Hotels in Miri, Sarawak, are expected to enjoy good business this year.
“We are looking into securing many more functions, meetings and conventions to be held in hotels, ballrooms and function rooms in 2025,” said Malaysian Association of Hotels Sarawak Chapter chairman John Teo (pic).
In a statement, Teo highlighted several projects that have been confirmed to take place this year.
This includes the widening of the Baram River mouth that will enable larger ships to transport goods to and from Miri.
Water depth at Miri Port, which serves northern Sarawak, is shallow due to siltation at Baram River mouth.
This problem has made the port inaccessible to larger cargo vessels which need deeper waters to navigate.
The river mouth widening will also enable cruise ships to dock in Miri, enabling their passengers to holiday in the city.
Teo also pointed to the RM150mil Miri Airport terminal expansion project starting this year, and the new Miri Sentral Bus Terminal that began operations last month.
The bus terminal is expected to attract Indonesians travelling to Sarawak via the Pan Borneo Highway.
He said the upgrading of the Miri-Brunei lanes at Sungai Tujoh Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex in Kuala Baram would ease weekend traffic woes at the facility.
He also pointed to the Kenyalang Smart City project in Senadin, next to Curtin University Malaysia in Miri.
Teo said hotels like the four-star Meritz Hotel Miri were ready to capitalise on the expected increase in business activities and had undergone major facelifts.
“Over the course of 30-plus months, the hotel was fully refurbished and remodelled while remaining operational,” he said.
“Its public areas, including the lobby, banquet rooms, ballroom and all 290 rooms and suites were completely redesigned.
“The hotel now features a new air conditioning system in its rooms and public areas.
“It also has an improved sound system in function rooms and its ballroom can accommodate up to 3,000 guests in a theatre-style setting or 145 tables in a Chinese dinner setting,” Teo said.
