YTL Corp keen on hotel development in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: Conglomerate YTL Corporation Bhd is interested to look for potential hotel development in Penang amid rising tourist arrivals and the opening of the second bridge soon.

Deputy managing director Datuk Yeoh Seok Kian said the group was also looking to bring in luxury hotel brands under YTL Hotel's portfolio if any potential arises. 

"If there is potential, we would like to look into (luxury brands) as we have full confidence in Penang's tourism market. If anyone wants to joint venture, we definitely want to come in (Penang). As you know, we have brands like JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton," he said on Friday.

Yeoh was speaking to reporters here after the relaunching of the Vistana Hotels brand themed "Times Change, So Do We", officiated by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said YTL Hotel's investment of RM20mil to upgrade Vistana Hotel Penang was to capture the growing tourism market as well as to cater to the demand arising from the Visit Malaysia 2014. 

"We opened Vistana Penang in 1999, at a time when the average occupancy rate was at 58.64%, and total estimated visitor arrivals of 1.5 million to about six million tourists now," Yeoh said.

He said over the next few years, YTL Hotels would take the Vistana hotel chain to greater heights and expanding into locations throughout the region.

Vistana Hotel is a business-class hotel group operated by YTL Hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan and Penang. - Bernama