Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) is renewing its focus on Malaysia as a destination, having invited select trade media – including Travel Weekly – to experience its properties across the country this month.
We visited five hotels under PPHG’s three brands – Pan Pacific, PARKROYAL and PARKROYAL COLLECTION – from breathtaking beachside island resorts to chic hubs in the middle of the city, and established favourites to more newly-acquired properties currently under renovation.
This three-part series will review the Malaysian hotels under the three PPHG brands.
While each brand embodies independent qualities and features properties with different characteristics, our overarching takeaway was of gracious service, commitment to sustainability and passion for excellence.
PARKROYAL COLLECTION KUALA LUMPUR
The PARKROYAL COLLECTION Hotels & Resorts brand launched in 2020, with a focus on responsibility towards the environment, eco-friendliness, sustainability and care for overall wellbeing.
This was heavily reflected in the PARKROYAL COLLECTION KUALA LUMPUR, which demonstrated that sustainability and comfortable modern lifestyle can co-exist through conscious design and efforts.
The building
Like the other two PPHG properties in the PARKROYAL COLLECTION, the Kuala Lumpur hotel was designed by renowned architect FDAT, with a focus on sustainability and natural living.
As part of its biophyllic design, natural elements are built into the building to help reduce the property’s carbon footprint. This “green” hotel is home to 78 planters – 1,200 sqm of air-purifying plants and trees – which serve as natural humidifiers while forming a lush, landscaped facade.
The rooms
With 527 rooms and suites there’s a range of room types from the cosy and accommodating Urban Deluxe Cityview Room, to the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Suite with its private dining room and kitchen, large living area and workspace. All the wallpaper in the hotel was designed by a local artist, and the more luxurious the rooms get the darker the wallpaper becomes.
The majority of the stylish and cosy rooms boast Nespresso coffee machines, luxurious bathrooms with rain shower ensuites (and in many cases bathtubs), USB charging deports for all devices and LED smart TVs. And the super comfy plush king-size beds offer optimum comfort for a great night’s sleep.
A novel discovery was the Signature Family Suite, which allows families to be in the same accommodation without being on top of each other.
With the master bedroom separated from the kids’ room by a hallway, parents can relax while their children play in the connected rooms. The kids’ rooms are all creatively themed, and include bunk beds, toys and even tiny dressing gowns.
In line with the brand’s focus on sustainability, you will find a filtered water tap in all the ensuite bathrooms as plastic bottles have been phased out. There are also waste bins in every room with plastic and paper recycling options, biodegradable packaging in use, and the option to not have your sheets and towels changed daily to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint.
Events
PARKROYAL COLLECTION KUALA LUMPUR boasts a range of versatile meeting and function spaces to host MICE events, weddings and other celebrations.
On the dedicated meeting floor on Level 2 you will find eight meeting rooms as well as the “Treehouse” – a wellness-focussed social space for meetings. A selection of pre-function and breakout spaces are also available.
Sustainable MICE packages have been created to support “green” meetings and events, which can include a variety of conscious dining options, and even massages between meetings.
The meeting rooms themselves used recyclable printed paper and bamboo pens and offer refillable filtered water taps.
There are two state-of-the-art high-ceiling ballrooms in the property, one of which (the COLLECTION Ballroom) includes a feature ceiling with 2,500 suspended lights.
The Garden Ballroom has dedicated sky gardens and ample natural daylight, as well as wooden ceilings featuring a biophyllic wave design to match the panelling outside the entrance of the hotel.
Facilities
There are ample areas to enjoy your downtime: swimming in the saltwater pool, relaxing in the covered poolside cabanas, or unwinding on the Skye Chill terrace. The property also has a fully-equipped state-of-the-art gym TechnoGym equipment.
You can complete your wellness journey with a visit to the St. Gregory Spa, offering a wide range of treatments and luxurious wellness care products and access to a hot tub.
The COLLECTION Club Lounge offers a private space where you can relax, work, or eat. A daily buffet breakfast, afternoon refreshments, all-day drinks and evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are on offer.
Thyme is the property’s all-day restaurant, serving delicious local and Western food from its seven open cooking sections. The soft-shell crab and oxtail soup were particularly sublime.
Finally, the Botanist Lounge & Bar draws inspiration from the natural diverse world of fauna in Malaysia. The concept emphasises harmony with nature, with a menu that celebrates locality and sustainable ingredients.
Conscious dining
Conscious dining is a focus at PARKROYAL COLLECTION KUALA LUMPUR, and the onsite urban farm plays a huge role in that.
With 60 varieties of plants (vegetables, fruits, herbs and edible flower) grown and used in the hotel’s restaurant, bars, lounge and even spa, their ‘farm-to-table, farm-to-bar, and farm-to-spa’ experience is immersive.
In addition to using homegrown ingredients, the property also sources from local suppliers as much as possible. You’ll find a leaf on the Thyme menus to indicate local ingredients.
Location
Right in the buzz of Bukit Bintang, this centrally-located property offers a five-minute walk to public transport (both the metro and the monorail).
Situated close to Jalan Alor food street, several popular shopping centres and the nightlife of Jalan Changkat, you’ll find no shortage of activities and eateries right outside your front door.
Verdict
PARKROYAL COLLECTION KUALA LUMPUR offers a combination of high-end service, eco-consciousness and luxury amenities flawlessly rarely rolled into one. The commitment to sustainability is cleverly woven into the entire hotel experience and leaves guests with an enriched sense of wellbeing and connection with nature, which in the heart of a bustling capital city like Kuala Lumpur is a striking achievement.
