KUALA LUMPUR: The world's largest hotel chain, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (Wyndham), will take over and manage a 50-storey luxury residence at Jalan Kia Peng in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).
The residence, with over 400 units and a gross development value of RM820 million, has been renamed Wyndham Suites KLCC.
The hotel chain has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with developer I-Berhad.
Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, chairman of I-Berhad said the rationale for the partnership is to offer property investors luxury living and the prestige of owning a piece of the Wyndham legacy, which is often associated with 5-star experiences and exceptional services.
"This is yet another significant leap forward for I-Berhad, and we are thrilled to join hands with Wyndham to transform Wyndham Suites KLCC," he said.
Lim said the collaboration will not only improve I-Berhad's overall brand reputation and visibility but will also provide a powerful platform for the company's RM10 billion i-City project in Shah Alam to gain greater international exposure.
Through the Wyndham Rewards ecosystem, Wyndham Suites KLCC hopes to attract families, business travellers, and vacationers from around the world to Kuala Lumpur.
Lim believes that through cross-promotional activities, the influx of visitors to Wyndham Suites KLCC will extend to i-City.
This will not only benefit the tourism sectors of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, but it will also add prestige and appeal to i-City, increasing property values and attracting a more affluent and diverse clientele to the area, he said.
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts president of Asia Pacific Joon Aun Ooi said with the strong recovery of business and leisure travel across Asia Pacific, Malaysia continues to be a popular destination for business and leisure travellers.
"We are delighted to partner with I-Berhad for this esteemed project. This partnership will provide further growth opportunities for our portfolio of hotels by strengthening our flagship brand Wyndham's presence in Malaysia."
Meanwhile, Lim said the partnership with Wyndham also aligns with i-City's larger vision of creating a destination-oriented ecosystem, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy luxury living while remaining seamlessly connected to i-City's tech-centric hub in Shah Alam.
"This symbiotic relationship promotes the growth and vibrancy of both locations, creating a dynamic urban experience that spans multiple areas and draws in more businesses, residents, and visitors to i-City in Shah Alam," he added.
Between November of this year and January of 2024, i-City will be driving the One Shah Alam, One Destination programme, which aims to provide visitors with the opportunity to experience the best of Shah Alam in a single location.
The programme will emphasise improved lightscapes, immersive edutainment experiences, and community engagement activities.
I-Berhad has spent RM10 million on lightscape and immersive edutainment enhancements such as a 5D immersive winterland and a 50,000-square-foot indoor digital sports arena.