Patchay.Com: May 2009

Raffles Hotel @ Pavilion KL

30 May, 2009 | Written by Patchay at 8:59 PM in Food Retail and Shopping, Malaysiana, Property Hotels and Malls

The prestigious Raffles Hotels & Resorts s expected to be the most expensive hotel in Kuala Lumpur when it opens at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur in 2011

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The luxury hotel brand Raffles will have its first hotel in Malaysia - The Raffles Kuala Lumpur - which is expected to open its doors in 2011.

The Raffles Kuala Lumpur will be at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, along Jalan Bukit Bintang. Featuring 200 rooms and suites, each with a minimum of 50 sq m (about 538 sq ft), it will offer the most spacious hotel in the city.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts' signed an agreement on May 28 with Harmoni Perkasa Sdn Bhd. Harmoni Perkasa is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Urusharta Cermerlang Sdn Bhd.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is 51 per cent owned by Urusharta and 49 per cent by the Qatar Investment Authority.

"The name Raffles is associated with exceptional standards of service, hospitality and cuisine. We look forward to working with Raffles Hotels and Resorts to bring a luxurious lifestyle experience to Kuala Lumpur," said Harmoni Perkasa chairman Tan Sri Zainol Mahmood.

Owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotel International (FRHI), Raffles Hotels & Resorts is expected to expand from seven Raffles hotels now to 23 hotels worldwide by 2012.

When opened, the Raffles hotel will compliment the luxurious Pavilion mall.

Raffles is now the rate leader in seven out of the eight markets it is in. In Dubai, the rate leader is the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. In Singapore, Raffles last year closed at an average room rate (ARR) of S$1,000 (RM2,420) per night.

FRHI executive vice-president David Roberts expects the KL hotel to have an ARR that is a fifth higher than the leader at that time.

Currently, the rate leader in the capital is Mandarin Oriental at over RM600 per night.

The "6-star" Pavilion KL Residences were completed recently.

Meanwhile, Chris Cahill, COO of FRHI said the group had always wanted to extend the Raffles portfolio to Kuala Lumpur.

"Now we have an ideal strategic partner and an unrivalled location."

The group also owns Fairmont and Swissotel brands of hotels and resorts.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts' public relations and communications manager Vivian Koh said Raffles Kuala Lumpur will offer six restaurants and bars including a specialty restaurant, an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge, a lobby bar, a pool bar and a Cafe Stelle located at the Couture Pavilion precinct.

The cafe which will be a showcase of Raffles' service prior to the opening of the hotel, opened its doors today. The Raffles Amrita Spa, a signature component of Raffles hotels and resorts worldwide, will feature 10 treatment rooms and an extensive range of massage and wellness treatments.

News report written by Rachael Lee (TheEdge) and Vasantha Ganesan (BTimes).

Resorts World @ Sentosa

19 May, 2009 | Written by Patchay at 12:49 AM in Architecture, Property Hotels and Malls, Singapore

6 theme parks equal 6 thrills; 6 hotels equal 6 unique themes. It's like waking up to 6 totally different holidays.

Welcome to Resorts World @ Sentosa, Singapore.

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The region's most compelling integrated resort city is due for opening in early 2010, roughly 10 months from today. Here's a look at the upcoming hotels and attractions:

1. Universal Studios Singapore® is where your fantasy world begins. When completed, it will be Southeast Asia's most prominent theme park with a total of 24 new rides and attractions, including a pair of dueling coasters that brush past one another in several near misses in their aerial combat. Dinosaurs, lemurs, ogres and Egyptian mummies will add to your thrills and adventures in each of the 6 themed zones.

Universal Studios Singapore under construction [Source: Theme Park Guy]

2. The Marine Life Park will be the world’s largest oceanarium with 700,000 fishes in 20 million gallons of water. Admire the dolphins, feed some sharks or interact with reef fishes, there are certainly so much fun for the family.

A roller coaster under construction [Source: Theme Park Guy]

3. The Maritime Xperiential Museum is a large 360-degree innovative multi-sensory educational museum and theatre. At the theatre, visitors will "board" an Arabia-bound ship that docked in Singapore 1,100 years ago. The ship ran into an ocean storm, and eventually the ship and its crew sank to the ocean floor...

Photo May 2009_1 [Source: The big-dog]

4. The Equarius Water Park will be amongst the world's most exciting water theme parks. A thrilling water slide that takes you on a wet and wild ride through tree tops and jungle greenery; "Snakes and Ladders" where water cannons defy gravity; jungle pavilions beneath the verdant forest and a surf pool.

The Festive Walk, Resorts World @ Sentosa

5. The FestiveWalk will be home to roving shows of lights, lasers, fire, water and special effects. It is the greatest place to meet, shop, dine, or drink and party. Be entertained by some of the world’s most spectacular street shows such as the magnificent Crane Dance at the waterfront tip.

Photo May 2009_2 [Source: The big-dog]

6. Le Vie, a purpose-built resident theatre show, is an epic delivered through powerful music, dazzling stage sets and splendid costumes. The musical acrobatic is a story of one boy’s journey to manhood as he discovers morality, sacrifice, and love. It will be put together by Mark Fisher, Pink Floyd and U2.

Hotel Michael (left) and Maxims Tower Hotel Casino (right)

7. Ultra-deluxe of Crocksford Tower (formerly known as Maxims Tower), an all-suite hotel at Resorts World @ Sentosa that overlooks the Singapore harbour and the Southern Islands. It will be home to Singapore's second Casino and the city's finest hospitality establishments.

Photo May 2009_3 [Source: The big-dog]

8. Hotel Michael, a truly boutique hotel that carries Michael Graves' signature stamp from floor to ceiling – and everything in between.

9. The Hollywood mania extends to the glamourous Hard Rock Hotel Singapore. The resort-hotel will have one of Asia's largest ballrooms.

Maritime Xperiential Museum (top) and Spa Villas

10. Sitting above the musical extravaganza Le Vie is the Festive Hotel. Contemporary and chic.

11. Sited at the fringe of a tropical rain forest, Equarius Hotel makes an ideal getaway for nature lovers and families.

Resorts World @ Sentosa, opening in 2010

12. At Resorts World @ Sentosa's Spa Villas, wake-up calls come in the sounds of waves and the beckoning of dolphins. Your ideal honeymoon stay is incomplete without pampering yourselves in the award-winning ESPA Spa Sanctuary, while catching the sunset with open sea views with your loved ones.

Singapore's first integrated resort + casino, Marina Bay Sands is expected to open earlier - in December 2009.

As Singapore's economy recovers from the global financial crisis, the city-state is hoping that Resorts World @ Sentosa alone will attract 15 million visitors in the first year of opening.

www.rwsentosa.com

PJ building more shopping malls

09 May, 2009 | Written by Patchay at 11:19 PM in Food Retail and Shopping, Malaysiana

There are already 9 shopping malls within 10km radius from my home in Petaling Jaya. And that is not all. As the economy recovers, many more shopping malls are planned within the next few years.

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The 9 malls that are already causing massive traffic jams on weekends are:
(1) One Utama Old and New Wing (600+ stores);
(2) Ikano Power Centre and IKEA;
(3) The Curve Mutiara Damansara;
(4) Cineleisure Damansara;
(5) Tesco Mutiara Damansara;
(6) Tropicana City Mall (Carrefour);
(7) Giant Kota Damansara;
(8) Giant Mall Kelana Jaya; and
(9) Digital Mall Section 14 PJ.

Other commercial centres completed recently are: (1) PJ8; (2) Jaya 33; (3) 3 Two Square; (4) Jaya One; (5) Merchant Square Tropicana; (6) Dataran Sunway Phase 2; (7) 10 Boulevard Kayu Ara; (8) Plaza Kelana Jaya Phase 1; (9) TTDI Plaza; and (10) Niu Ze Xui Ara Damansara.

Imagine the next few years when more shopping malls are being built nearby.

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SStwo Mall

The bustling neighbourhood of SS2 will welcome yet another shopping mall after the opening of Tropicana City early this year. This retail development will be a unique hybrid design of shophouses and retail mall, and is targeted for completion end 2009.

Its location is near SS2's Jasmine Towers, Ameera Residences or the popular "Paris Restaurant". Patchay.Com was told that Jusco could be a major tenant here.

The Strand Mall

The Strand Mall is a proposed boutique shopping mall offering a cornucopia of merchandise, cuisine and entertainment. This upcoming mall will house restaurants and nightspots along a tree-lined boulevard, located near the recently opened Giant Kota Damansara.

Carrefour Kota Damansara

Stop-work order has been issued for the construction of a new hypermarket due to protests by the nearby residents. Other hypermarkets in the vicinity are Giant Kota Damansara and Tesco Mutiara Damansara.

Giza @ Dataran Sunway

A retail hybrid that captures neatly the “play-work-fun” concept with a covered arcade designed as a convenient meeting place that will become the destination of choice for everyone to gather, socialize and to just watch people go by.

Retail component of Glomac Damansara

Adjacent to Tropicana City Mall and Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, the retail component of Glomac Damansara will include a small-sized 3-level hybrid mall.

The Paradigm Mall

Envisioned to be one of the most trendy shopping mall in PJ, the 5-level plaza will offer high-end retail outlets and stylish dining outlets. Located opposite Giant Mall Kelana Jaya, the Paradigm will also feature offices housed in 4 skyscrapers.

Makeover of Bangsar Shopping Centre

The shopping mall is undergoing a major renovation and will look like this when completed. A few component will be added, including a 4-storey retail annex and a 12-storey office tower.