Friday, 26 February 2016

Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites Kuching, Sarawak - Runaway Bella - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites Kuching, Sarawak - Runaway Bella - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites Kuching, Sarawak - Runaway Bella

Posted: 10 Sep 2015 12:00 AM PDT

Located at Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, which is in front of the ceremonial field "Padang Merdeka", the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites is one of Kuching's historical and cultural centre.

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It takes about 25minutes drive from the Kuching International Airport to reach the hotel. There are many amenities, shops, markets and historical sites nearby the hotel that are mostly a few minutes walk away.

Even the Kuching Waterfront is only about 10minutes walk away – a good way to soak in the architecture and history of Kuching while you burn some fats to your destination.

Right next to the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites is the Sarawak Museum, housing some of Sarawak's native histories and information of the cultures of the natives.

The Merdeka Plaza Shopping Mall would also be a fun place to go to shop or just to grab some food or coffee.

Rooms at Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites

The rooms at Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites are divided to the "Hotel" and "Apartment Suites". The hotel rooms are in "Standard", "Superior" and "Deluxe" while the apartment suites are the 2-bedroom suite and 3-bedroom suite.

When I was there, I only stayed in the 3-bedroom Apartment Suite and here are my thoughts on my experience:

Complete with telephone features, tea-making facilities in the kitchen and minibar (upon request and separate pricing), it is easy to make a cup of tea or coffee and watch TV with your room mates in the living hall.

Bathroom in the Master Bedroom is equipped with a bathtub, while all bathrooms also have hair dryers, soaps and bathroom accessories.

There is also a powder room for that quick make-up if both bathrooms are occupied.

The middle and corner room share a common bathroom.

There is a 4-seater dining table next to the kitchen.

However, I do hope there are more power outlets in the apartment or assigned power outlets in each rooms. It would be easier to charge our electronic items though. Also hope the hotel could introduce free wifi service to each suites. Maybe, in the future.

Other Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites Utilities

Food and Beverages

Hotel guests will be spoiled for choice when it comes to food since there are 6 F&B outlets in this hotel:

Aurora Court – All day dining coffee house
Ristorante Beccari – Authentic Italian food
Yn Cellar – Place to enjoy a large selection of wines, spirits, liqours & beers.
La Habana – A cigar divan specialising in Cuban Cigars and great selection of Single Malt Whiskies.
Seattle Coffee & Tea – A myrid of freshly brewed coffee and tea blends, cakes and pastries available.
Victoria Arms – English pub with live muic, dancing and wine bar.

Banquet & Conference Rooms

The banquet and conference rooms are available according to your preference. The facilities includes classroom, theatre, banquet, reception, buffet, U-shape tables, Hollow Square tables, Boardroom and difference in ceiling height.

Rooms are:

Balai Merdeka – There are two floors of Balai Merdeka
Dewan Muhibbah – There are two halls of Dewan Muhibbah
Pre-Assembly Area
Dewan Muhibbah + Pre-Assembly Area
The Board Room
Dewan Perpaduan – There are five Dewan Perpaduan
Merdeka Court
Rajah Brooke's Terrace

For further information and inquiries, contact 082-258000 (ext 8052, 8053, 8051)

All function rooms are equipped with state-at-of-art audio visual and lighting equipment.

Spa & Health Centre

The Health Centre is located on the 8th floor with a range of fitness equipment and machines. There is also a steam and sauna room available. Or a spa where you can get a rejuvenating massage. If you're a swimmer, there's also a swimming pool for you to take your laps in.

My Experience at Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites

For me, I had an enjoyable experience here, not only from the friendly services by the hotel staffs but also because of the strategic location that allows me to roam part of Kuching town on foot easily.

Since there was also a Merdeka celebration at the "Padang Merdeka" during my stay here, I also managed to see the music shows, performances and fireworks right from my apartment suite.

If you're planning to come to Kuching when there are events at the "Padang Merdeka", Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites is the place to stay at.

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  Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites  Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.  Tel: +6082-258000 Fax: +6082-425400  Email: info@merdekapalace.com  Web: www.merdekapalace.com

Tuesday, 16 February 2016

Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites offers Valentine's Day promotions ... - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites offers Valentine's Day promotions ... - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites offers Valentine's Day promotions ...

Posted: 03 Feb 2016 08:35 AM PST

KUCHING: Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites has put together a few promotions to celebrate Valentine's Day this month.

On Feb 14 from 6.30pm to 10pm, the Valentine's Buffet Dinner at the all-day dining restaurant Aurora Court has a stunning array of international and local cuisine including assorted Seafood on Ice, Smoked Salmon Rose, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Sweet and Sour Soup, Fried Buttered Prawn with Oatmeal, Crispy Fried Calamari Fritters, Vietnamese Oven Baked Red Snapper and more.

Succulent roasted Whole Lamb Leg, Roasted Duck and Roasted Char Siew Chicken will be available at the carving station. Love birds can also indulge themselves on this special night with fresh food prepared with love by chefs at the live cooking stalls which consist of a wide variety of pasta, vegetables, and Mongolian BBQ. End the meal with various sweet temptations at the dessert counter.

The Valentine's Buffet Dinner is priced at RM99nett per adult and 50 per cent discount per child aged five to 12.

Treat loved ones to Beccari's deluxe five-course Italian set dinner lovingly crafted by chef de cuisine Gedang Jetom at Beccari with the Romance in Venice Candlelight Dinner on Valentine's Day from 6.30pm to 10pm.

Begin the gastronomic love journey with Carpaccio Di Salmone, thin sliced imported salmon fillet lightly marinated in extra virgin olive oil, crispy celery, mushroom, parsley, and rocket salad with citrus dressing topped with Grana Padano. Then, proceed to double boiled consommé with chicken mousse dumpling and parsley.

Love birds will then be served Ravioli Fatte In Casa, a southern Italy homemade ravioli stuffed with capsicum eggplant, mushroom, and mashed potato, served with puttanesca sauce of smoked salmon, olive, capers, basil, and Ricotta cheese. The journey continues with Filetto Di Manzo Beccari Rivisitato E Spigola In Guazzetto Di Cozze, Beccari style seared tenderloin served with chicken liver pâté and baked sea bass with mussel in onion and leek sauce.

Complete the journey with Duo Duo, delicate caramelised crème caramel savoia pudding on fresh fruits and traditional layer sponge cake tiramisu of Treviso.

This dinner is priced at RM320nett per couple and is not inclusive of beverages. (No children allowed).

Also, spend the special night at Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites with loved ones by quoting 'Big Bang Room Deal' to enjoy special room rate.

The booking period starts from now until March 31 as is also valid for stay during the same period. Availability is on a first-come first-serve basis.

Room rate starts from as low as RM140 nett for standard room; RM150 nett for Superior Room; RM180 nett for Deluxe Room; RM240 nett for two-bedroom apartment; and RM280 nett for three-bedroom apartment.

Guests will enjoy 50 per cent off breakfast for two persons.

For information or reservation for Valentine's Buffet Dinner, call Aurora Court at 082-258000 ext 8061; for Beccari candlelight dinner contact 082-258000 ext 8080.

For room reservation, call 082-258000 ext 8011/8012/8013/8085 by quoting 'Big Bang Room Deal'.

Also visit website www.merdekapalace.com or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MPHSKuching.

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Merdeka Palace buffet vouchers for BPIEF lucky draw – BorneoPost ...

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 08:15 AM PST

February 12, 2016, Friday

KUCHING: Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites has contributed two buffet dinner vouchers for the Borneo Post International Education Fair (BPIEF) lucky draw.

The vouchers are for a buffet dinner for two at Beccari and a buffet dinner for two at Aurora Court.

Among the other prizes are hotel stay vouchers at Tune Hotel, a complimentary stay voucher from Citadines Uplands Kuching, hotel stay vouchers from Grand Margherita Hotel, three vouchers (a two-day, one night stay in a superior room with buffet breakfast for two; buffet dinner for two at the Imperial Garden Restaurant; and Hi-Tea buffet for two at the Imperial Garden Restaurant) from Imperial Hotel Kuching, 30 privilege cards from Borneo Talk, goodies from the Sarawak Convention Bureau and merchandise from PPKS, i-Cats, Awisar and Technology College Sarawak.

BPIEF 2016 will be held from Feb 27-28 from 10am to 6pm.

It will feature some 80 local and international education exhibitors at the Borneo Convention Center Kuching (BCCK).
For more information, go to www.bpief.com.

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Monday, 8 February 2016

Visit BPIEF '16 and stand a chance to win hotel stays – BorneoPost ... - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Visit BPIEF '16 and stand a chance to win hotel stays – BorneoPost ... - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Visit BPIEF '16 and stand a chance to win hotel stays – BorneoPost ...

Posted: 04 Feb 2016 08:15 AM PST

BPIEF-2016---Logo-Round-sha

KUCHING: Tune Hotel Waterfront Kuching will be giving away two hotel stay vouchers for the lucky draw at the Borneo Post International Education Fair (BPIEF) this year.

For the seventh edition BPIEF, Tune Hotel is offering visitors the chance to win a three-day, two -night stay in their double room along with a 50 per cent discount on a sunset cruise and a two-day, one-night stay in a twin room along with 50 per cent discount sunset cruise.

Among other lucky prizes for BPIEF 2016 are a complimentary stay voucher from Citadines Uplands Kuching, hotel stay vouchers from Grand Margherita Hotel, three vouchers (a two-day, one-night stay in the superior room with buffet breakfast for two, buffet dinner for two at the Imperial Garden Restaurant and Hi-Tea buffet for two at the Imperial Garden Restaurant) from Imperial Hotel Kuching, 30 privilege cards from Borneo Talk, goodies from Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) and merchandises from PPKS, i-Cats, AWISAR and Technology College Sarawak.

BPIEF 2016 will be held from Feb 27-28 (from 10am till 6pm) featuring at least 80 local and international education exhibitors at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) with many lucky draw prizes to be won. For more information, please check the BPIEF website at <http://www.bpief.com/>

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Saturday, 6 February 2016

Vietnamese women 'rescued' from hotel room – BorneoPost Online ... - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Vietnamese women 'rescued' from hotel room – BorneoPost Online ... - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Vietnamese women 'rescued' from hotel room – BorneoPost Online ...

Posted: 04 Feb 2016 08:40 AM PST

SIBU: Police yesterday stormed a hotel at Lanang Road and found two Vietnamese women they believed could be victims of forced prostitution.

They also detained a man they believed could be a pimp.

The police team raided the room at 12.50pm after receiving a tip-off. They found two Vietnamese women in the room and also found condoms and lubricants.

The women brought along their luggage when they were being taken to the police station.

They were said to have been brought by someone to Sibu from Kuching two weeks ago.

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Friday, 5 February 2016

Waterfront Hotel is too much (SHS Press release, 01 Dec. 2015 ... - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Waterfront Hotel is too much (SHS Press release, 01 Dec. 2015 ... - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Waterfront Hotel is too much (SHS Press release, 01 Dec. 2015 ...

Posted: 01 Dec 2015 02:10 AM PST

  [last update: 09 Jan. 2016]

Below is the Sarawak Heritage Society press release dated 1 December 2015 entitled "Waterfront Hotel is too much".

It expresses concerns over the placing of a sizeable signage for new Waterfront Hotel (Kuching) right in front of the historic Round Tower building and over the access road to the hotel lobby, which de facto restricts access to the pedestrian corridor linking Carpenter street to India Street through the Japanese building. It also recalls that the massive Merdeka Plaza/Waterfront Hotel complex is expanding right up to the backwall of the Old Court House.

More generally it highlights the continuous shrinking of Sarawak's heritage assets over the years as a result of weak policy and commercial interests.

In a reaction, the Managing Director of the Waterfront Hotel said that proper approvals had been obtained for hotel signage, that "numerous people have commented (directly and indirectly) that we [The Waterfront Hotel] are a welcome addition to Kuching's heritage district" and that alternate locations for the sign were being considered for submission to the relevant authorities.

Media articles: "Need to treasure heritage", The Star Online, 02 Dec. 2015; "Society cries foul over building of new Waterfront Hotel", Borneo Post, 02 Dec, 2015; "Are we proud of our country's historical heritage?", theantdaily, 09 Dec. 2015.

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Sarawak Heritage Society Press Release- 1 December 2015

"Waterfront Hotel is too much"

"The area around the old Courthouse in Kuching is the heritage core of the city. There are more heritage properties, both officially gazetted and not, in this small section of the city than anywhere else in Sarawak. Of the Brooke Era, we have the Courthouse complex itself, the Square tower and the Round tower, the Pavilion and the General Post Office, not to mention Main Bazaar, Carpenter Street and India Street radiating out from it. But now, this area is also home to a multi-storey boutique hotel, the Waterfront hotel. Sarawak Heritage Society members would like to register their disappointment that this hotel and shopping centre, which should not have been allowed in the first place as it replaced a heritage property, the Treasury building, should now be allowed to encroach even further on all the heritage properties surrounding it.

"The Society begs the planning authorities to intervene in this and all future applications for similarly intrusive projects. There is little point in rescuing heritage properties one at a time, if new builds are allowed to dwarf them and remove all the context of the area. Even worse, construction work in the immediate vicinity of old buildings may cause damage and drainage problems; the Old Courthouse itself is believed to be cracking in areas. Penang has just been voted one of the ten best destinations in the world by Lonely Planet, largely due to its preservation of the heritage core of the city which has seen a creative renaissance there. If Kuching ever hopes to rival it, then town planning must come under the spotlight of the current administration before it is too late.

"The literature for the hotel promises that guests can have 'a commanding view' of the surrounding area and 'the many historical architectural landmarks'. It is a shame that none of the other residents of Kuching will be able to enjoy the same now that the new hotel has blocked their view! Not only that, the hotel has obscured the view of a heritage property, the Round Tower built in 1886, by putting its enormous signage directly in front of it! This is in addition to the sad sight of a McDonald's sign which already leans up against the back wall of the Courthouse! The shopping centre and hotel have already been allowed to commandeer two sections of public road for the exit and entrance to the car park. Now they have erected barriers across the cut through between India and Carpenter streets through the Japanese building. Are ordinary Kuching citizens to be prevented from using this area? What is next? Will they build a high rise on the site of the General Post Office? Will they convert Padang Merdeka and the surrounding area into a car park for Merdeka Plaza staff?

"SHS have noted that this trend is not just confined to the Merdeka Plaza problem. Three glorious heritage shophouses on Padungan were recently razed to the ground. The rumour is that the new owner plans to build a budget hotel of several storeys. There is also the ugly extension to another shophouse along Jalan Padungan, which is out of all proportion to the original streetscape. This is one of the truest examples of sticking out like a sore thumb ever conceived. How has planning permission for these two construction projects ever been granted? And if there has been no planning permission, where is the enforcement?

The building site that was once classic shophouses

An out of proportion extension on Jalan Padungan

"There is simply no point building hundreds of hotels if the authorities are allowing these to replace the very reason that tourists come to Kuching in the first place. Tourists come to Kuching or any other city to see and experience their uniqueness. Putting up generic McDonalds and Starbucks franchises does not make a place unique. Instead you are transforming something unique and special to something just like any other that can be seen any other place in the world. Once the visible evidence of the heritage story of Kuching is obliterated, tourists will no longer have any reason to stay here, other than a day trip to the Museum and then out to Semenggoh and beyond. The Society requests that the planning authorities consider why they are allowing shopping centre after shopping centre to be built, at the expense of heritage value and green space.

"This type of so-called 'progress' has been continuing for decades. Kuching's first cinema, the Sylvia, was trampled beneath the foundations of the Yayasan building, the Aurora Hotel allowed to go to make way for the Merdeka Palace – neither of which will win any awards for architecture. Now we have the example of the Merdeka Plaza, which is not satisfied with just destroying the Treasury building, but now wants to consume the heritage properties around it. It is up to the planning authorities in Kuching, whoever they may be, to control the development of a city, so that rampant commercialism, which ultimately benefits a small number to get rich, does not simply just override all other concerns of the many, including pedestrian access, easy flow of traffic, as well as the character, life and beauty of the city. Therefore, SHS ask the authorities to preserve the heritage of the city so that, in future, the people of Kuching can have a beautiful town to be proud of."

Comments are welcome.

UCSI to participate in upcoming BPIEF 2016 | The Borneo Post ...

Posted: 24 Jan 2016 02:00 PM PST

The UCSI University Sarawak Campus is expecting to move in to its new campus at The Isthmus in second quarter of year 2016.

The front view of UCSI University Sarawak teaching hotel

The new campus will be a teaching hotel, providing real life experience to students where students will be involved in running the UCSI Hotel Kuching. This contemporary designed campus will be equipped with Housekeeping Suite, Pastry and Bakery Laboratory, Gastronomy Laboratory, Culinary Laboratory, Chemistry Laboratory, Biology Laboratory, Lecture Theater, Lecture Hall, Lecture Room, Tutorial Room and others.
To know more about UCSI University Sarawak Campus, visit their booth during the seventh edition of Borneo Post International Eduction Fair (BPIEF) that will be held from February 27th to 28th at Borneo Convention Center Kuching (BCCK).

The back view of the UCSI University Sarawak teaching hotel

UCSI University is a leading institution of higher learning with campuses in Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu and Sarawak, Malaysia. It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and offers a wide spectrum of academic programmes, ranging from Medicine, Pharmacy, Optometry, Nursing, Engineering and Architecture to Music, Multimedia, Education, Liberal Arts and Hospitality.

UCSI University's strong track record of university-industry engagement has attracted attention and the University is entrusted to reshape Malaysia's tourism and hospitality industry through education. By leading the Malaysian Centre of Tourism and Hospitality Education (MyCenTHE) – a consortium of Malaysia's foremost education institutions – which endeavour to equip at least 50% of the industry's workforce with a diploma or a degree by 2020, UCSI University stands in the nation's service and that of the global community.

UCSI is among the 57 exhibitors participating in BPIEF 2016. Among those joining are Advantage Learning Company, Australian Business Centre, Market Management Services Sdn Bhd, NIIT College, JM Education Group, AUG Student Services, SEGi University and Colleges, RHB Easy, Curtin University, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kolej Yayasan UEM, FAME International College, Sunway College Kuching, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Melaka Manipal Medical College, University of Southampton, Education New Zealand, Wawasan Open University, Cosmopoint College, Quest International University Perak, Yayasan Sarawak, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology,Open University Malaysia, Tenby International School Miri, Islamic Information Centre, University College of Technology Sarawak, IDP Education Limited, Penang Medical College, Inter-Excel Advisory Sdn Bhd, National College of Ireland, Sarawak Maritime Academy, Pusat Pembangunan Kemahiran Sarawak, Kolej Komuniti Kuching, Kolej Komuniti Mas Gading, Le Cordon Bleu Malaysia, I-Systems College & Kolej AITC, Automotive and Welding Institute of Sarawak (Awisar), International College of Technology Sarawak (i-CATS), Technology College Sarawak (TCS), Sarawak Nursing Professional Association (SNPA), MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd, Sarawak General Hospital Blood Bank, See Hua Marketing Sdn Bhd, Wisma Wanita Training Centre (Jabatan Wanita & Keluarga Sarawak), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Teknologi MARA Sarawak (UiTM), PTPTN, PCSS Consultancy Sdn Bhd and Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia.

To know more about the programmes offered, please call 082-455255 or email askswk@ucsiuniversity.edu.my and log on to the UCSI Sarawak Campus facebook, www.facebook.com/ucsisarawak for more details.

Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Friday, 26 February 2016

Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites Kuching, Sarawak - Runaway Bella - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Merdeka Palace <b>Hotel</b> & Suites <b>Kuching</b>, <b>Sarawak</b> - Runaway Bella - Hotel in Sarawak Blog

Rooms at Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites