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Which other hotel in Kuala Lumpur could claim to have once been home to British governors or to have hosted Queen Elizabeth II? Despite its old-world charm, this intimate hotel has the business traveller in mind. Each suite has fax and internet access and there are five function rooms that can hold up to 200 people, plus the option for outdoor receptions on the lawns with a marquee that can cater for up to 380 guests. If you’re looking to impress, the suites with balconies are the place to stay, with views of the lake and the city skyline.
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From a design point of view—with its arches, glass facade and chintzy interior—Hotel Istana lives up to its [name], which in Malay means ‘palace’. Conveniently situated in the centre of the Golden Triangle, this 23-storey building is just a block away from Bintang Walk, the popular shopping street. For those more inclined to other forms of physical activity, there’s the 2,000 square metre Clark Hatch Fitness Centre which includes a gymnasium, spa pool and massage services. The hotel also offers the Grand Mahkota Ballroom, a pillarless 2,000- seat ballroom. Italian, Japanese and Chinese cuisine can be had at the hotel’s restaurants.
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The Mandarin Oriental is now being seriously challenged as Kuala Lumpur’s top business hotel by the likes of the Westin, but it has managed to hold its own so far thanks to its supreme levels of service and attention to detail. The Mandarin Oriental sits in the heart of the city centre, right beside the majestic Petronas Twin Towers. Because the hotel is part of the KLCC development, guests get discounts when they show their room keys at some KLCC shops. While service can occasionally be inconsistent, the hotel oozes luxury —from the gorgeous swimming pool, which appears to flow off the building’s edge, to the spacious club lounge, from the guestrooms’ wall-windows (providing awesome views) to the fully-equipped ballrooms and meeting rooms.
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Twenty minutes from the city centre, this establishment is part of the huge Mines City Resort, built on a disused tin mine. The resort also includes the Mines Resort & Golf Club, Mines Shopping Fair, Mines Wonderland and Mines Beach Resort, all of which are accessible by water taxi. It would be a miracle if you did get any work done here. But if you must, the Signature Club rooms offer 24-hour butler services, secretarial services and fax. That leaves the architecture to deal with, which is proclaimed as an ‘harmonious blend of Moorish architecture and Malaysian culture’. While it may be a bit over-the-top for some tastes, it certainly is different!
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