KUCHING: The business sector may wish to take the cue from Global Upline Sdn Bhd advisor Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiing who feels that there is still good opportunity for business – at least in the hotel industry – even in the face of the current economic downturn.

“There is a need for more hotel rooms in Kuching to support the tourism industry,” he said at the soft launch of Four Points by Sheraton Kuching hotel at Jalan Lapangan Terbang Baru here yesterday.

He said the very much recognised shortage of hotel rooms in the city had led to very few extended stays by tourists, with big tour groups choosing Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu over Kuching.

To alleviate the shortage, Ting said Global Upline had invested about RM290 million to build Four Points by Sheraton Kuching Hotel and had completed the construction in 11 months.

“With this hotel in operation, tour operators bringing in big groups of tourists need not undergo trouble to accommodate them.

He said despite the bleak outlook of the economy, the company was still confident that Four Points by Sheraton Kuching would be a success as there was enough demand.

In fact, Ting said it was his belief that the demand for more rooms was still growing and that the company was also considering the possibility of building another hotel next to Four Points by Sheraton Kuching in the near future.

“We have been in touch with international tour agencies and airlines and gained knowledge that there is enough demand for this industry to succeed in Kuching,” he said.

Global Upline managing director Datuk Mohamad Daniel Abong, director Datu Dr Yusoff Hanifah, Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd regional vice-president Peter Frawley, Four Points by Sheraton Kuching general manager Malachy McArdle, Ting’s wife Puan Sri Datuk Wong Sui Chuo and sons Datuk Michael Ting, John Ting and Bobby Ting were among those present at the function.

“The airlines have told us that they can generate more seats to bring in more tourists but there are not enough rooms to accommodate them.

“The Tourism Ministry needs to help people like us who are spending a few hundred million ringgit to build a hotel to ensure its profitability and sustainability,” he added.

He said with the open sky policy, more airlines such as Silk Air, Tiger Airlines from Singapore and other airlines from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia were bringing in more people to the state.

To accommodate all those people, he said there was an urgent need for more hotel rooms, hence more hotels should be built.

He also felt that the Tourism Ministry, Sarawak Tourism Board and the various players of the tourism industry as well as operators of hawker stalls and centres should work together to promote tourism in the state.

Ting said with the presence of Sarawak Convention Bureau and the opening of Sarawak Convention Centre later this year, Global Upline and its properties were looking forward to service the Meeting Incentive Conference Exhibition (MICE) market.

The hotel boasts of a 1,456-square metre Rainforest Ballroom that can cater for up to 2,500 seminar seats and 1,300 people for a sit-down banquet.

“Through Four Points by Sheraton Kuching, we hope to create a new experience for everyone, with different styles and types of rooms available and the range of food and beverages,” Ting added.

He was also confident that the hotel’s room occupancy rate would reach the targeted 100 per cent.

“At this time of the year and for the first two years we will enjoy very high room occupancy,” he said, adding that by providing the best service and food to the guests, they would return to patronise the hotel.

Ting added that the setting up of the hotel had also created many employment opportunities for the locals and it would be able to facilitate the transfer of international knowledge and experience to Sarawakians.

“The tourism industry needs a lot of people and I hope the government will encourage and train more Sarawakians to fill up the jobs in this industry,” Ting said.

The 421-room hotel reflects a culmination of modern architectural design and approachable, straightforward hospitality.

It is all set for opening on Jan 17, a day after it plays host to a banquet for Ting’s third son Bobby Ting’s marriage with Shentel Lee.

The hotel will also host a function accommodating 1,000 people on Jan 13.

No stranger to the hotel industry, Global Upline has owned and developed properties in Langkawi, Labuan, Kuching and the Philippines for over 20 years.

At the event, Ting also pledged to donate RM10,000 to Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA) for the organising of its New Year gathering/dinner on Jan 17.

Present to hand over the donation request was the event organising chairman Davidson Kho.