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KUCHING: The Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) is counting on domestic tourists to occupy the hotels under its management this year amid the global economic downturn. The hotels under SEDC include Holiday Inn Kuching and Crowne Plaza Riverside Kuching which, effective today (Jan 1), have been renamed Grand Margherita Hotel and Riverside Majestic Hotel. Both hotels, now directly managed by SEDC after many years under international hotel chains, are expected to face tougher competition with new hotels opening up in Kuching and fewer tourists coming from abroad. Chairman Datuk Talip Zulpilip said the corporation is now focussing on luring domestic holiday makers to spend their holidays in Sarawak at SEDC hotels. "Just like anybody else, we are also worried about next year (this year) as people do not travel as much any more due to the worsening world economy. "But we are counting on domestic tourism... people who used to go overseas for holidays, who might now want to have holidays in Sarawak. This is what we are working hard on these days," he said. Talip said this after launching Damai Beach Resort's I-Privilege Card on Tuesday night. Damai Beach Resort and Damai Puri Resort in Santubong, which were previously under the international Holiday Inn chain, are now also under the direct management of SEDC. Talip said SEDC is also a shareholder of the Grand Mulu Resort at Mulu National Park and the Parkcity hotels in Bintulu and Miri. He added that SEDC would retain all staff at Grand Margherita Hotel and Riverside Majestic Hotel, brushing away suggestions of any retrenchments following the direct management exercise. "No retrenchment, not even one... all staff members are the same people, we are not firing anybody, we are hiring the same people," he said. He also said that SEDC has recruited a Malaysian, Arthur Yeap, as general manager for both Grand Margherita Hotel and Riverside Majestic Hotel. Yeap has 30 years experience in the hotel industry including a stint as general managerfor Holiday Inn Nanchang, China. "Yeap will be directly under us (SEDC). Previously when the hotels were under IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), we had to talk first to IHG before the matter goes down to the staff and managers. Now, we talk directly to them," he said. Earlier in his speech, Talip said introducing the I-Privilege Card is one of SEDC's steps to improve business. "Our job is to deliver good service with value. If we can do that, we can overcome the impact of the downturn," he said. The I-Privilege Card gives members benefits in the form of complimentary resort stays and discounts on food and beverages as well as meeting's packages. It also gives rebates for patronising external affiliates like the Sarawak Cultural Village, Damai Beach and Country Club, Bing Company, Star Cineplex, Rigi Hairdo, Normah Medical Centre, Tokyo Time and many others. Points accumulated in relation to spending at the resort and affiliates can be redeemed for a range of exciting rewards such as overseas trips and branded items. The Borneo Post 01-01-2009 |
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