Jazz-ing up the Penang hotel scene

GEORGE TOWN Penang is set to see the entry of yet another five-star resort to meet continued tourist demand.

The RM100 million sea-fronting Jazz Hotel Penang will open its doors by 2015, its operators said.

Full-service hotel management company Ri-Yaz Hotels and Resorts Sdn Bhd will manage the 226-room hotel, located at Tanjung Sri Pinang in Tanjung Tokong.

"Our expansion into Penang is timely, given the growth of the northern region's tourism industry and our projected increase in demand for hotel rooms in Penang," Ri-Yaz's managing director Datuk Shaheen Shah said in Penang yesterday, after the company signed an agreement with Sure Commerce Sdn Bhd.

Under the agreement, Sure Commerce will develop the Jazz Hotel Penang, comprising two towers which will be made up of the 30-storey hotel, along with service suites in the adjoining 45-storey tower.

Witnessing the signing of the agreement at the Eastern and Oriental Hotel were Yang diPertua Negeri Tun Hamdan Abdul Abbas and Emkay Group chairman Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar.

"We purchased a 0.91 ha piece of land close to Tesco from Koperasi Gabungan Negeri Pulau Pinang," Sure Commerce's managing director Todd SB Teoh said in an interview.

He said the Ri-Yaz group was chosen based on its proven record in managing boutique hotels in key tourism markets.

Meanwhile, Shaheen said the group will draw from its experience in managing leisure properties in Malaysia like the Cyberview Resort and Spa in Cyberjaya, Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa in Terengganu and Belum Rainforest Resort in Perak.

Internationally, Ri-Yaz also manages the Pure Villas in Canggu Bali, Indonesia.

"Over the next three years, we are looking to expand our footprint by investing and managing properties in Tuaran, Sabah, Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur," Shaheen said.

"The Jazz Hotel Penang," he noted, "will be positioned as a trendy chic hotel, where the latest technology will be showcased, and where jazz music and art pieces will enhance the hotel's contemporary design."

Also included in the design for the new hotel, are a sea-fronting roof-top pool, along with a glassed-ballroom.

Yan: Malaysia is a food paradise

KUALA LUMPUR Celebrity chef Martin Yan said the tasty and "explosive" flavours of Malaysian cuisine had inspired him to promote the country as a one-stop food paradise.

"I love Malaysia. I love its people, culture and especially, its food.

Fans jostling for celebrity chef Martin Yan’s (right) autograph
at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
- INTAN NUR ELLIANA ZAKARIA

"The combination of fresh herbs and spices used in preparing Malaysian dishes is very unique," said Yan, who is best known for his award-winning Yan Can Cook television show in the United States.

"That's why I come to Malaysia every now and then to taste all sorts of food at hawker stalls for new recipe ideas.

"I also try to incorporate local ingredients like belacan and santan into my cooking."

Yan said he planned to collaborate with Redzuawan Ismail, better known as Chef Wan, to help promote Malaysia's food, culture and heritage on the international stage.

"We have been friends for a long time and I have always admired his dedication towards showcasing Malaysia's exquisite flavours to the world."

The celebrity chef, who is based in San Francisco, said local dishes like nasi lemak, satay and bak kut teh, were some of the most delicious food he had ever tasted. He also said he visited Malaysian restaurants at least three times a month in the US.

Yan was in Malaysia yesterday for the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia exhibition held at the Putra World Trade Centre, where thousands of people gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite celebrity chef in action.

Yan was invited by Lee Kum Kee, a sauce manufacturing company, to showcase his culinary skills at the food fair.

By MINDERJEET KAUR

Extreme Equatorial makeover?

Kuala Lumpur: Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur may be torn down under an extreme makeover, reflecting rising competition among hotels as Malaysia's tourism industry grows.

It could also mean that the 38-year-old hotel will be the fourth structure along the busy Jalan Sultan Ismail to be earmarked for rebuilding.

Malaysia wants to triple tourism receipts to RM168 billion in 2020 from last year's figure of RM56.5 billion by attracting 46 per cent more visitors.

Hotel Equatorial will close from April 1 2012.

It is understood that the hotel management had informed its staff a few weeks ago on its plans to temporarily cease operations from March 31 2012.

"We are intending to do a major upgrading exercise that will involve the closure of the hotel," said its general manager Alan Ong.

"The hotel was built and designed for the 1960s and today there is a need to upgrade. (In order) to stay relevant in the business, we have to do the upgrading," Ong said.

Equatorial KL, which opened for business in 1973, was last renovated some eight years ago.

The hotel has a room inventory of 275 and sits on a land covering close to 85,000 sq ft, which according to industry estimates is worth as much as RM250 million.

Hotels have to regularly undergo renovation and refurbishment exercise in order to remain competitive in the market.

Competition is expected to be stiff, with several new hotel openings and extensions announced in the Kuala Lumpur city centre including Grand Hyatt, Impiana KLCC and the Banyan Tree Signatures.

Meanwhile, Ong was unable to say how long the hotel will be closed for upgrading works.

According to sources, it could take up to three years before the hotel will be able to open for business, as there are plans to tear down the building.

Messages left by Business Times at Equatorial KL's corporate office to obtain details on the project were left unreturned.

Nevertheless, a search on the Internet revealed that the owners had submitted and obtained approval as early as last year from Kuala Lumpur City Hall for the proposed makeover.

In February 2011, Business Times quoted Tradewinds Corp Bhd's chairman Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas as saying, "TCB plans to demolish both Komplex Antarabangsa and Crowne Plaza Mutiara Hotel to make way for a new property project".

In September 2011, Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said TCB had been granted a development order for Hotel Istana, which is located at the corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Raja Chulan.

However, as at press time, it is still unclear when these buildings will be demolished.

Hotel Equatorial's website states it is located in three major Asia Pacific countries with seven properties in the group.

In Malaysia, the Equatorial hotels are in Penang, Cameron Highlands, Bangi and Malacca.

The properties abroad are in Shanghai, China and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam.

Lumayan Indah to 'plant' RM700m Banyan Tree in KL

KUALA LUMPUR: The Banyan Tree Signatures Pavilion Kuala Lumpur will be developed at an estimated cost of RM700 million by Lumayan Indah Sdn Bhd.

The project, slated for opening by end-2016, will include luxurious hotel-plus-residences. It will have a gross development value of RM1.4 billion.

Lumayan Indah is building the 55-storey building on a 0.59ha land that it owns in Jalan Conlay.

The company is owned by Serantau Optima Sdn Bhd, which in turn is owned by Nightingale Global Ltd.

The chairman of Lumayan Indah, Tan Sri Aziz Ismail, is also the deputy chairman of Urusharta Cemerlang Sdn Bhd, which owns Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

Hotel manager Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd and Lumayan Indah yesterday signed an agreement to collaborate on the project. The "Siganatures" concept will be the first for Banyan Tree.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Banyan Tree both have Qatar Holding LCC as a key investor.

According to Aziz, the project will be the tallest residential development in Kuala Lumpur.

It has a total of 441 units of private residences, 51 units of serviced residences and 50 units of suites. The units will be sold at an average of RM2,000 per sq ft.

Meanwhile, Banyan Tree's executive chairman Ho Kwon Ping said that this may not be the sole Banyan Tree presence in Malaysia as the company is also seeking opportunities in Langkawi and Kota Kinabalu.

He added that Banyan Tree is also looking at the possibility of working on other projects elsewhere with Pavilion as the latter carries a strong brandname and is a reputable company.

Banyan Tree Residences and Banyan Tree Signatures Hotel will be complemented by a world-class spa, a heated pool, comprehensive amenities and a rooftop gourmet restaurant and sky bar.

The hotel will offer couture concierge services which include limousine, yacht and private jet booking facilities.

Banyan Tree and the mall will be connected by a private link bridge.

By Vasantha Ganesan

Eat: Choices in Cyberjaya

From kampung food and Chinese dishes to Bangladeshi and Middle-Eastern fare, the variety of offerings in Cyberjaya is amazing.

Mandy chicken at Restoran Al-Bustan

TO most of us, Cyberjaya is just a township featuring offices of major ICT companies.

But Cyberjaya TV compere Antonia D. Arguelles is showing me where to go for good food. Toni, as she’s better known, is a livewire and such a sport that the whole day spent sampling food around Cyberjaya, is nothing but fun.


Minangkabau-style sambal udang lontek boek
at Bayou Coffee House

We start at Kitchen Village in Prima Avenue Food Haven, Prima 3, famed for Chinese cuisine.
Besides Kitchen Village, there are four other food outlets here. Padi House serves fusion food. The Walk serves grilled chicken, pizza and Japanese bento sets. Wherelse Restaurant serves local delicacies and vegetarian foods. And the all-time-favourite OldTown White Coffee is here too.

At lunchtime on weekdays, Kitchen Village is packed with office workers, but come dinner time and on weekends, the restaurant is not as busy.
Toni, whose father is a Sabahan of Filipino descent and mother, a Malay with Eurasian blood, loves the fish head curry, butter prawn and the unique salted egg chicken at Wherelse Restaurant. The shaven ice with mango or strawberry is recommended too.

Exotic fare
Few Malaysians have tried Bangladeshi cuisine. Now you can, with two former Multimedia University students cooking up some of the best Bangladeshi dishes at Restoran Al-Bustan in Neo Cyber.
Zaihidul Hasan and Atiq Rahamn are dishing out their home delicacies with Middle-Eastern dishes. Must-try items include mandy chicken, Zorabian lamb and kebsa chicken, all served with basmati rice, chilli sauce, garlic sauce and salad.

Bangladeshis love very sweet desserts too. Try laddhu and rosh malai, or go for doi, a yoghurt-like curd.

The year-old Al-Bustan (which means paradise in Arabic) also makes home deliveries and offers catering services.

Just a few blocks away, another year-old restaurant, Pakistani Restoran Khayam E-Basera, draws diners with Arabian and Mughal cuisine. One of its best-sellers is shawaya chicken (roasted chicken with Arabic spices), served with rice.

Toni loves the mandy chicken and Zorabian lamb at Restoran Al-Bustan, and butter chicken and chicken pakora at Restoran Khayam E-Basera.

Home, sweet home
Next, Toni heads for Kelab Komuniti Taman Tasik Cyberjaya, where you can indulge in fun activities such as go-kart, paint ball and beach volley ball or tee off at the golf driving range.

The club is also known for its kampung cuisine. Its Bayou Coffee House, run by a mother-and-son team, has a list of must-try dishes that includes dinding daging masak kacang goreng, fried sliced beef cooked with long beans, ayam masak lemak cili padi and sambal udang lontek boek.

Rodziah Abdul Rahman cooks Negri Sembilan-style ayam masak lemak cili padi while the dinding daging masak kacang goreng and sambal udang lontek boek are Padang dishes.

Be there from 11.30am to 2.30pm if you want to try its international buffet (RM19.90).

No wonder Toni keeps coming back to Cyberjaya to relax and to enjoy the live performance at Prima Avenue. She says: “Like I said, good environment, no traffic jam, peace and tranquillity — stuff I yearn for on weekends! And I find them here in Cyberjaya.”

Where to go
Kitchen Village:
Prima Avenue Food Haven, Prima 3, Block 3503, Jalan Teknokrat 5, Cyberjaya. Tel: 03-8320 2699

Restoran Al-Bustan:
18-G Biz Avenue, Neo Cyber, Lingkaran Cyber Point Barat, Cyberjaya. Tel: 03-8319 1990. Email: al-bustan@live.com.my

Restoran Khayam E-Basera: 29G Neo Cyber, Lingkaran Cyber Point Barat, Cyberjaya. Tel: 017-332 3516

Bayou Coffee House:
Kelab Komuniti Taman Tasik Cyberjaya, Jalan Kelab, Persiaran Semarak Api, Cyberjaya. Tel: 03-8318 0008 ext 150. Email: rozeeflair@yahoo.com. Website: www.bayoucatering.com.my

STEPHEN NG
traveltimes@nstp.com.my

Spa Getaway

Located an hour’s drive from Johor Baru, Pulai Desaru Beach Resort offers a family-oriented vacation amid nature

FOR many vacationers, a weekend escape means travelling great distances. The Pulai Desaru Beach Resort and Spa is proof that holiday-makers need not travel long distances to a leisure retreat because it is less than an hour's drive from Johor Baru, via the new E22 Senai-Pasir Gudang-Desaru Expressway.

The Plaza houses some of the rooms at the resort.

The newly refurbished resort is a family-oriented hotel that offers many attractions surrounded by a natural environment.

Located in the heart of Desaru, the area is considered one of the best beaches on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia.

With a 22km-stretch of uninterrupted beach, the Pulai Desaru Beach Resort and Spa offers captivating panoramic views of the South China Sea with a lush tropical rainforest.

Guests can enjoy the vastness of the sprawling resort and get close and personal with nature.

 A standard superior room

Its spacious standard, deluxe and superior deluxe guest rooms blend contemporary design, comfortable elegance and modern artistic touches.

With its palette of fresh green shades and signature green floral motives, the new look is calm and relaxing, yet has an atmosphere which evokes holiday fun.

The tastefully furnished lobby, with modern floor tiles and furnishings set against the backdrop of the ocean, has a feeling of tranquility.

The Teppan! serves Japanese cuisine.

At the resort, guests get to enjoy fresh, bold dishes, from a mixture of local and Western cuisine at The Palm Brasserie, to Japanese Teppanyaki cooking at The Teppan!

The Lobby bar overlooking the swimming pool is ideal for chilling out, or sip a cocktail by the pool at the Coco Bar. In the evenings, The Pulai Lounge offers nightly live entertainment.

Alternatively, indulge, soothe and revitalise the body, mind and spirit at the Balinese-themed Pulai Spa, offering a complete spa menu with treatment rooms and high-quality spa products.

Children can play and be kept occupied at the Kid's Club. It has a daily itinerary of activities and a games' room with indoor games.

For an adrenaline rush in water sports, try the jet-ski, and banana boat activities, while land sports such as tennis, cycling, beach volleyball and go-karting are also available.

At the resort, there are excursions for nature lovers such as the popular fireflies experience, kampung tour, river cruises, river fishing, and visits to Kota Tinggi town, a fruit farm, ostrich farm and crocodile farm.

The highway connecting the western and eastern parts of Johor promises a smooth, quick and comfortable journey from Johor Baru to Desaru.

For room bookings and reservations, visit www.pulaigroup.com or call 07-822 2222.

Ting plans multi-billion ringgit project for Langkawi

Langkawi: Langkawi's economic fortunes as a tourist destination may be enhanced if Sarawak businessman Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiing has his way.

He is proposing a reclamation of some 80 hectares of land for the region's biggest marina centre, along with residential and commercial properties.

The proposed multi-billion ringgit "Port Langkasuka" project will comprise nine parcels of land containing among others, a golf course, resort and private villas.

"A RM200 million breakwater was built in the mid-1990s as a basis for this proposed development.

"I am hopeful that we can obtain the necessary approvals from the state government to proceed," he told reporters after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad opened the Four Points by Sheraton Langkawi Resort here yesterday.

The resort, which was previously known as the Langkasuka Beach Resort, underwent a RM30 million refurbishment prior to the rebranding.

The resort is owned by Global Upline Sdn Bhd - which also owns the Four Points by Sheraton property in Kuching, Sarawak.

Ting, who is Global Upline's group adviser, was instrumental in building Langkawi's first five-star resort Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort 20 years ago and also the Delima Resort Langkawi.

Dr Mahathir, who during his tenure as prime minister worked closely with Ting, is raising the island's profile as a preferred tourism destination, said that the duty-free island still has a lot of potential to be developed.

"There is still a lot of potential for resorts, as we have not used the mountains (to build resorts). Since the weather is cool up there, why not build a mountain resort?

"Perhaps mountain bike racing can be introduced," he noted, and said the five-year 'hiatus' which was taken after his tenure by the authorities in promoting Langkawi, can be addressed by allocating budgets to market the island better.

"Build another port, since there is demand for it and we have many good locations where the port can be built," Dr Mahathir added.

By Marina Emmanuel

RM100m resort town to put Tanjung Leman on the map

Johor Corporation (JCorp) is developing a RM100 million resort town in Tanjung Leman, within the Eastern Coast Economic Region (ECER).


Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibrahim presents the prizes to
 the winners of the KFC-Felda Johor Open Sail Boat Championship.
 - Picture by Mohd Fahmi Mohd Yusof

JCorp president and chief executive Kamaruzzaman Abu Kassim said the project site was 142ha large, and would be divided into eight sections. It is aimed at turning the beach on Johor's northeastern coast into a major tourism hub.

"Tanjung Leman has huge potential as a major tourism hub due to its natural beauty, the cleanliness of its beach, the abundance of fish for anglers, and its location as the gateway to nearby islands such as Pulau Sibu and Pulau Tinggi," said Kamaruzzaman after the closing ceremony of the KFC-Felda Johor Open Sail Boat Championship in Tanjung Leman on Oct 30.

The event was launched by Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

Some 300 fans thronged the beach to watch 16 teams take part in the championship.

Kamaruzzaman said the components of the new resort town included a resort and theme park (19ha), agro-tourism attraction (57ha), marina (10ha), 700 housing units (13ha) and 93 shop lots (2ha).

"Besides these, there will be the National Service training complex, a summer camp complex and a sailboat training club," said he said.

The first phase of development involves the construction of 120 chalets, the theme park, summer camp complex and marina.

These will be built from 2012 to 2014 at a cost of RM50 million.

Kamaruzzaman said overall progress of the development was 20 per cent.

By Mohd Fahmi Mohd Yusof

Johor Premium Outlets grand opening on Dec 11

KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Premium Outlets (JPO), a shopping haven joint-venture project between Genting Bhd and Simon Property Group, is scheduled for a grand opening on December 11.

The project, located in Kulai, Johor, is 95 per cent complete, said Datuk Seri Idris Jala, chief executive officer of Pemandu, the government unit that oversees the implementation of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

JPO, a project earmarked under the ETP to boost the economy via tourism, is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs.

"It is currently 95 per cent completed. More than 80 designer and brand names have confirmed their presence," Idris said at a briefing here yesterday that marked one year since the ETP was launched.

It was previously reported that the 330,000 sq ft centre will offer savings of 25 per cent to 65 per cent on brands that include Burberry, Coach, Tumi, DKNY, Giorgio Armani, Gap Outlet and Levi's.

On another matter, Idris said Strand Aerospace Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SAM), an Airbus-approved engineering services company, had sealed contracts with European companies, including Germany's Ferchau Engineering and the UK's Spirit Aerosystems. No details were provided.

Strand Aerospace is spearheading an initiative to develop and position Malaysia as a hub for high value engineering services. It is also a project under the ETP.

In Penang, QAV Technologies Sdn Bhd has completed and started operating a light emitting diode and solid state lighting centre, with an expansion plan in the pipeline, Idris said.

This is the first American National Standards Institute-certified facility outside of the US.

The government's Small Retailer Transformation programme, or TUKAR, has benefited 315 shops across the nation, he said.

The programme, aimed at modernising small-time retailers to increase their level of competitiveness, is targeting 500 shops this year.

By Adeline Paul Raj