Sunway to remain leader of integrated resorts with expansion boost

PETALING JAYA: Sunway City Bhd’s property investment arm is expanding with an addition of a four-block commercial development and 25 villas following the RM80 million refurbishment of its flagship hotel, the Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa.

The property investment arm’s managing director Ngeow Voon Yean said the four blocks of commercial buildings would be built in the vicinity of Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa and Sunway Pyramid.

“It is the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle in our integrated resort. There is a demand for Grade A commercial office space in Petaling Jaya,” said Ngeow, adding that the project was still in planning stages.

He said office buildings were the only aspect that was lacking in its integrated resort in Bandar Sunway which already has two hotels, villas, spa, shopping malls, theme park, hospital and universities.

The 25 villas, which include a hot spring spa, would be built within Sunway City in Tambun, Ipoh, and was expected to be ready by early 2009.

Ngeow told The Edge Financial Daily that the group intended to remain the leader in terms of providing comprehensive facilities to consumers.

In the last three years, Sunway had gone through a series of expansion, which includes an expanded shopping mall; the addition of Pyramid Tower Hotel — a four-star hotel, Mandara Spa, 17 villas; and the RM80 million refurbishment exercise on Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa and the Pyramid Convention and Exhibition Centre.

It has also obtained the franchise of London’s famous club the Ministry of Sound, which is set to open its doors in Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa by year-end. Also in the pipeline, is the opening of the dry park in Sunway Lagoon Theme Park at night.

Its Sunway Hotel Seberang Jaya has also been expanded with the addition of an exhibition and convention centre which has a capacity of 1,200 people.

“It (the integrated development) is our unique selling point,” he said, adding that this second round of asset enhancement programme was its strategy to stay ahead of the pack and continue to be a well-recognised resort brand in the region.

Sunway City’s property investment arm include the shopping mall, theme park, hotel, education and medical centres. It contributes 40% of revenue to the group while the property development arm makes up the rest.

“Now that the hospitality sector and shopping mall is fully expanded, we hope to improve the turnover contribution by 10% in the next two to three years,” said Ngeow. He also said that it was on a constant lookout to enhance products and services for customers.

The property investment division also has a management arm that specialises in managing hotels, theme parks, shopping malls and facilities. It is in the final stages of negotiations to manage two four-star hotels in the Klang Valley and another in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is also a consultant for two shopping malls in China.

The division also planned to capitalise on the ever-growing medical and education tourism.

“Many are coming from Indonesia and Singapore to seek treatment here. It shows that the confidence level in our specialists has improved.

“Many Asian parents are also sending their children to study here and they can stay at our hotels as it is convenient,” he added.

Asked if the group planned to expand overseas, Ngeow said: “If there is an opportunity that fits our investment criteria, we will consider.”

Currently, its only hotel abroad is the Sunway Hotel Hanoi in Vietnam.

By The EDGE MALAYSIA