LAUNCHING CEREMONY: Dr Mahathir (centre) aids his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah in cutting the cake during the launch of Four Points by Sheraton Langkawi here, as Ting (third right) and other officials look on.
Group plans for more outlets in Sabah and Sarawak by next year
LANGKAWI: In collaboration with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc, the refurbishment of Four Points by Sheraton Langkawi saw an investment of about RM30 million by Sarawak-based Global Upline Hotels and Resorts Sdn Bhd (Global Upline Hotels & Resorts).
In addition, the group would be planning to open another Four Points by Sheraton in Santubong, Sarawak by June next year as part of its aggressive expansion plans.
This was one of the key points delivered during the 20th anniversary of Sheraton Langkawi Resort as well as the grand opening of Four Points by Sheraton Langkawi yesterday.
Officiated by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, the Four Points by Sheraton Langkawi Resort would be the first Four Points by Sheraton resort in the Asia Pacific region.
According to the group’s website, another Four Points by Sheraton hotel would be ready in Sandakan, Sabah, by March next year.
Global Upline Hotels & Resorts’ advisor, Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiing, said plans were underway for the construction of these outlets, in addition to another one in Langkawi.
“We choose to open two branches as we have group twenty years of marketing experience here,” he explained, stating that he would therefore, leverage on his capabilities to tap into the tourism market here.
These resorts would cater to the mid-scale leisure and meeting market and would complement the other three Starwood resorts on the island.
Also present during the event were Dr Mahathir’s wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, Global Upline Hotel & Resorts’ managing director Datuk Mohamad Danel Abong, Starwoods Hotels & Resorts – Asia Pacific chairman and president Miguel Ko and other distinguished guests.
Speaking to the media afterwards, Dr Mahathir believed that Langkawi was now seeing a faster pace of development especially with the government’s recent allocation of RM420 million for the island via the Langkawi Five year Tourism Development Masterplan announced during Budget 2012.
Dr Mahathir also suggested several ideas for possible future plans.
“We have a lot of potential for more resorts, especially in the mountain areas. Why not construct mountain resorts? We can introduce this mountain bike racing that is getting very popular,” he opined.
“Hopefully it will be one of the world championships here (in Langkawi) because we have a very good track.”
Touching on the issue of attracting more tourists into the island, Dr Mahathir was insistent that these plans were necessary to cater to the various needs of tourists with different budgets.