PREDICTION: IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, Kuala Lumpur’s hotel scene will be a snazzier and more glamorous older sister of its present iteration. From the homegrown-luxe EQ to the what-more-do-you-need-in-a-venue Four Seasons, no one would ever call that the current slate of the city’s hotels bland or mousey, but things are set to go to the next level in the next two to three years with the various international chains unleashing their top tier brands on the city.
Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur
The Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur will soon open at the Merdeka 118 tower. Similarly, brands like Kempinski; Fairmont, Kimpton; Jumeirah; Marriott International’s Edition Hotels; SO/; and Waldorf Astoria all have properties under development, and are planning to carve their share of the KL hospitality pie.
The Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur, timed for its close up in 2024, is a great example of an exclusive brand that has its eye on the Malaysian capital. This new-build development in KL’s Golden Triangle will be located between the Petronas Twin Towers and the Bukit Bintang shopping district. There will be 279 rooms, starting at an expansive 79 square meters.
Total event space at this upcoming glittering hospitality bauble is 3,390 square meters, which includes a 1,845 square meter ballroom — a choice future spot for glitzy events the city is fond of. The hotel will encompass five distinct restaurants including the illustrious Peacock Alley, a staple establishment of Waldorf Astoria properties around the world.
“The debut of Waldorf Astoria in Kuala Lumpur reinforces our commitment to bring unrivaled luxury to landmark destinations around the world and this launch in the metropolis of Kuala Lumpur will mark an important milestone for our luxury presence in Asia Pacific,” said Nils-Arne Schroeder, vice president of luxury for Asia Pacific, Hilton, in a statement released to T+L.
The Waldorf Astoria brand derives its storied backstory from its iconic New York City property. Back in the day, it was said that it was the first hotel to have each floor powered by electricity; ensuite bathrooms; and 24-hour room service. The luxury!
Pair the enduring mindset behind those now-quaint innovations with a reputation for gracious service and you get a hotly anticipated new hotel for those who love the trappings of classic hospitality.
“With Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur set to be a remarkable icon in the heart of the city, coupled with the upcoming opening of our first Conrad hotel in the country,” Schroeder adds, “we will welcome two of our award-winning luxury brands within a year of each other which will bolster our ability to deliver truly exceptional and memorable experiences to luxury travelers in the coming years.”
By David Ngo
