Monday, December 19, 2005

Le Meridien KK forecasts RM26m revenue for 2006

KOTA KINABALU - Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu is forecasting revenue of at least RM26mil next year on the back of an anticipated 60 per cent occupancy rate of its rooms during that period.

Its General Manager Winston Reinboth said the hotel was being promoted internationally through the Le Meridien chain and sales offices worldwide, adding that key markets for it include Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

"Half of the hotel's guests so far have been Malaysians while the remainder were largely Europeans as well as tour groups from China," Reinboth told reporters.

"Of course it will not be easy. A lot of hard work has to be done but our promotions will soon bear fruit," he said of Sabah's newest international-class business hotel. The hotel opened its doors last September and Reinboth said it had managed to chalk up "a small" profit in its third month of operation despite operating only 212 of its 306 rooms Reinboth said they are expecting to open all its rooms by late January, in time for the anticipated peak period, and are also considering a "a couple" more food and beverage outlets apart from a catering service.

They will be fully operational by around Chinese New Year next year, he added.

At the moment, Le Meridien operates a single restaurant called The Circle.

He said Le Meridien was still maintaining its promotional rate of RM270 ++ per room despite being on the higher end.

'"We have a quality product and our pricing reinforces that. But the numbers are not cast in stone. We are flexible but not applying a broad brush approach," he added. He said Le Meridien was also planning to eventually increase its staff strength from the present 235 to 290.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

No comments: