VERY TRENDY: The world’s largest traveller website TripAdvisor has selected Hard Rock Hotel Penang as Malaysia’s trendiest hotel for the last two years.
KUCHING: Hard Rock Hotel Penang sees great potential in increasing the number of its guests from Sarawak and Sabah.
Marketing communications manager Elisa Saw said this is based on the availability of direct flights from Kuching and Kota Kinabalu to Penang.
“We see a lot of potential in the East Malaysian market. Direct flights are very much in a traveller’s planning process.
“Because of the convenience, there is very high potential for more East Malaysian guests coming in,” she said during a networking lunch with the media here yesterday.
Saw said the hotel’s concept of “authentic experiences that rock” and its focus on music fits in well with East Malaysians, particularly Sarawakians.
“People here like music,” she said referring to the popularity of music festivals in the state such as the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) and Borneo Jazz.
“I’m sure you’ll like the musical fun that you will get from Hard Rock Hotel.”
She pointed out that the hotel’s Hard Rock Cafe, Malaysia’s second after the outlet in Kuala Lumpur, features live band performances every night.
Saw added that the hotel’s marketing team is researching the potential of the East Malaysian market.
Although there is no specific package for Sarawak and Sabah at present, Saw pointed out that the hotel’s website offers at least five different packages with special rates and deals.
At present, up to 60 per cent of the hotel’s guests are Malaysians.
Hard Rock Hotel Penang was recently crowned No. 1 Trendiest Hotel in Malaysia and No. 3 in Asia by TripAdvisor’s 2012 Traveller’s Choice Awards.
TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel website and the awards are based solely on traveller reviews.
The six-storey Hard Rock Hotel Penang, at Batu Ferringhi, has 250 rooms and suites with mostly beach views.
There are a wide selection of facilities including the largest swimming pool in Penang at 26,000 square feet, the Rock Spa and Body Rock with state-of-the-art gym equipment, and for families with children and teens the Lil’ Rock Kids Club and Teens Club.
Hard Rock International is one of the world’s most globally recognised brands with 138 cafes and 15 hotels/casinos in 53 countries.
For details and updates go to http://penang.hardrockhotels.net or join 98,000 fans on the hotel’s official Facebookpage.