SWISS GARDEN MELAKA AT JALAN BUNGA RAYA PANTAI

Swiss-Garden International to manage Melaka hotel
Posted on January 28, 2012, Saturday


NEW COLLOBORATION: (From left) Tee, Mohd Ali, Wong and Swiss-International vice president of operations Jimmy Chow are seen at the signing ceremony.

Swiss-Garden International Hotels, Resorts & Inns (Swiss-Garden International) has signed an agreement to manage the Swiss-Garden Hotel Melaka that is being developed by Kerjaya Hotel Sdn Bhd (Kerjaya Prospek).

At the signing ceremony, Swiss-Garden International was represented by its president, Andrew Wong, while Kerjaya Prospek was represented by its chief executive officer, Tee Eng Ho. Witnessing the signing was Chief Minister of Melaka, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.

Swiss-Garden International would manage the 32-storey hotel tower with 306 rooms, provide technical consultation on the development, design as well as develop marketing and branding strategies for the hotel.

Swiss-Garden Hotel Melaka is strategically located in the Central Malacca District, a prime central business and tourist district, a mere 15 minutes’ walk from the vibrant Jonker Street and surrounded by the city’s historical heritage.

The hotel is part of a mixed development comprising of retail, hotel and serviced apartments at the Melaka River front, next to a monorail station. It would be the 11th hotel under the group’s management. Facilities on the ninth floor include an infinity pool, a gym, a bar and restaurant while the grand ballroom could accommodate 1,000 guests.

Swiss-Garden International currently manages and operates 10 hotels, resorts and serviced apartments in prime locations in Malaysia and Australia with an inventory of 2,000 rooms.

According to Francis Lee, vice president of business development as well as sales and marketing for Swiss-Garden International, “The Swiss-Garden Melaka is an ideal avenue for our brand expansion as the demand and growth opportunities for hotels and service apartments in Melaka have escalated.

“Our presence will add value to the state as there is a lack of quality serviced apartments that are managed by an international brand. The state’s unparalleled natural attractions and historical heritage will offer travelers a unique experience that is unsurpassed.

“Melaka recorded a total of 10.35 million tourist arrivals from January to December 2010 and hotel guests were recorded at 3.8 million, an increase of 3.4 per cent from the same period in 2009.

“This is attributed to attractive promotions and marketing strategies by the state and a testament of its tourism growth opportunities,” he said.

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT AT JALAN BUNGA RAYA PANTAI

The developers of the mixed hotel and service apartments at Jalan Bunga Raya Pantai has opened their Sales office at the work site.

A mockup service apartment with the overall scale model of the the development, have also been displayed for viewing.

Recently, the developers have signed an agreement with a hotel group to manage a high end hotel once it is ready in 2014.

3 blocks of high rise service apartments of about 42storeys are also being built. Overall development value of the area is within 300-400 Million Ringgit.

Investors are coming into the Melaka NewChinatown area now over the past 1 year with hotels, service apartments and shophouses being built near the Jalan Bunga Raya, Jalan Kee Ann and Jalan Bunga Raya Pantai areas. 2 blocks of high rise offices by Prudential are also constructed.

Currently, the area is jam freeer except Jalan Bunga Raya during weekends as it is the main artery to Jalan Hang Tuah and Ayer Keroh.

We expect more investors into Melaka New Chinatown area in coming years.

2 NEW HOTELS FOR MELAKA CHINATOWN

Since 23rd. January 2012, The Dragon Chinese New Year is being celebrated. May we wish all Chinese Qong Xi Fa Cai in the Year of the Dragon.



Since end of the year 2011, two newly renovated hotels (3 Star) have started their operation.

One is the Best Western Wana Riverside Hotel located at the end of Jalan New Market near the former Plaza Inn. Soft opening at end of December 2011 with Standard and Deluxe Rooms. Rates are RM 140.00 for Standard and RM 160.00 for the Deluxe.

Located just beside the Melaka River and the Cafe overlooks the River as well, the hotel is stragetically located. Has a romantic feel there as well.




The second budget hotel just opened is the Prima Hotel, Melaka. 88 rooms in total, soft opening began on 22nd. January 2012. 2 floors are opened for business with room rates around RM 120.00 only.

While the Cafe area is not ready yet and some areas are still being done up. The hotel lobby is spacious and with the lights around the car park area, they make Jalan Kee Ann lively.

Their address: Prima Hotel Melaka
Alamat: Lot 364 & 365, Jalan Kee Ann, Kawasan Bandar XIX (KB 19), 75100 Melaka
No. Tel: 06-2867886
Tagline: Comfort is Our Priority

LONG AWAITED MELAKA TRAM TO BEGIN OPERATIONS IN APRIL 2013

Meanwhile, the much-awaited Melaka Tram, the world's first environmentally friendly tram that runs on a Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) engine, is expected to begin operations in April next year.

The RM272 million project linking Ayer Keroh and Banda Hilir, described as the most effective mode of transport to overcome the traffic woes in the Historical City, would take one year to complete once construction starts in April.

Ali said that details of the project were being displayed at three locations in the state and also at the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) office in Menara Dayabumi, Kuala Lumpur.

"The public can give their feedback after studying the project details at the Melaka Mall and at Wisma Negeri, both in Ayer Keroh, and also at the Tourist Information Centre in Jalan Kota.

The Melaka Tram, a joint venture between Mrails International Sdn Bhd and Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), would have 23 stops along a 40km-route from Ayer Keroh to Banda Hilir, the heart of the historical city.

The tram is a rail borne vehicle, lighter than a train and differed from other forms of locomotion, as the tracks were embedded in the street.

It would be able to accommodate 120 passengers at any one time, cater to the disabled because of its ground-level design and would operate at a speed of 40kmh.

Ticket for the tram ride will be priced at RM2 for a single journey but students and senior citizens could ride for free. A day pass, priced at RM5, would also available.

Webmaster: The tram will also travel into Melaka New Chinatown at Jalan Bendahara and Jalan Bunga Raya Pantai. Once ready, Melaka New Chinatown can be accessed easily by visitors.

HERITAGE TAX REPLACED WITH FIXED RATE

January 16, 2012 17:53 PM
Melaka Abolishes 5 Percent Heritage Charge, Replaces It With RM2 Charge
MELAKA, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- The state government has abolished the five percent heritage charge imposed on hotels, lodging houses and homestays and replaced it with a RM2 charge.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the charge was abolished because of objections by hotel, lodging house and homestay operators who felt it had a negative impact on their businesses.

"Discussions were held today with their representatives whereby they have agreed to the new charge," he told reporters after a dialogue on the heritage charge, here today.

Mohd Ali said based on the RM2 charge, guests would only have to add RM2 to their room rates.

He said the RM2 charge which would involve 12,000 hotel rooms, lodging houses and homestays throughout Melaka was expected to be enforced in April.

"The state expects to collect at least RM4 million each year from the charge, which would be utilised for developing the tourism sector.

"Operators must duly settle the charge monthly with the local authorities such as the Melaka Historical City Council, Hang Tuah Jaya municipal council, Alor Gajah municipal council and Jasin municipal council," he said.

He added that a heritage charge implementing committee would be formed to facilitate the process.

-- BERNAMA

NO PROPER JETTY FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS

Monday January 16, 2012

No proper jetty for cruise passengers

I REFER to K.T. Teh’s “Let’s make Malaysia ‘Best in Asia’ tour destination” (The Star, Jan 11).

I visit the Malacca jetty area almost every week as an agent for the cruise ship calling on Malacca.

Our efforts to get some improvements to the jetty from the state government to attract more tourists have not been fruitful.

The state government has arranged to dredge the river mouth towards the CIQ building that is under construction but the dredging will not in anyway assist in promoting tourism via sea.

There is no proper jetty for these passengers to disembark. The vessels drop anchor near the river mouth and tourists are transferred to the jetty which is congested with fishing/cargo boats and is an eyesore.

The state government has done nothing to improve this.

Though the jetty may be privately owned, the state government’s participation to transform the area is inevitable.

There is a lot of red tape over the dredging, and when we requested for assistance from the government for the jetty they are not able to assist due to the cost factor.

While the Tourism Ministry is doing the promotion on one side, the bureaucracy at the state level is pulling in the opposite direction.

How can tourism be expected to grow?

One officer even had the cheek to say: “We are not interested in your tourists”.

This kind of attitude will kill not boost the tourism industry.

It is high time the ministry steps in to check what is happening in Malacca and come up with a real action plan to boost the industry.

DRAGON MAN,

Port Klang.

MELAKA NEW CHINATOWN PREPARES FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR OF DRAGON

Melaka New Chinatown is preparing to usher in the Year of the Dragon which falls on 23rd. Janusry 2012.

Jalan Kee Ann will be hosting the annual night market for shoppers to buy New Year goodies such as cookies, cakes, muruku, kacang goreng and others. Being a multi ethnic society, you can buy cookies of various races.

Stalls will be set up along Jalan Kee Ann until CNY Eve on next Sunday. On the eve, the Family Reunion Dinner is held at home or at restaurants within Melaka Historic City. Family members from overseas and outstation are expected to come home for this Reunion Dinner before celebrating the New Year the following day.

Come and visit Melaka and celebrate the Chinese New Year with Malaccans. On 1st and 2nd. day of Chinese New Year, most eateries are opened for business. Being a historic city, most Malaccans value visitors to Melaka during this time and we want to share our joy with visitors, relatives and friends.

QONG XI FA CAI IN THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON.