Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur, a five-star property in the heart of the city, will close its doors come September 1, following 30 years of operation.
The hotel’s employees will be offered a voluntary separation scheme, general manager Noorazzudin Omar said in a notice of cessation to staff dated June 30.
Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur will cease operations on September 1
“We have arrived at this decision after considering the present circumstances and all available options. We are left with little choice other than to proceed with this closure,” he said.
“Many of you will be aware that our competitive advantage has declined over a period of time in the face of stringent competition from new or neighbouring hotels and serviced apartments. The situation has now been aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic which has and continues to impact our industry and its ability to achieve normality.
“This has impacted our business rates, returns and occupancy, despite our best efforts. Even as a quarantine hotel, we are incurring monthly operational losses. As such, after a proper evaluation of the hotel and its viability, we have decided to cease operations.”
Owned by Tradewinds Corporation, the 486-key hotel started operations in 1992 and ranked as the top five five-star hotels at the time in Jalan Bukit Bintang. It was also the venue of choice for many government and corporate meetings.
Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur, a five-star property in the heart of the city, will close its doors come September 1, following 30 years of operation.
The hotel’s employees will be offered a voluntary separation scheme, general manager Noorazzudin Omar said in a notice of cessation to staff dated June 30.
“We have arrived at this decision after considering the present circumstances and all available options. We are left with little choice other than to proceed with this closure,” he said.
“Many of you will be aware that our competitive advantage has declined over a period of time in the face of stringent competition from new or neighbouring hotels and serviced apartments. The situation has now been aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic which has and continues to impact our industry and its ability to achieve normality.
“This has impacted our business rates, returns and occupancy, despite our best efforts. Even as a quarantine hotel, we are incurring monthly operational losses. As such, after a proper evaluation of the hotel and its viability, we have decided to cease operations.”
Owned by Tradewinds Corporation, the 486-key hotel started operations in 1992 and ranked as the top five five-star hotels at the time in Jalan Bukit Bintang. It was also the venue of choice for many government and corporate meetings.