New hotels set to end Kuching hotel squeeze

KUCHING – The Sarawak state capital of Kuching is expected to increase its high-end room stock by almost 1,700 four-star hotel rooms by 2010.

The five new hotels planned to come on stream from late 2008 to 2010 are being built in tandem with the construction of the new Borneo Convention Centre on a six-hectare site at the Kuching Isthmus.

The Convention Centre will enable Kuching to host major national and regional conventions, expositions and trade shows.

One of the planned hotels will be built on site adjacent to the Convention Centre. The 33-storey Kuching Tower, owned by CMS Hotels Sdn Bhd will occupy the top 18 floors of the building which is due to open early in 2010.

With improving air access and Sarawak’s increasing popularity as a tourist destination, more investors are now prepared to bring on room stock as soon as possible. This will help to alleviate seasonal shortages of rooms especially around major events such as the annual World Rainforest Music Festival.

In Kuching City, work on the centrally-located 388-room Novotel hotel is in progress. The 23-storey building is scheduled for completion in 2009. The hotel will offer panoramic views of the city and Sarawak River.

Adjacent to Kuching International Airport, the Four Points by Sheraton hotel was launched recently with an earth breaking ceremony by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Global Upline Sdn Bhd and Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels and Resorts Pte Ltd are undertaking the project. According to Global Upline advisor Tan Sri Datuk Ting Pek King, the new hotel at the proposed 12-storey building at Airport Road is expected to be operational before end of August 2008.

Global Upline is also planning to build another four-star, 220-room hotel at Tabuan Road in Kuching.

A hotel is also included in the development plan for the Plaza Merdeka Complex. This 290-room hotel is expected to be operational in the second half of 2010.

Rakyat Elite Sdn Bhd is the developer, while Times Metropolitan Sdn Bhd is the sales and leasing company for the project. According to Times Metropolitan Sdn Bhd director Aw Tai Hui, it will be a three to four-star rated boutique business and tourist hotel.

These five new properties will double the number of 4-5 star hotels in central Kuching. The existing city hotels are Holiday Inn Kuching, Crowne Plaza Riverside Kuching, Hilton Kuching and Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites that collectively provide 1,057 rooms.

TravelMole understands that at least one low cost carrier is planning Kuching services from Australia once new planes are available to service the route.