Business group opens hotel in heart of JB, confident about tourism industry’s recovery

Fives Hotel Johor Baru City Centre is surrounded by shopping and dining destinations as well as entertainment and leisure attractions.

Johor government’s aggressive approach to vaccinating the state’s population and introducing the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL-Land) has given the travel industry hope for recovery.

SKS Group chief operating officer Datuk Rohman Ahmad said the hospitality industry had gone through tough times during the Covid-19 pandemic which prohibited local and international travel, bringing it down to near zero.

“Achieving more than 90% vaccination rate among adults last year prompted the state government to introduce the VTL-Land scheme with Singapore.

“We are looking forward to and will continue working closely with all relevant stakeholders to promote tourism in Johor.

“We hope the tourism industry will recover soon,” he added.

Rohman said this in his speech at the launch of Fives Hotel Johor Baru City Centre in Jalan Wong Ah Fook.

The SKS Group, he said, had recently expanded its business with the launch of SKS Airways as a show of confidence in Johor’s tourism industry.

“We will focus on servicing several islands around Malaysia.

“The airline will fly to Pangkor, Redang and Tioman as soon as operations begin,” he said.

On Fives Hotel, which is SKS’ latest addition to its hospitality portfolio, Rohman said guests could enjoy their stay right in the centre of the Johor Baru Central Business District at affordable prices.

The hotel, he added, was a select-service hotel where guests were assured of good breakfast, bath, sleep and hassle-free stay.

Fives Hotel manager Melvin Chong said the hotel offered people a place to meet as well as reasonably priced accommodation complemented by various amenities such as a restaurant, gymnasium and function hall.

“We are conveniently located at the bustling Jalan Wong Ah Fook in the heart of Johor Baru and are surrounded by an array of shopping and dining destinations as well as entertainment hotspots and other attractions.

“Right across the street are Komtar JBCC and Johor Baru City Square malls,” he said, adding that the hotel also offered comfortable short-term and extended stays, catering to both business and leisure travellers.

The hotel is also within walking distance of the Chinese Old Temple, Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Street, Bazar Karat night market, R&F Mall, Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House and Persada Johor International Convention Centre.

Fives Hotel also offers easy access to public transport facilities from Johor Baru Checkpoint, Johor Baru Sentral bus and train station, and Johor Baru International Ferry Terminal, which is 30km from Senai International Airport.

The hotel has 243 rooms, ranging from deluxe and executive to family suites.

All rooms are equipped with a private en suite bathroom, air-conditioning, a television with satellite and cable channels, and complimentary WiFi access.