Mutiara Hotels & Resorts anticipates significant growth in Meetings Group Arrivals to Malaysia in 2004

Malaysia's Mutiara Hotels & Resorts anticipates significant growth in the Meetings, Incentives and Exhibitions (MICE) market for the hotel group in the coming year. The group is upbeat about significantly increasing such arrivals into Malaysia through its attendance at one of the region's most significant travel marts, the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) to be held in Melbourne, Australia from February to 17 to 18.

Mr. Halim Merican, General Manager, Yield and Revenue Management with PERNAS Hotel Management (PHM), the managers of Malaysia's Mutiara Hotels & Resorts, is optimistic about Mutiara increasing arrivals into Malaysia from this important tourism sector because of renewed global optimism.

"These days it seems that we have to manage one crisis after another but the good thing is that global meeting planners have factored this into their arrangements. While there is still some global uncertainty, we as a Malaysian hotel group consider that we have an edge in attracting more foreign-based meetings groups here this year."

He added: 'Australia is an important market for the Mutiara Hotels & Resorts and as all the key industry buyers will be in Melbourne it is essential for us to be represented to keep the market informed of the exciting new developments that are occurring in our properties. For all the challenges we face, there are opportunities that we can harness to our advantage,' he commented.

Mr. Halim mentioned that the appointment of its new general sales agents (GSA) in Australia will strengthen their position in Australia. Air Marketing Pty. Ltd. is now part of Mutiara's strong sales and marketing network that is representing the group in the ever-important Australian and New Zealand market.

Air Marketing is very experienced in this market and Mutiara anticipates considerable growth as a result of their continued activities. They will be involved with selling and marketing all six Mutiara properties.

"We shall be reinforcing with the industry attending AIME that Malaysia as a conference, meetings and incentives venue, is a superb destination, that it is welcoming and friendly, that it offers many unique facilities for meetings, and that there are superb value-for-money hotels and resorts like those operated by Mutiara,'" he said.

Mr. Halim mentioned that there were many changes within the hotel and resort group. "One of the purposes of expos like AIME is not only to expose our brand to the market but to update travel buyers of all the changes, updates and improvements we have made to our properties."

Mr. Halim continued: 'Everyone in the industry has had to get a little smarter to chase the meetings and incentives dollar. As such, we are continually investing money back into our hotels and resorts to make them more attractive. The most important investment to the Mutiara portfolio is the recently completed RM100 million renovations to our flagship property, the Mutiara Kuala Lumpur. This property originally started as the Hilton Kuala Lumpur and it was the first major international hotel group to establish in Malaysia. As such, it has a good reputation within the market.'

Mr. Halim continued: 'We believe that AIME will be good for our business. We have been building upon our strengths over the past few years and this is now paying dividends. Mutiara Hotels & Resorts has some excellent properties and Malaysia remains a great destination for foreign corporations to combine both business and leisure.'

He concluded that: 'Foreign travel marts are always important for the Malaysian hospitality industry and our presence at AIME reinforces the strong working relationship we have with industry buyers in Australia. The more meetings, conventions and incentives that we can attract to our hotels and resorts will benefit the whole Malaysian hospitality industry as many Malaysians depend upon foreign travellers bringing valuable foreign exchange into the country.'