SINGAPORE (Feb 4): Aspen Group’s joint venture (JV) with IKEA Southeast Asia, Aspen Vision City, on Saturday signed a management agreement with Mariott International to operate the Aloft Penang Batu Kawan hotel when it opens in Penang, Malaysia, in 2023.
The two companies also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop one of the residence towers of Vogue Lifestyle Residence under the Aloft brand – where Marriott International will provide various services for the marketing and management of the residences, and where residents can also enjoy exclusive hotel services provided by Aloft Hotels upon request.
Aloft Penang Batu Kawan comes as part of Aspen Vision City’s 245-acre mega mixed development, where over 2 million sq ft of retail spaces and 4,500 parking spaces are now ready for business as of Feb 2019.
See: Marriott's Aloft Hotels appointed hotel operator for Aspen Vision City
In a filing on Saturday, Aspen says the upcoming Aloft Hotel in Aspen Vision will be the first international-class hotel in Batu Kawan.
The hotel will be a half-hour’s drive from Penang International Airport as well as George Town, the capital city of Penang.
The hotel’s 308 rooms and suites will be located across 30 stories of guestroom floors complete with full recreational, banquet and meeting facilities, and welcome business & leisure travellers as well as local ‘staycationers’ and shoppers, it adds.
Further, the group says Aloft Penang Batu Kawa will sport signature bold-coloured palettes, complimentary Wi-FI and guestrooms with amenities including smart TVs, and a range of culinary options such as The Warehouse restaurant and the hotel’s grab-and-go-outlet, Re:fuel.
“The excellent connectivity and infrastructure at Batu Kawan have opened the floodgates of commercial activities and business opportunities. The commitment from Marriott International will further strengthen Batu Kawan as the regional commercial hub and enhance the local economic growth. They are also able to anchor the tourism and hospitality sector and boost the vibrancy of Batu Kawan Industrial Park by providing complete support network to the business activities,” says M. Murly, president and group CEO of Aspen Group.
Shares in the group closed flat at 16 cents on Friday.
