Travel Agent - July 7, 2008 - (Page 22)

DESTINATIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 aromatherapy massage gets high marks from guests. Agents can book treatments for clients ahead of time by contacting the spa manager, Roberta Koh (011-603-2260-1688, lifespa. hkl@clarkhatch.com.my). Al Nafourah is the hotel’s specialty restaurant. It’s something of a destination within a destination, emulating a Middle Eastern oasis with Moorish arches, plush decor and belly dancers. Opulent silk dinner tents offer privacy. A nice touch is the terrace overlooking the Lake Gardens. Agents can make advance reservations for their clients at www.lemeridien. com/kualalumpurdining. Because Kuala Lumpur can get steamy, guests will enjoy cooling off in the hotel’s freeform swimming pool. At 394 feet, it’s billed as the longest pool in Kuala Lumpur. The lagoon-inspired design features palm trees, rock formations and a water slide. The general manager is Martyn Standen (011-603-2263-7280, martyn.standen@leme ridien.com). Agents should direct their questions to the hotel’s director of sales, Mondi Mecja (mondi.mecja@lemeridien.com). The Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur (www.mandarinoriental.com) is the closest hotel to the Petronas Twin Towers. The hotel has 643 guest rooms, including 41 suites and 51 serviced apartments. The exclusive Mandarin Oriental Club has seven private floors, comprising 148 guest rooms, 10 Club Park Suites and one Presidential Suite. Each of these rooms looks out on either the Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park, or the capital’s stirring skyline. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur opened this past summer. The spa has four treatment rooms, a dedicated manicure and pedicure room, heat and aqua facilities and a consultation room. Treatments combine Chinese, European, Thai and Malaysian therapies. Mandarin Oriental’s signature treatment is the “Time Ritual,” which encourages guests to book time rather than specific treatments. Services can then be tailored to create an individualized holistic journey. To make reservations in advance, e-mail mokul-spa@mohg.com Guests can opt for Cantonese cuisine at Lai Po Heen, or contemporary European cuisine A view from a room at the Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur CONNECTING YOU For more information on travel to Malaysia, visit www. travelagentcentral.com/malaysia-travel-resources with an Asian influence at Pacifica Grill and Bar. The Grand Ballroom in Kuala Lumpur can accommodate up to 1,800 guests for a sit-down dinner. Denise Condon, the hotel’s director of travel industry account sales, USA and Canada, can answer agents’ questions. With an office in San Francisco, Condon is easy to reach (dcondon@ mohg.com, 415-772-8831). The 701-room Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur (www.shangri-la.com) is in the city’s Golden Triangle. Of its guest rooms and suites, the Horizon Club rooms are the most requested. These consist of Horizon Executive, Horizon Premier and Horizon Twin Towers rooms. The Horizon Club offers many perks, including access to the Horizon Club Lounge, located on the 27th floor; complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails; and suit pressing upon arrival. For clients seeking a great view, book them into The Horizon Twin Towers rooms. These provide views of Kuala Lumpur’s landmark Petronas Twin Towers. The hotel’s spa has five treatment rooms. Spa inquiries can be directed to the fitness center manager, Rajoo Ananthan (011-6032032-2388, ext. 1283, ananthan.rajoo@ shangri-la.com). Guests will have a range of choices when it comes to dining. The hotel has several restaurants, including Restaurant Lafite (Western), Zipangu (Japanese) and Shang Palace (Chinese). The Lobby Lounge is famous for its “Czar” cocktail, containing Absolut vodka shaken with crushed ice and fresh strawberries and garnished with a sugar cane stick. Agents can make advance restaurant reservations by contacting the hotel’s Restaurant Reserva- tions Centre at (011-603-2074-3900, restaurantreservations.slkl@shangri-la.com. The general manager is Jarlath Lynch (011603-2032-2388, ext. 1141, jarlath.lynch@ shangri-la.com). Agents with VIP requests can reach out to him. The travel agent liaison for the hotel is Mukhriz Maarof, sales manager in charge of travel trade (011-603-2074-3926, mukhriz. maarof@shangri-la.com). I AGENTADVICE “I took my first trip to Malaysia last February, as part of a fam organized by the Malaysia Tourist Board,” says Paula Mullins Worster, president of Carlsbad, CA-based First Tee Promotion LCC Golf & Travel. “I was so impressed. The infrastructure is exceptional, there’s world-class golf and the U.S. dollar goes a long way.” Worster’s agency specializes in golf, wine and wellness. She’s been selling Asia for years and has traveled to Thailand more than 15 times. Worster had some initial reservations about traveling to a Muslim country. “I asked questions at length about etiquette and culture,” she remembers. “Once I was there, I found the Malaysians to be as friendly as Kiwis and Thais. In Kuala Lumpur, you’ll see everything from a Burkha to a miniskirt.” Worster also has high praise for Malaysian cuisine. “The food is outrageous—very organic.” 22 | TravelAgent July 7, 2008 http://www.lemeridien.com/kualalumpurdining http://www.lemeridien.com/kualalumpurdining http://www.mandarinoriental.com http://www.shangri-la.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/malaysia-travel-resources http://www.travelagentcentral.com/malaysia-travel-resources

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Travel Agent - July 7, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Europe: History and a Scenic Landscape Define Normandy Pacific/Asia: Kuala Lumpur Offers Luxury Shopping and Hotels Hawaii: Honolulu’s Nightlife is as Dazzling as its Sunshine Canada: VIA Rail Offers a New Way to Enjoy the Great North Las Vegas: Hotels and Casinos Away From the Strip Florida: Hilton Daytona Beach Offers Budget-Friendly Packages Central & South America: Panama is Poised to Become a Hot Destination Mexico: The ME Cancún Targets an Upscale Clientele Caribbean: Maxim Opens a New Resort in Puerto Plata The Latest News and Notes from Dominica Cruises: A CLIA Study Offers Good News About Cruising Cartagena and Santa Marta Offer Two Different Sides of Columbia Cover Story: Wendy Goodenow Industry In Crisis: A New Report Offers a Gloomy Forecast for the Airline Industry Hotels: Prince Edward Island Celebrates Anne of Green Gables EZGuider: Vacation.com Launches a New Platform Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Opinion Consortia Can Be An Agent’s Best Friend MLT Expands Roles and Offerings Malaysia Continues Agent Push In the Spotlight Agent Access Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - July 7, 2008

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