Despite seeing tourist arrivals decline over the past five years, the hotel market in Malaysia is still seeing growth. Reports from the National Property Information Center (NAPIC) have shown that the number of hotel rooms has increased 28% between the years of 2013 to 2018.
In Kuala Lumpur, there has been a 22% growth in the market. It is only logical to note though that the high-end hotel market seems to be focused around the Kuala Lumpur City Center.
Given this steady growth, despite a slower tourism industry, the competition amongst hoteliers starts to inevitably heat up. To stand out from this sea of carpeted rooms and perfectly tucked-in bed corners, luxury hotel brands have started to look for positive collaborations with other businesses to set themselves apart.
Enter 8 Conlay Kempinski Hotel Kuala Lumpur. This five-star Kempinski Hotel will be part of the 8 Conlay, a mixed-use property by KSK Land, which will consist of three skyscrapers located within the bustling Kuala Lumpur City Center neighborhood. The property includes two towers of branded serviced residences, the five-star luxury hotel and a four-storey experiential retail space.
The upcoming Kempinski Hotel will manage 260 rooms, 300 suites and a roster of gastronomic destinations, including a rooftop bar and the first-ever hotel durian lounge. It will also lend its stellar hospitality brand to manage the two neighbouring skyscrapers housing the branded serviced residences.
Created in partnership with the Kempinski Hotels and the global design group, YOO, the twisted twin residential towers were officially dubbed the YOO8 serviced by Kempinski. Some of the services that will be on offer by Kempinski include a valet, concierge, doorman, laundry and housekeeping on demand.
The Kempinski is regarded as the oldest and most exceptional luxury hotelier in Europe. Founded in 1897, the Kempinski brand now embodies the epitome of authentic “European Flair” – and it does so tastefully and effortlessly.
This five-star hotel brand prides itself on its focus towards exclusivity and individuality. This makes it a one-of-a-kind property hotelier, and it definitely leaves an unforgettable impression on discerning guests all over the world.
The first and only Kempinski Hotel in Malaysia
The fact that the Kempinski Hotel has added Kuala Lumpur city to its repertoire is indeed an indicator that they are confident that the local Malaysian market appreciates quality brands.
A spokesperson from Knight Frank Asia Pacific stated that the demand for these branded hotel collaborations is fuelled by a fast growing and ultra wealthy Asian segment. These savvy buyers and investors tend to favour branded collaborations because it comes with a guarantee of quality. With these favourable factors, it has better potential for capital appreciation.
As the first and only Kempinski Hotel in Malaysia, the people behind the brand have focused on an amazing fusion of Malaysian heritage and Kempinski’s European savoir-faire. They have managed to create a tasteful “East-meets-West” design that permeates through the entire hotel.
Kempinski’s growth strategy has been to create a desirable brand identity that includes luxury hotel collections. The aim is to showcase trophy hotels, or market-leading hotels, that are attractive to both investors and guests.
The Kempinski belief is that it is a brand that promises luxury hospitality with a European flair even if they are in Dubai, China or the Middle East.
The Architecture of Kempinski Hotel
The Kempinski Hotel will stand tall next to the YOO8 serviced by Kempinski, the branded serviced residences mentioned earlier, which will be the world’s tallest twisted residential towers upon its completion. The hotel will be 68 storeys in height and shares nearly four acres of freehold land with the other two buildings.
The buildings were designed by the renowned architect, Hud Bakar, who has won numerous awards and is also the principal of RSP Architects. Bakar has explained that the entire building scape was inspired by the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang.
Hence the spiralling building design that seems to be leaning towards each other, symbolizing strength and dependability. The interior of the building space was also designed to be liveable friendly areas.
World-Class Hotelier Meets Flawless Hospitality
As 8 Conlay will be the Kempinski brand’s first foray into the Malaysian market, new guests will get to experience their signature five-star services first hand. Returning guests will get to re-encounter the impeccable world of Kempinski hospitality.
Some of the Kempinski’s services include their trademark Lady in Red concierge and having a butler available at your service during your stay. The Kempinski Hotel also provides (by request) private chefs, housekeepers, tailors or masseuses to make your stay more comfortable.
There is also the Kempinski Discovery, the hotel’s loyalty programme, which gives guests access to benefits, such as late check out and room upgrades, at Kempinski hotels around the world. As an added perk, all purchasers of YOO8 branded residences will enjoy a complimentary Kempinski Discovery Platinum membership.
The Lady in Red – Kempinski’s Iconic Brand Ambassador
The Lady in Red is a trademark of the Kempinski brand. The role represents impeccable service and the enduring symbol of the finest European luxury hospitality. Created in 2009, the Lady in Red provides a genuine personalised intuitive guest experience based on guest intelligence, cultural empathy and also having an insight to each individual guest’s needs.
They are brand ambassadors of The Kempinski, and strive to go one step beyond to make a guest’s stay a memorable experience. They are the conduit between the hotel brand experience and the guest. Ultimately, they act as a trusted companion to guests when they stay at the Kempinski.
The Lady in Red is instantly recognisable within the Kempinski hotel confines. They are dressed in striking red, to reflect class and poise. They evoke a sense of familiarity and also showcase the cultural nuance of European elegance, which represents Kempinski Hotels perfectly.
Kempinski The Spa
This spa service is one of the trademark features synonymous with Kempinski Hotels. Kempinski The Spa offers luxury spa facilities that include a curated menu of treatments, that can be tailored to the guest’s needs. The luxury services include restorative massages, healing facials, exfoliating scrubs and wraps.
The Spa is also known for their full-body HydraFacial treatments carried out by their professional therapists. Their luxurious facilities are second to none, leaving all of their guests pampered and relaxed during their stay.
Some reviews have said that the services at Kempinski The Spa are so good that guests never want to leave. The only way to find out is to experience it yourself.
The Location
8 Conlay Kempinski Hotel will be situated on Jalan Conlay, an address that is part of the KLCC enclave. The hotel is minutes away from the future Conlay MRT Station that will link directly to Kuala Lumpur’s “KL Sentral,” the city’s major transportation hub. The hotel is also very near to the major LRT lines and the monorail lines.
The Kempinski Hotel Kuala Lumpur is located only a few minutes from Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle which consists of the Petronas Twin Towers, Pavilion KL, Starhill Gallery, Tun Razak Exchange and Zouk Entertainment. Pavilion KL and Starhill Gallery is a premier shopping destination in Kuala Lumpur, and is linked together by an air conditioned walkway.
Overall, there are over 3,000 stores spread across nine malls within the highly walkable vicinity of the Kempinski Hotel. The Bukit Bintang area is also within walking distance; if not, hailing a ride-share car is also very convenient and will cost only a few Ringgit.
In addition to having its own range of gastronomic destinations, the hotel is only minutes away from the best fine-dining restaurants in the city, including Nobu, Troika Sky Dining and speakeasy clubs such as PS150. If the hotel guest fancies something more down to earth, the famous street eatery, also known as Jalan Alor Food Street, is also nearby.
The hotel has easy access to major highways and roads. With so many options for experiences and dining, Kempinski Hotel Kuala Lumpur is certainly in the right location.
Kempinski’s Way Forward
As construction continues to make headway, even with a brief disruption of a Malaysian Movement Control Order due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the hotel plans to open and welcome its first guest in 2022.
The 8 Conlay Kempinski Hotel Kuala Lumpur plans to curate a “confluential” experience for all that choose to stay there. This is a term coined by the developer KSK Land and Kempinski that perfectly describes the seamless blending of Kempinski’s iconic hospitality services with the diverse history and culture of Malaysia.
Kempinski also plans to craft personalised moments whilst still catering to the demands of the experienced global traveller. The hotel plans to position itself as a destination to meet, work and spend time together, when one is in Kuala Lumpur. The hotel also plans to be a gastronomic trail stop, to pay homage to modern contemporary Malaysia.
With a strategic location in KLCC, and full emphasis on luxury and top notch hospitality standards, Kempinski Hotel Kuala Lumpur certainly ticks all the right boxes, and stands out as one of the new hotel brands to keep an eye out for in the coming years.
For more information, you can contact the 8 Conlay team here.