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Malaysia’s Mutiara Hotels & Resorts will start the New Year on a positive note by enticing more tourists to Malaysia through its attendance at a major Asean tourism sales conference, the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) to be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia starting on January 25, 2002.

Mr Halim Merican, General Manager, Yield and Revenue Management of Mutiara Hotels & Resorts, who will represent all six Mutiara properties in Yogyakarta, is confident of increased tourism arrivals after ATF is held.

He commented: "Last year was tough for all hotels throughout the world but we are at the dawn of a new era and I am confident that there will be more tourist arrivals into Malaysia and our properties this year for several reasons. Travellers are now feeling a little more confident than they did in the latter part of 2001 and there are now many great value-for-money offers in the market".

He added: "We shall be reinforcing with the industry and buyers attending ATF that Malaysia is an excellent travel destination, that it offers safety, many fantastic experiences and an abundance of excellent and affordable hotels and resorts."

Mr Halim explained that ATF is the first major travel conference for 2002 and it is important for the Mutiara Hotels & Resorts to continue to raise the awareness of the Mutiara name within the travel industry, as it is a relative new brand. He continued: "We want to promote the brand as a truly Malaysian owned and developed concept, which we think is important to visitors who really want to fully appreciate the warm hospitality that Malaysia has to offer."

Mr Halim also mentioned that the hotel group has come up with exciting business and leisure packages that will appeal to regional travellers as well as those from more distance parts of the world.

He added: "We have just had very encouraging occupancies during the past festive seasons of Hari Raya, Christmas and New Year. This should continue through to the Chinese New Year and even our bookings for the rest of the year suggest that people are starting to travel and to take holidays again. There is renewed confidence for everyone in the travel and hospitality industries."

Mr Halim commented that: "The purpose of conferences like ATF is not only to raise brand awareness but also to inform the various travel buyers of new developments and improvements in all our properties.

He explained that there have been developments in all the Mutiara properties over the past 12 months and that it was important to let the market know this.

Mr Halim continued: "The most significant change to our portfolio of hotels and resorts is the RM85 million renovation to our flagship property, the Mutiara Kuala Lumpur. This is a very exciting renovation and refurbishment programme that will see the return in the second quarter of this year. This property originally started as the Hilton Kuala Lumpur and it was the first major international hotel chain to establish in Malaysia."

Some of the other recent developments at Mutiara properties include the redevelopment of the Seri Mutiara Restaurant at the Mutiara Taman Negara deep within one of the world’s largest tracts of undisturbed lowland rainforests.

The Seashell Beach Café at the Mutiara Burau Bay has opened and over the past year has developed into the dining and entertainment outlet on the island of Langkawi. One visiting journalist has even called it, possibly one of Asia’s best bars.

The Langkawi property has also developed an Adventure Camp adjoining the resort for corporate team building activities, motivational camps and student adventure camps. This is one of the first Asian resorts to have established such a camp and it is proving popular with corporations, groups and school students who gain access to value-for-money accommodation as well as access to Langkawi’s finest beaches and adjoining rainforests.

The Mutiara Beach Resort Penang is continuing to develop its excellent conference facilities, the Catch, which overlook the delightful beachfront of Teluk Bahang along Penang’s famous seaside.

Another initiative for the Mutiara Hotels & Resorts is the installation of a worldwide toll free booking number (Tel: 800-8800-3838).

Mutiara Hotels & Resorts has also entered into an agreement with Malaysian Airlines (MAS) Enrich Programme, which rewards Enrich members with valuable points that can be redeemed for flights, accommodation and other hospitality services.

Mr Halim said that he and his colleagues in all the other Mutiara Hotels & Resorts were confident about raising an understanding of the Mutiara brand at ATF and seeing Malaysia as the preferred destination for regional and international travellers.

He continued: "While the hospitality industry faces many challenges this year, Mutiara Hotels & Resorts has excellent properties and Malaysia is still a wonderful destination for business or leisure.

Mutiara Hotels & Resorts are managed by PERNAS Hotel Management Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of PERNAS International Holdings Berhad. The group has six properties located in key cities and resorts in Malaysia that include Burau Bay (Langkawi); Johor Bahru (Johor); Kuala Lumpur; Pedu Lake (Kedah); Penang and Taman Negara/National Park (Pahang).