FINALLY, THE BRAND NEW, PURPOSE BUILT AND RITZY GRAND HYATT KL HAS OPENED!
The sweeping driveway to the main entrance of Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur which starts from RM 600 but bet you can check-in at RM 400 or less!
Located next to KLCC near KLCC, its location is excellent.
Er, KLCC stands for both KL City Centre where the shops are and Convention Centre where the meetings are!
I think the owners have to change the names as taxi drivers usually assume you would be going shopping in the mall when you are running late for a seminar, meeting, exhibition or launching and vice versa. I know of several instances when passengers are driven to the wrong venue and have to either go one more round or walk to the actual destination. Luckily both are within walking distance though your Jimmy Choos or Manolo Blahniks may not agree.
Anyway, Grand Hyatt is not to be confused with Duta Grand Hyatt opposite Renaissance hotel which is standing tall but tragically abandoned for the past decade! What a shame as the developer's other project Avenue K is also in the doldrums but at least Avenue K is up and limping if not running whereas Duta Grand Hyatt is nothing but a blackened shell and major eyesore. If I am the Mayor or Government, I would insist it be completed as a hotel (5 to 2 star) or apartment block (lower medium to high) or office tower. The feng shui this abandoned building is generating is something awful.
Grand Hyatt meanwhile is the epitome of 21st century architecture, design and decor, having opened just last week with all cutting edge mod cons and fantastic furnishings.
Still, some fine tuning is needed.
When I arrived at the main entrance leading to the lobby, I was welcomed by 5 staff which flattered me endlessly. I asked to see the PR Manager and was told by a beaming staff to "please have a seat while I call her".
So I looked to where he had waved and saw no chairs or anything that remotely resembled something I could place my ass. The nearest was the flight of steps but sitting on staircases tend to make me look uncool and desperate. So I looked to my left, right, behind and even above in case some new-fangled chairs were suspended in midair.
Nada.
So why did he invite me to have a seat when there were no seats?
"Oh, we are still new," explained another member of the welcoming committee.
Then the guy should not have asked me to take a seat if there was none!
And there should jolly well be plenty of seats in the foyer! Rich guests waiting for their limousines to roll up will have to stand and wait! So when you see new sofas and settees, you will know they were put there because of my complaint!
The actual check-in counters are on the 38th floor and I almost fainted when the lift doors opened---straight onto a RM 1 billion view of Petronas Twin Towers gleaming right in front behind the floor to ceiling glass wraparound windows!
No other hotel can flaunt such stunning views that take the breath away! At least the architect and designer did their maths and calculated the location and lay of the hotel for maximum impact. And well they should, considering Petronas Twin Towers were already completed in 1997 when Grand Hyatt was a patch of grassland.
The hotel staff work behind marble desks which seem miraculously free of computers, ledgers, files, folders and clutter! Everything is hidden and concealed from the guests so the rows of marble desks appear almost like part of the designer decor.
The much-talked about Thirty8 (as in '38' on 38th floor) is one floor below 38M (as in Mezzanine) is going to be the hottest restaurant in KL as no other can boast of such magnificent, breathtaking and jaw-dropping views of our fair capital!
Best of all, Thirty8 will be the Next Fashion Catwalk as every seat is a good one since the entire wraparound restaurant offers 360 degree views of Kuala Lumpur similar to KL Tower. Too bad it is not a a revolving restaurant as KL needs one! But I foresee a stream of nonstop fashion events as models meander their way among the tables with every table a top table!
The Poolside Restaurant/Cafe is atop the Grand Saloon on first floor which is atop Grand Ballroom on ground floor. The set-up is excellent as locals attending a gala in the ballroom need not climb any stairs but waltz straight into the crystal-ceilinged ballroom. Fast and easy!
The third eatery is JP teres (this is the correct spelling!) and is casual all day dining with no views since it is on the same level as Jalan Pinang after which it is named. And 'teres' is 'Terrace'!
Why not call it GH Terrace as in Grand Hyatt Terrace? 'JP' in Malaysia is synonymous with 'Justice of Peace'! Or 'Jangan Pegang' (Don't Touch)!'
Maybe 'Terrace' is 'teres' in Bruneian as Grand Hyatt KL is apparently owned by the State of Brunei or some entity connected to the Royal Family or something like that! Otherwise why would the crescent shaped sculpture in the lobby be described as 'symbolic of Brunei and Malaysia'?
I am looking forward to happy times in Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur!
BTW, a 'Grand Hyatt' is higher ranking than 'Hyatt Regency' but is lower ranking than 'Park Hyatt' which is super 5-star. I stayed at Park Hyatt in Beijing to interview Cate Blanchett and Park Hyatt Tokyo to interview Nicole Kidman so I know from firsthand experience!
This pecking order is similar to JW Marriott which is 5 star and Marriott without the JW which is 4 star! This self-rating system is better than Hilton as not all Hiltons are equal---just compare KL Hilton and PJ Hilton! God save us!
GRAND HYATT KUALA LUMPUR OPENS IN MALAYSIA
Hong Kong/ Kuala Lumpur (August 24, 2012) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the opening of Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Malaysia.
This elegant, contemporary and luxurious hotel with 370 guestrooms and 42 suites offers business travellers, tourists and local guests a sophisticated ambience.
Situated in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and right next to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the hotel is within walking distance of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, Suria KLCC, KLCC Park, Dewan Filharmonik Petronas as well as the Golden Triangle shopping and entertainment district. The Pavilion Shopping Centre is less than a ten minute walk by the covered sky-bridge outside the hotel.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring the Grand Hyatt brand to the Malaysian community,” said Larry Tchou, Managing Director, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts – Asia Pacific. “Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur’s opening echoes again Hyatt’s development strategy, which is to focus on the gateway cities and markets where customers are travelling. We are very excited to introduce our authentic hospitality to Kuala Lumpur and cater to travellers from Asia and other continents around the globe.”
DESIGN
Designed by award-winning architecture firm, Bilkey Llinas Design, the hotel exudes contemporary grandeur. The ground floor lobby is decorated with specially commissioned art pieces. A circular art feature inscribed with a well-known welcoming Quranic verse, “A thousand dinar,” is well positioned at the main entrance warmly inviting guests in. The second art piece by the Malaysian artist, Abdul Multhalib Musa, is a gold/bronze sculpture resembling an elegant tower.
A crescent-shaped sculpture, symbolic to Brunei and Malaysia, is the center piece of the ground floor lobby, sitting perfectly in the calm pond by the grand staircase. To check-in to the hotel, guests are whisked to the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur’s sky lobby, strategically positioned at the highest level of the building to allow for a captivating view of the city’s skyline with the iconic Petronas Twin Towers as the backdrop.
All the hotel’s guestrooms and suites were designed with floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise natural daylight, resulting in the rooms having expansive views of the city, the greenery of KLCC Park or Petronas Twin Towers. Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur has some of the largest rooms in the city, starting at 505 square feet (47 square meters). The use of warm and neutral earth tone interiors in the modern guestrooms enhances the welcoming and stylish feel projected throughout the hotel.
For the convenience of travellers, each guestroom is equipped with a large workstation with high-speed wired and wireless Internet access, as well as an MP3 docking station. Luxurious bathrooms feature a liquid crystal glass (LCG) enclosed cube complete with bath and rain shower. LCG technology provides guests with an option to turn the glass opaque at the touch of a button.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS
The hotel is introducing three dining options to the city. THIRTY8, located on the top floor of the hotel, consists of a restaurant, a wine bar and a lounge. THIRTY8 creates a lively and interactive space where guests can wine and dine among the vibrant show kitchens while enjoying stunning views of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and the city.
The restaurant offers a selection of steaks, Chinese seafood, sushi and sashimi. THIRTY8 serves breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner.
JP teres, located on the ground floor, offers guests both indoor and outdoor dining areas with convenient street access. The large outdoor terrace is surrounded by greenery and water features. JP teres also has two private dining areas and is an ideal venue for after work get-togethers, family occasions or catching up with friends. The restaurant offers a freshly prepared a la carte menu all day presenting the best of Malaysian cuisine such as satay grills, tandoor ovens, roti hot plates and wok stations served from the restaurant’s show kitchens.
Poolside is located on the second floor of the hotel, next to the outdoor swimming pool. This restaurant is an all-day alfresco dining option with a menu that offers simple and healthy international and local favorites. The restaurant has an extensive bar where fresh juices, smoothies and signature specialty iced teas are served.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur has more than 35,530 square feet (3,300 square meters) of exclusive meetings and events space, spanning six unique venues. The venues have adopted circular curves in their design to create a softer and more comfortable ambience. Dedicated event planners provide a personal touch to the tailor-made meetings and events experience, which include creative layouts and flexible seating arrangements to accommodate varying event needs.
A stunning option for gala events, the oval-shaped pillarless Grand Ballroom and Grand Salon dazzle with an energy efficient crystal chandelier that blankets the entire ceiling. The layout of the ballroom is further accentuated with panels of lattice work depicting the local Malay custom.
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is the first hotel in Kuala Lumpur to feature Hyatt’s innovative residential-style meeting concept that spans more than 10,760 square feet (1,000 square meters). The welcoming and functional entertainment space gives planners a venue that will feel as though they are hosting a chic event in a private home. The Grand Residence is able to cater exclusive small meetings to cocktail receptions and has capacity to host between 20 and 330 guests.
Coffee breaks and meals in Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur are prepared by dedicated chefs in the loft kitchens and can be enjoyed in the lounge areas. Each space is fitted with an automated projection screen, projector and a MP3 docking station for guest’s audio and visual needs.
RECREATION
Derived from the term “escape and sanctuary,” Essa Spa is a tranquil retreat away from the busy city. The 11-treatment room spa offers hotel guests and local residents a hideaway to indulge in wellness therapies that are natural and results-oriented. With treatment ingredients inspired by the rainforests of Malaysia, guests can experience deep relaxation and achieve inner calm by experiencing the powerful benefits of 'ramuan', the traditional Malay preparation of ingredients.
The hotel also offers a 24-hour fitness centre with the latest gym and cardio equipment, outdoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna, whirlpool bath, ice fountain and relaxation areas.
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur was designed and built to qualify for certification by the Green Building Index organisation. The hotel’s certification process was initiated during its construction phase, where ground water from the basement levels were collected for two-and-a-half years for the purpose of site cleaning, water tests and washing of out-going vehicles. The mechanical and electrical plans of the building were specifically designed to be more efficient than that of standard hotel requirements in Malaysia.
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur’s green practices are not only limited to its building structure but how the hotel’s associates continue to operate the hotel with a conscious green mentality as a part of Hyatt Thrive, the company’s corporate responsibility platform.
As part of this expansion in Malaysia, Hyatt hotels are seeking to attract and develop high-quality talent. Hyatt is investing in training curriculums and accelerated leadership programs in order to ensure that new associates support the company’s mission to deliver authentic hospitality and to develop new professional opportunities for its associates. Job opportunities at Hyatt hotels around the world are available by visiting http://hyatt.jobs.
Reservations for Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur may be made by calling +60 3 2182 1234 or visiting www.kualalumpur.grand.hyatt.com.
About Grand Hyatt
Grand Hyatt features large-scale, distinctive hotels in major gateway cities and resort destinations. With presence around the world and critical mass in Asia, Grand Hyatt hotels provide sophisticated global business and leisure travellers with upscale accommodations. Signature elements of Grand Hyatt include dramatic architecture, innovative dining options, state of the art technology, spa and fitness centres and comprehensive business and meeting facilities appropriate for corporate meetings and social gatherings of all sizes. www.grandhyatt.com
About Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, a 412-room hotel, is located within Menara Darulsalam which also comprises office spaces from level 3 to 15. The hotel is situated along Jalan Pinang and adjacent to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. It features spacious entry level rooms at 47 square metres, a Sky Lobby with panoramic views of the Petronas Twin Towers and the city skyline, three vibrant food and beverage dining options, six unique meeting and event venues and ramuan massage therapies at the spa to de-stress, uplift and purify. Reservations for Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur may be made by calling +60 3 2182 1234 or visiting kualalumpur.grand.hyatt.com
Grand Deluxe King Room
Grand King Room
Grand Deluxe Twin Room
Grand Lobby
This is the grand view you enjoy from Grand Hyatt KL!
KL skyline! Grand or what!
THE END
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