westin Airport Lounge, chocolate pralines and a bottle of white wine upon arrival. Valid from March 1 to June 30.
Or go for the Renewal Package at RM640 per night that includes complimentary upgrade to Deluxe Patio Room, a one hour Heavenly Spa session and daily use of the gymnasium. You need to book for a minimum of two nights. The package is valid until June 30 (quote the package code of PKRENEW.
Reservations: (04) 960 8871/960 8888), international toll free line 1800 325 3535, e-mail westin.langkawi@westin.com or visit www.westin.com/langkawi
The Westin Kuala Lumpur
No time to leave town for some rest? Just escape to The Westin Kuala Lumpur. Overnight accommodation in a Deluxe City View Room for two starts at RM385++ per night until Dec 30. It is inclusive of a Daily Breakfast Adventure in The Living Room for two, late checkout at 2pm and RM50 food and beverage voucher to be utilised at Eest, Prego or The Living Room. Families benefit too as they can enjoy a special rate when booking an interconnecting room at RM275++ per night inclusive of breakfast for two adults or four children.
Reservations: (03) 2731 8333, e-mail twkl.reservations@westin.com or visit westin.com/kualalumpur
Source : STAR (Compiled by Chin Mui Yoon )
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]
Monday, February 26, 2007
Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Female Butler
The idea of a female butler would have seemed funny to many people a few years ago. But some hotels are finding that guests prefer "a feminine touch" sometimes.
SHE knows exactly how much sugar to put in the cup of tea, how warm the water temperature in the bath should be, and which side of the bed the guest favours.
But she is neither a waitress nor a maid.
She is Tan Fooi Loo, one of three women in the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel’s team of butlers.
Yes, despite the authoritative definition by the Oxford Dictionary on the term "butler" — chief manservant of a house, Fooi Loo is a woman.
"Some guests were surprised to see me as their butler, but most usually take it in their stride now. I guess the trend of female butlers is growing everywhere," says Fooi Loo.
The 24-year-old IT-degree holder has been a butler with the five-star hotel for eight months.
"Frankly, I didn’t even know what a butler was when I first applied for the job. But a friend recommended it, saying it suits my inclination to serve others."
Serena (not her real name) is another female butler who has had her fair share of surprised guests.
"Female butlers aren’t exactly a new breed, but the general perception remains that butlers should be males," says the 28-year-old, who holds a diploma in hotel management and currently works at another five-star hotel.
The main culprit, says Serena, is conventional thinking and movies like Batman, which has made the prim and proper butler, Alfred Pennyworth, almost as recognisable a face as Bruce Wayne himself.
"Being a butler is more than just being a maid or a waitress. We are our guests’ personal assistants," says Fooi Loo.
"We don’t just serve them blindly. We need to anticipate their needs.
"A good butler is one who can serve the guest without having to be told what is needed."
Mohd Ilyas Zainol Abidin, president of the Malaysian Association of Hotels Board, says males used to dominate the scene, but the trend has now shifted.
"In the hotel line, there is no more mono-gender dominance today. Waiters used to be just males and maids, females. But it’s all mixed up now," he says.
"A butler is someone who looks after the well-being of a guest from the moment he steps into (the hotel) until he leaves. A female can carry out that duty too, as well, if not better, than her male counterpart."
In terms of neatness and attention to details, Ilyas says female butlers may have the advantage "but that doesn’t preclude male butlers from doing their job well".
Serena says the increase in female butlers could also be in tandem with the increasing number of female travellers around the world today.
There are also more female travellers from conservative Muslim communities.
"Middle Eastern couples prefer female butlers because the husband will only allow a female to attend to them in the room when the wife is present, due to the sensitivity of their culture and religion."
Serena has been asked a few times by such couples to take their picture in the room, often when the lady guest has taken off her burqa.
Female butlers, she says, are also more competitive than their male counterparts.
"Most of us jostle to serve the guests better and compare notes to see who are those favoured."
She says the competitiveness among her colleagues is healthy, "because it spurs us on to outperform each other and up the quality of service".
So what makes a good butler?
A paramount requirement, to Fooi Loo is learning not to "see" stuff.
"For example, I unpack for a guest and his luggage is filled with packs of condoms. I cannot show alarm or surprise. I must just smile and get on with work."
One must also have a strong stomach — when unpacking dirty clothes or checking the guests’ bathroom for any stray hair or towel out of place.
Serena says a butler also needs to be fluent in English, patient, hardworking, committed, able to anticipate needs, discreet, soft spoken, efficient and most of all — friendly.
The days when butlers must be stiff and serious are over.
"Guests want butlers who smile at them, someone whom they can have a conversation with. Someone who is almost a friend but also an assistant because that makes it easier for them to tell us their needs," says Fooi Loo.
The butler service at the Renaissance is only offered to the hotel’s VIP suites from the 24th to the 27th floors. The hotel has nine butlers in its team and each of the four floors is serviced by at least two butlers at one time.
"I’m proud to be one of the few female butlers on the team. I think I’ve done my job well and guests generally like me more than other male butlers because I smile more and seem a lot more approachable."
There are three butling shifts, 7am to 3pm, 3pm to 11pm, and 11pm to 7am, but "women never take the graveyard shift of 11pm to 7am", says Fooi Loo.
The same goes for female butlers in The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, unless they are on a 24-hour shift, says one of its nine female butlers, Elaine Tan.
"If we have been specifically asked to serve someone for 24 hours, we sleep in a separate room in the hotel."
The Ritz has 35 butlers in total and is the first and only hotel in town with a personalised butler service on all its 15 floors.
"We don’t select our butlers on technical skills — that we can teach them. The most important thing we look for is a person who is naturally warm and caring towards others," says Stephen A. Cokkinias, the hotel’s general manager.
After the managerial staff, butlers are the ones with the best knowledge on the workings of a hotel.
"They are also the ones closest to our guests as they deal directly and exclusively with them. They are the only ones who know what’s going on and how best to serve our guests," says Cokkinias.
If the wastepaper basket in a room is filled with sweet wrappers, Elaine knows that the guest has a sweet tooth, and will leave some candies on the table the next time she goes in for inspection.
As a result of the nature of the job, butlers don’t have much time to themselves, but many love their job for its uniqueness, says Serena, who has been in the line for four years.
"I’m on call 24 hours a day, and as such, I’ve to adapt my lifestyle to suit the guests. When they have their meals, I’ll quickly have mine, and when they rest, I rest.
"Should they need anything at any time of the day, I have to be there to provide it."
There were occasions when she had to go out to get souvenirs, Malaysian delicacies, as well as personal items such as contraceptives and sanitary napkins.
But the job has its rewards.
"I receive a lot of praises and tips from guests who are generous," says Serena, flashing a thank-you card with a US$100 (RM350) tip from a guest.
But for this bubbly woman, her biggest achievement is not the praise or the cash, but a simple "thank you".
"Some guests are very cold — they instruct me in a haughty manner and never say a word of thanks — but I don’t get discouraged.
"This only spurs me on to be even more warm, friendly and attentive towards them. And when they finally smile and say the two magical words, that’s what is priceless."
As it is customary for butlers to smile and look their best every day, it is probably unavoidable for some female butlers to attract extra attention from guests of the opposite sex.
Serena has come across a handful of young, rich guests who have tried to flirt with her.
"They don’t dare to make physical contact with us, knowing the dire consequences of doing so. However, they still indirectly try to work their charm on us."
She cited several occasions when some guests had asked her when she would be going off duty, "hoping that we could meet up with them somewhere".
Serena admits to having an American guest as an admirer for quite some time.
"He is in his mid-forties and always asks me out whenever he is in town but I always decline because work still comes first."
Some male guests who had sought her company did so not because they were attracted to her.
"Once, this male guest asked me into his room and I was quite apprehensive at first. But it turned out that he only wanted someone to talk to because he missed talking to his wife and proceeded to tell me all about her.
"Still, we have to keep a certain distance from the guests whenever we are in a room with them."
As far as she knows, there have been no cases of sexual harassment in her hotel involving female butlers, as the staff take precautions such as leaving the door open while in a room with a guest.
During the first few months of her job, Fooi Loo encountered a male guest who insisted that she unpack his luggage with the door closed, while he hovered nearby in only his bathrobe.
"It was a little scary actually. I didn’t know what to do because he refused to listen to my explanations.
"The matter was only settled when I called my manager and had him confirm for me that the door must never be closed — that it’s a strict hotel policy."
Source : NST
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]
SHE knows exactly how much sugar to put in the cup of tea, how warm the water temperature in the bath should be, and which side of the bed the guest favours.
But she is neither a waitress nor a maid.
She is Tan Fooi Loo, one of three women in the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel’s team of butlers.
Yes, despite the authoritative definition by the Oxford Dictionary on the term "butler" — chief manservant of a house, Fooi Loo is a woman.
"Some guests were surprised to see me as their butler, but most usually take it in their stride now. I guess the trend of female butlers is growing everywhere," says Fooi Loo.
The 24-year-old IT-degree holder has been a butler with the five-star hotel for eight months.
"Frankly, I didn’t even know what a butler was when I first applied for the job. But a friend recommended it, saying it suits my inclination to serve others."
Serena (not her real name) is another female butler who has had her fair share of surprised guests.
"Female butlers aren’t exactly a new breed, but the general perception remains that butlers should be males," says the 28-year-old, who holds a diploma in hotel management and currently works at another five-star hotel.
The main culprit, says Serena, is conventional thinking and movies like Batman, which has made the prim and proper butler, Alfred Pennyworth, almost as recognisable a face as Bruce Wayne himself.
"Being a butler is more than just being a maid or a waitress. We are our guests’ personal assistants," says Fooi Loo.
"We don’t just serve them blindly. We need to anticipate their needs.
"A good butler is one who can serve the guest without having to be told what is needed."
Mohd Ilyas Zainol Abidin, president of the Malaysian Association of Hotels Board, says males used to dominate the scene, but the trend has now shifted.
"In the hotel line, there is no more mono-gender dominance today. Waiters used to be just males and maids, females. But it’s all mixed up now," he says.
"A butler is someone who looks after the well-being of a guest from the moment he steps into (the hotel) until he leaves. A female can carry out that duty too, as well, if not better, than her male counterpart."
In terms of neatness and attention to details, Ilyas says female butlers may have the advantage "but that doesn’t preclude male butlers from doing their job well".
Serena says the increase in female butlers could also be in tandem with the increasing number of female travellers around the world today.
There are also more female travellers from conservative Muslim communities.
"Middle Eastern couples prefer female butlers because the husband will only allow a female to attend to them in the room when the wife is present, due to the sensitivity of their culture and religion."
Serena has been asked a few times by such couples to take their picture in the room, often when the lady guest has taken off her burqa.
Female butlers, she says, are also more competitive than their male counterparts.
"Most of us jostle to serve the guests better and compare notes to see who are those favoured."
She says the competitiveness among her colleagues is healthy, "because it spurs us on to outperform each other and up the quality of service".
So what makes a good butler?
A paramount requirement, to Fooi Loo is learning not to "see" stuff.
"For example, I unpack for a guest and his luggage is filled with packs of condoms. I cannot show alarm or surprise. I must just smile and get on with work."
One must also have a strong stomach — when unpacking dirty clothes or checking the guests’ bathroom for any stray hair or towel out of place.
Serena says a butler also needs to be fluent in English, patient, hardworking, committed, able to anticipate needs, discreet, soft spoken, efficient and most of all — friendly.
The days when butlers must be stiff and serious are over.
"Guests want butlers who smile at them, someone whom they can have a conversation with. Someone who is almost a friend but also an assistant because that makes it easier for them to tell us their needs," says Fooi Loo.
The butler service at the Renaissance is only offered to the hotel’s VIP suites from the 24th to the 27th floors. The hotel has nine butlers in its team and each of the four floors is serviced by at least two butlers at one time.
"I’m proud to be one of the few female butlers on the team. I think I’ve done my job well and guests generally like me more than other male butlers because I smile more and seem a lot more approachable."
There are three butling shifts, 7am to 3pm, 3pm to 11pm, and 11pm to 7am, but "women never take the graveyard shift of 11pm to 7am", says Fooi Loo.
The same goes for female butlers in The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, unless they are on a 24-hour shift, says one of its nine female butlers, Elaine Tan.
"If we have been specifically asked to serve someone for 24 hours, we sleep in a separate room in the hotel."
The Ritz has 35 butlers in total and is the first and only hotel in town with a personalised butler service on all its 15 floors.
"We don’t select our butlers on technical skills — that we can teach them. The most important thing we look for is a person who is naturally warm and caring towards others," says Stephen A. Cokkinias, the hotel’s general manager.
After the managerial staff, butlers are the ones with the best knowledge on the workings of a hotel.
"They are also the ones closest to our guests as they deal directly and exclusively with them. They are the only ones who know what’s going on and how best to serve our guests," says Cokkinias.
If the wastepaper basket in a room is filled with sweet wrappers, Elaine knows that the guest has a sweet tooth, and will leave some candies on the table the next time she goes in for inspection.
As a result of the nature of the job, butlers don’t have much time to themselves, but many love their job for its uniqueness, says Serena, who has been in the line for four years.
"I’m on call 24 hours a day, and as such, I’ve to adapt my lifestyle to suit the guests. When they have their meals, I’ll quickly have mine, and when they rest, I rest.
"Should they need anything at any time of the day, I have to be there to provide it."
There were occasions when she had to go out to get souvenirs, Malaysian delicacies, as well as personal items such as contraceptives and sanitary napkins.
But the job has its rewards.
"I receive a lot of praises and tips from guests who are generous," says Serena, flashing a thank-you card with a US$100 (RM350) tip from a guest.
But for this bubbly woman, her biggest achievement is not the praise or the cash, but a simple "thank you".
"Some guests are very cold — they instruct me in a haughty manner and never say a word of thanks — but I don’t get discouraged.
"This only spurs me on to be even more warm, friendly and attentive towards them. And when they finally smile and say the two magical words, that’s what is priceless."
As it is customary for butlers to smile and look their best every day, it is probably unavoidable for some female butlers to attract extra attention from guests of the opposite sex.
Serena has come across a handful of young, rich guests who have tried to flirt with her.
"They don’t dare to make physical contact with us, knowing the dire consequences of doing so. However, they still indirectly try to work their charm on us."
She cited several occasions when some guests had asked her when she would be going off duty, "hoping that we could meet up with them somewhere".
Serena admits to having an American guest as an admirer for quite some time.
"He is in his mid-forties and always asks me out whenever he is in town but I always decline because work still comes first."
Some male guests who had sought her company did so not because they were attracted to her.
"Once, this male guest asked me into his room and I was quite apprehensive at first. But it turned out that he only wanted someone to talk to because he missed talking to his wife and proceeded to tell me all about her.
"Still, we have to keep a certain distance from the guests whenever we are in a room with them."
As far as she knows, there have been no cases of sexual harassment in her hotel involving female butlers, as the staff take precautions such as leaving the door open while in a room with a guest.
During the first few months of her job, Fooi Loo encountered a male guest who insisted that she unpack his luggage with the door closed, while he hovered nearby in only his bathrobe.
"It was a little scary actually. I didn’t know what to do because he refused to listen to my explanations.
"The matter was only settled when I called my manager and had him confirm for me that the door must never be closed — that it’s a strict hotel policy."
Source : NST
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]
Saturday, December 30, 2006
New World Hotel Renamed to Renaissance KL
THE New World Renaissance Hotel has been renamed Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, East Wing.The change of name is a move to make it easier for everyone, particularly those in the travel industry, to remember the hotel’s name.
Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim flagged off a convoy of taxis at the hotel to mark the occasion.
Lim and Renaissance KL Hotel general manager Robert Frager earlier presented goodie bags filled with lunch boxes and gifts to the taxi drivers.
The goodie bag distribution to the taxi drivers was held for two consecutive days to create and increase awareness on the hotel’s East Wing.
About 600 goodie bags were distributed each day to all taxi drivers passing through Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Ampang.
“The renaming is timely as Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007 is starting in a few days’ time,” said Lim.
“Tourism is a service-oriented and people-pleasing business. Tourists always remember their travel experiences, especially if they are pleasant and wonderful ones.
“Friendly smiles, courtesy, politeness and assistance can leave lasting impressions on our visitors – from the moment they exit the plane and board into a taxi, to their hotel stay, and more,” said Lim.
“I’m happy that this hotel is working hand in hand with several taxi associations to promote VMY 2007. The VMY stickers on the taxis and the display of non-slip dashboard mats and sun shades given by the hotel are great ways to promote Malaysia as a top tourist destination.”
According to Frager, the Renaissance KL Hotel now has two wings – the 521-room East Wing and 400-room West Wing.
“The Renaissance KL Hotel has undergone a few changes since its inception in June 1996, while New World Hotel opened its doors in July 1996,” he said.
“In 1998, New World Hotel was rebranded to the New World Renaissance KL Hotel and amalgamated with Renaissance KL Hotel, officially becoming Renaissance KL Hotel.
“Effective Jan 1, 2007, the New World Wing will change its name to East Wing, which completes the integration of the whole complex into one hotel with two wings – East Wing and West Wing.
“The purpose of renaming New World Renaissance Hotel to Renaissance KL Hotel, East Wing, is to eliminate all confusion and introduce new packages after the refurbishment is completed,” said Frager.
The East Wing has already embarked on a gradual renovation and upgrading process in the last one-and-a-half years, while its rooms will undergo total renovation from the third quarter of 2007.
The former Tempts restaurant located on the ground floor is now called Temptations, a very stylish and hip restaurant that serves local and Asian specialties. The Stage Lounge has also been given a new facelift.
“Our slogan for the official renaming is ‘You don’t need a compass to find your comfort – Be it East or Be it West ? We provide the Best',” said Frager.
He added that the hotel would promote VMY 2007 at the 2,700 properties located in 66 countries under Marriott International – the operator and franchisor of hotels under the Marriott, JW-Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, and several other brand names.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Chefs Makes Music + Culinary Delight
MALACCA: Rennaissance Melaka Hotel chefs showed their guests and patrons at the hotel's 22nd anniversary celebrations recently that they could “stomp” out music as well as whip up culinary delights.Armed with knifes, woks, chopsticks, pans and cutting boards, the chefs gave a series of performances that appeard to have been inspired by stomp, a new genre of music where performers use kitchen utensils as percussion instruments.
The chefs and kitchen staff showing off their musical talents by using kitchen utensils at the event in Malacca recently.The celebrations themed “A Gallivanting Evening With Our Chefs” was also in conjunction with the closing of the 2006 Malaysian International Gourmet Festival in Kuala Lumpur from Nov 2 to 29, at which the hotel's Capers Restaurant had presented Peranakan dishes as one of its two special menus.
Varughese in chef attire and Court of Appeal judge Datuk Wira Low Hop Bing, who was one of the guests, enjoying the event.Capers is the first and only fine dining restaurant to represent the southern region at the festival and executive chef Ooi In Jin created a special Peranakan menu for the festival..
The chefs and kitchen staff showing off their musical talents by using kitchen utensils at the event in Malacca recently.The celebrations themed “A Gallivanting Evening With Our Chefs” was also in conjunction with the closing of the 2006 Malaysian International Gourmet Festival in Kuala Lumpur from Nov 2 to 29, at which the hotel's Capers Restaurant had presented Peranakan dishes as one of its two special menus.
Varughese in chef attire and Court of Appeal judge Datuk Wira Low Hop Bing, who was one of the guests, enjoying the event.Capers is the first and only fine dining restaurant to represent the southern region at the festival and executive chef Ooi In Jin created a special Peranakan menu for the festival..
The hotel, which received the best five stars award by Tourism Melaka in December last year, was also awarded for its excellent service at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Night earlier this year.
Renaissance Melaka general manager George Varughese, who came on board two years ago and who was musically outfitted with a saucepan and ladle for the event, said the management team had introduced many changes and upgrades in the hotel's interior design, bedding, services and restaurants throughout 2006.
“I hope everyone will continue to work harder to strive for excellence and continue to be the market leader in occupancy and rates in this historiccity,” said Varughese.
Source : STAR
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