| After a long day in
the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur, battling traffic
congestion, and hopefully taking in some of the sights,
weary business travelers need a bit of relaxation.
Kuala Lumpur offers a plethora of five-star choices,
with rates that will astonish out-of-towners. At the
Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur, for example, less
than $100 per night for five-star service is practically
the norm.
A four-storey high lobby atrium will greet guests
at check-in. Opened in 1997, the hotel offers all
the classic grandeur and modern conveniences such
as in-room high-speed Internet access and fax machines,
elegant and luxurious guest rooms, all with spectacular
city views, and a
24 hour business center, that world travelers have
come to expect.
“Our guests travel often, from one country to
another. They’ve got a certain set of expectations
that need to be fulfilled,” says Erhard Hotter,
Managing Director of the Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur,
as well as Vice President and Area Managing Director
for Southeast Asian Starwood Hotels.
Service at the Sheraton Imperial is extremely willing
and genuine, and always with a smile. “We differentiate
through our associates’ service delivery. They
are proactive in meeting the globalized expectations
of our guests,” says Hotter.
Offering renewal for weary business travelers and
energy boosts for vacationers on the go, the hotel’s
Imperial Spa by Mandera combines Balinese, Hawaiian,
Thai, and European influences while providing a range
of massage, facial, and body treatments.
“In Asia, spas are the future,” says Hotter.
“They are visited equally as often by men as
they are by women. Men these days are becoming more
adventurous.”
Based on old European seina par aqua, or “health
by water,” treatments for specific ailments like
rheumatism, today’s spas have evolved into a
lavish but well-deserved experience. “More ancient
therapies are being revived,” says Hotter.
Unbelievably priced packages allow guests to sit back
and be treated like a king. Around $65 will afford
a spa visitor two blissful hours of peace and relaxation
while being treated to truly Asian service.
Should guests seek something a bit more invigorating,
the inviting fitness center’s treadmills with
TV screens allow exercisers to maximize their time;
one can catch up on world news while working out.
The Sheraton Imperial houses three impeccable restaurants
and a lively bar that features live entertainment
six nights a week.
The idyllic ambiance of the poolside Villa Danieli
makes guests feels as though they have walked right
out of Malaysia and into Italy. Outside fountains
and trellises seclude diners on the terrace, while
inside amazing murals and a dimply-lit dining area
add to the Italian aura. The open kitchen is led by
chef Stefano Maccagno, a native of Milan. Local chefs
are sent abroad for specialty training. “We value
knowledge transfer to the locals,” says Hotter.
The pool area is a constant temptation, especially
during Malaysia’s consistently sunny afternoons.
The hotel may be surrounded by skyscrapers, but one
will never feel it while relaxing amid the glorious
landscaping. It feels more like a resort, miles away
from the city center.
For business travelers with tight schedules, Hotter
recommends trying to get a sense of the local community
by seeking out local eateries or by visiting nearby
landmarks like the Petronas Twin Towers and the Istana
Negara royal palace.
“There is a great generosity of spirit here,”
says Hotter. “Malaysia has a good co-existence
of many nationalities and religions. Once a country
has achieved that, they’ve accomplished a lot.”
The Sheraton Imperial’s location could not be
more convenient. It is situated in the heart of the
city’s commercial and business district, right
along Jalan Sultan Ismail, one of the city’s
main thoroughfares towards Putrajaya, the new administrative
capital. The hotel is within walking distance of the
Petronas Twin Towers and KLCC shopping center. From
the hotel a typical fare for a cross-city taxi ride
will cost less than $3.
Public transportation enthusiasts can wander just
a few steps from the Sheraton Imperial’s entrance
to hop on the city’s ultra-modern monorail, scheduled
to be up and running in June. A light rail transport
(LRT) station is less than a five-minute walk away.
“The city of Kuala Lumpur has great infrastructure,”
says Hotter.
The ease of the Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG) program
is another attraction. With just 10 overnight stays,
guests can qualify for a free night’s stay.
Points are easy to accumulate and redeem. “Guests
can accumulate points at one of our hotel brands and
redeem them at another. It’s a good way for business
travelers to earn free vacations,” says Hotter.
Winner of the prestigious inter-industry Freddie Awards,
the SPG program is definitely one of the easiest hotel
programs with which to take advantage.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has numerous hotels
throughout Asia, including properties in Brunei, the
Philippines, Thailand, and now Vietnam. The newest
Asian Sheraton recently opened in Saigon on May 7
and will be followed by further resort development
in Vietnam. A sister property, the Westin, catering
to a younger, hipper clientele will be opening in
Kuala Lumpur in June. In total, the group owns 750
properties in more than 80 countries.
The Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur is a two-time winner
of the “Best Business Hotel in Malaysia”
award (2001 and 2002), presented jointly by Business
Asia magazine and Bloomberg TV. It is one of 57 exceptional
hotel and resort properties worldwide that comprise
The Luxury Collection.
For more information on the Sheraton Imperial
Kuala Lumpur and other Starwood Hotels, please visit
www.starwood.com.
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