Promenade Hotel sets higher standards

KUCHING: Promenade Hotel has set a benchmark being recognised as the tallest hotel in Tawau, Sabah, eyeing to be one of the best 4-star business class hotels in the industry.

BREATHTAKING: Club@Se7en at seventh floor enables diners to enjoy the stunning sea view of Tawau as well as its night scene.

The only 4-star business class hotel in town comes with an inventory of 180 rooms and suites, adjacent to Eastern Plaza, the biggest shopping mall in Tawau.

Promenade Hotel Tawau’s resident manager James Chan told The Borneo Post that the potentially bright future of the palm oil plantation industry and Tawau included as part of the development plan under the ‘Sabah Economic Development Corridor Project’ augurs well for a strong demand for hotel and banquet facilities in the near future.

“We aspire to expand to shores beyond Sabah. It is only a matter of time and when the right opportunity presents itself, we shall be expanding to Sarawak, West Malaysia and overseas,” Chan added

Promenade Hotel Tawau also houses a 24-hour coffeehouse, Cafe@Se7en on the seventh floor, a lobby lounge with a Deli and Cigar corner, a contemporary Zsa Zsa Zsu fun pub at the lower ground floor with a live band performance.

“Despite the many challenges we have faced last year with both international and domestic economic hiccups, Promenade Hotel Tawau has been recording an average 50 per cent occupancy rate since we officially opened our doors on May 2 last year.”

“We are confident that our occupancy rate will further improve with more direct flights coming in from West Malaysia and greater emphasis from the state’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment to place Tawau on the tourism map.

“The popular diving spots, Sipadan and Mabul islands and many other tourism hinterland development potentials will also serve to improve our business sentiment,” Chan said.

When asked about the elaboration on the demographics of hotel guests, Chan said West Malaysia contributed about 40 per cent of the total guests and 40 per cent were from within Sabah, 10 per cent from Sarawak and the rest from overseas countries.

“Some 90 per cent of our hotel guests are business travellers. However, with vigorous promotional activities overseas, we are expecting the portfolio ratio of guests to change over the years to come. We are aiming to bring in more foreign tourists to make up our business portfolio in the near future,” Chan revealed.

Besides being the tallest hotel and having the largest ballroom in town with a maximum seating capacity of 1,100 persons, Promenade Hotel Tawau also houses the biggest and only comprehensive gymnasium at its leisure centre on the fifth floor.

“Our Promenade grand ballroom has become the priority venue for auspicious individual and business banquet receptions. We have been having large society gatherings since our official opening last year. With the accumulated experience and expertise, we are now embarking on taking in some bookings for international meetings and conferences as well as Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE), all of which are more lucrative in nature,” Chan highlighted.

There is also a business centre, three meeting rooms namely Berlian, Seraya and Agatis as well as an exclusive Promenade Club floor with an exclusive club lounge on the fifteen floor.

Chan said the Promenade Club floor was for those who love to have personalised treatment as it focuses more on privacy. The VIPs staying on the club floor can also have their breakfasts in the special exclusive floor.

“We put ourselves in our guest’s shoes, making the rooms conducive for our guests. All the tables and pictures are arranged specially for the comfort of our guests. We always go the extra mile to know guests better and understand their preferences.

Strategically located less than 1.5 kilometre away from the bustling town centre, Promenade Hotel Tawau is within reach of Government administrative offices, businesses, shopping and entertainment centres.

“We have initially allocated a budget of five per cent of our initial income for advertisements and promotions. So far, we have managed to spend less than our initial budget in printing, advertisement, internet promotions, insertion and public relationship with the local media to meet our expectation to create a desired awareness of the hotel.”

Looking at the future, Chan hopes to be able to work closely with Sabah Tourism Board to create more events and functions to attract more foreigners to stay at the hotel.

“I always wanted to turn this hotel into a solid 4-star business class hotel and my aim is to get an award from the Sabah Tourism Board as the recognised 4-star hotel in the industry.

“With Tawau aspiring to be upgraded to city status in the near future, a 4-star hotel will definitely enhance the city’s fabric.”