SHAH ALAM: DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City at i-City Finance Avenue in Selangor will enhance the Hilton Group's already established portfolio in Southeast Asia, according to Jamie Mead, senior director of operations for Hilton Southeast Asia.
"This hotel fuses a vibrant balance of business and leisure with the i-City convention centre, the main meeting hub in Shah Alam, and many iconic destinations and activities suiting all travellers.
"Whether they are looking for cultural exploration, a gourmet experience, or an action packed weekend at the amusement park, i-City is ideally located and within a short distance of air, road, and rail transport.
"As we continue to grow throughout Southeast Asia, you will see how the hotel complements our already established portfolio with its ideal central business and leisure location," he said during the hotel's official opening today.
The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, and Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, officiated at the event.
I-Berhad chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Selangor Exco for Investment, Industry, Trade, and Small and Medium Industries Datuk Teng Chang Khim were also present.
Mead said in his opening remarks that over the past 20 years, he had seen the world going through numerous upheavals while also watching the Hilton group continued to provide services to millions of travelers from around the globe.
"Hilton has been in Malaysia since 1973, and the DoubleTree by Hilton brand was introduced in 2010. We have grown substantially with 13 operating properties, with the DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City being the latest addition, following the DoubleTree by Hilton in Putrajaya. DoubleTree in Shah Alam is a fantastic example of the brand that brings with its 300 digital key enabled, well-appointed guest rooms and suites, boasting panoramic views of i-City," he said.
Mead said Hilton not only intended to give its clients a first-rate experience and service but also practiced sustainability.
In order to achieve its sustainability target of decreasing its carbon emissions by 50 per cent, it has made a global commitment to cutting in half its environmental footprint and tripling its investment in social impact.
"Each Hilton Hotel, including this new opening in Shah Alam will be part of our meet-with-purpose meetings and events activation. This hotel, in particular, will be the first in Malaysia to be introducing large-size amenities to reduce single-use plastics," he said.
Mead said the hotel had a significant possibility to serve not only affluent professionals but also families, leisure travellers, and others because of its centralised location.
The new 300-room luxury hotel, which will have its two flagship eateries, Makan Kitchen and Tosca Trattoria Italiana, is expected to revolutionise the market for business travellers to Shah Alam, according to Lim.
Additionally, The Koffee and Axis Lounge will complement the business, recreational, retail, and residential components at Finance Avenue in i-City with its top-class meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions facilities.
"This expansion with Doubletree by Hilton reaffirms our dedication to bolster Selangor's tourism industry and support the state's economy. The perfect match between the hotel and i-City Finance Avenue will have a good effect on the tourism sector in Selangor," Lim said.
Lim anticipates some 30,000 business travellers to arrive by the end of this year and targets at least 10,000 knowledge workers from the financial services, e-commerce, and technology industries by 2023 in the i-City Finance Avenue.