Holiday Inn & Suites for Penang’s mainland

PETALING JAYA (Dec 31): Exopuri Development Sdn Bhd has signed a management agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) to manage the 288-room Holiday Inn & Suites at Juru Sentral, Central Seberang Perai, set for completion in 2019.

Juru Sentral is an integrated development comprising a condominium, Small-office Home-office (SoHo) apartment tower and shopoffices.

The 25-storey Holiday Inn & Suites has a development cost of RM117 million.

According to Exopuri managing director, Ng Kok Leong, he noted that the hotel was brought in to meet the needs of professionals who are working in the area as there was no such facility to cater for them.

“I saw the demand for this type of development as there are industrial companies and multinational corporations in the area,” said Ng in an interview with City and Country.

Exopuri’s hotel division consultant, Arthur Yeap agrees.

“I think IHG saw the potential in this area, especially when they visited the industrial parks. They went to Batu Kawan and Kulim… and they felt there was potential for growth in the areas. The fact that there was no international hotel brand here, and that most of the companies in Batu Kawan were multinational companies, led us to believe we would be able to draw some business here with a brand that is recognised worldwide,” said Yeap.

About 15% of the 288 units will cater for long-stay guests, coming with a kitchenette, a dining room, and two bedrooms. The other units are regular hotel rooms, including the VIP rooms.

Room rates are estimated to range from RM240 to RM270 with facilities such as a health club and spa, swimming pool and Jacuzzi, café, multi-purpose hall on the seventh floor and a sky bar with outdoor dining on the 35th floor. The hotel will also have ballrooms, conference rooms and function rooms.

This is an excerpt of the report in the Jan 2, 2017 issue of City & Country, the property pullout of The Edge Malaysia. Subscribe here for your personal copy.