MALAYSIA (eTN) – Newly renovated, newly branded, and quite simply good, the ex-Pan Pacific Hotel is now known as the Sama Sama Hotel at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Let me explain. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, otherwise known by its acronym KLIA is expanding fast. New airlines such as Air France and Ethiopian have joined the “lineup and hold for takeoff” queue on the runways. That queue, by the way used to be short, in comparison to airports like Singapore’s Changi and Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. I always marveled at how easy it was to get in and out of KLIA both airside and from downtown KL by the KLIA Express train service. Well the train service still takes 28 minutes to traverse the 75 kilometers, but delays are increasing airside as more air traffic builds up. I suppose this is the price to pay for success.
Success and growth go hand in hand as Asean will implement its open skies policy in 2015, meaning that the airlines of the 10 member states will enjoy free access within Asean’s single aviation market. MAHB (Malaysia Airports) the operator of KLIA and several other airports in Malaysia and around the world is optimistic on the future and predicts the industry will soar to new heights this year. Its new terminal KLIA 2, which is due to open this year, will now officially open in 2014 and will contribute significantly to the positive flying experience out of Kuala Lumpur.
Back to the only really viable hotel on the block, The Sama Sama, which means togetherness in Bahasa Malaysia, is the re-branding concept from Malaysia Airports which actually owns the hotel and has plans to build more around the world where they own or act as consultants to International Airports, such as in Istanbul’s Atturk. Closer to home they plan to have a hotel airside, in the new KLIA 2, which is slated for completion in 2014.
The hotel itself provides excellent access to downtown KL as well as the airport. It is attached through a covered walkway to the airport which is a brisk 5 minute work in air conditioned comfort.
The newly re-furbished hotel has some of the most high tech rooms in Malaysia and has installed Bartech’s fully automatic mini-bars in all 442 guestrooms. The mini-bars are fitted with custom glass doors and communicate over an Ethernet network. This system has a streamlining effect on turnaround times making billing more efficient as the hotel is under constant pressure from guests arriving and departing at all hours.
During the launch of the Sama Sama Hotel earlier this year, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, said in his speech, which was delivered on his behalf by Dato’ Sri Dr Ng Yen, Minister of Tourism, who was then Minister of Tourism said, “It is heartening to note that Malaysia Airports is expanding on its repertoire of airport services to include hospitality with its Sama Sama brand. It is always a proud moment to see a Malaysian brand grow from strength to strength and achieve success on the world stage.”
