Berjaya Times Square Hotel Kuala Lumpur (KL) is undergoing an RM15 million makeover that will see all its rooms, ballrooms and meeting rooms upgraded this year.
Berjaya Hotels & Resort (BHR) chief operating officer, Foo Toon Kee said, 2020 is a key year for the hotel, primarily because of Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020).
"The Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture is aggressively promoting the VM2020 campaign and Malaysia Healthcare Year 2020. Therefore, we have to keep striving hard in order to provide the ultimate hospitality experience for our guests through our extensive array of high-quality offerings" said Foo.
Foo told NST Property that the whole refurbishment program for the hotel consists of the guestroom’s renovation in two phases.
He said, 88 rooms under the first phase of this exercise will be ready by May 2020 and the phase 2 target is to complete by the second half of 2020.
Another major focus is on the upgrading of the All Day Dining Big Apple Restaurant, which was successfully re-opened in November 2019 and the Manhattan ballrooms and meeting rooms.
"We are upgrading the hotel to provide top-class facilities for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) delegates which the hotel is renowned for," said Foo.
Foo said, the whole exercise to upgrade the hotel, which boasts a total room count of 650, will be completed by the end of this year.
"The hospitality industry has evolved in recent years with changing nature of guests’ expectations especially in looking for uniqueness, personalisation, and innovation when choosing a property to stay. Hence, we at BHR are committed to living up to these expectations. Also, we are preparing ourselves to overcome new competitions as well as for the economic recovery," he said.
Foo said the last major refurbishment for the five-star hotel was carried out in the year 2009-2010, and there were minor upgrading works from time to time.
The hotel's primary target customers and clients are corporate members from various industries, as well as free independent travellers from Singapore, Thailand, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Australia.
The average occupancy rate a year is around 70 per cent, with an average room rate (ARR) of RM400, said Foo.
Foo said the hotel will be maintaining the ARR to ensure that its business prospect, sales, and revenue remain at an optimum level.
He said, with a new concept that combines a stylish design with an exquisite dining and staycation room experience, the hotel is set to create a new wave in the industry.
The hotel's strategic location right in between the Tun Razak Exchange, KL’s international financial district, and Bukit Bintang City Centre, the up-and-coming new heartbeat of KL, will be an added competitive edge, he said.
This prominent landmark is strategically located in the heart of the city and is conveniently linked and easily accessible by various modes of road transportation.
BHR is a member of the Berjaya Corporation Group of Companies.