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The Pearl Kuala Lumpur, formerly known as Pearl International Hotel, is expanding its Muslim-friendly hospitality.
It recently received the Gold Award of the Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Recognition (MFAR) programme from Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
ITC director-general Datuk Dr Mohmed Razip Hasan said in a statement that with the growth in Muslim-friendly travel as well as global Muslim spend on travel hitting US$194 billion pre-pandemic, he believes that this is the market area that will help to boost the tourism industry recovery once borders re-open for travel.
The hotel’s marketing and communications manager Nora Ismail said the Muslim-friendly branding has opened up more marketing opportunities for the property.
“As an industry in the tourism and hospitality business, we need to seize the opportunities and must be prepared to offer our Muslim clientele assurance and Islamic values in our services. MFAR would facilitate hotel owners and operators to generate potential income from interstate and overseas Muslim travellers beyond Covid-19,” she said.
The Pearl Kuala Lumpur was part of a mixed development project developed by Aikbee Timbers Sdn Bhd, built on a former sawmill factory site owned by Aikbee Group.
Besides the hotel, the other components of the project comprise Pearl Point Shopping Mall and Pearl Point condominium, adjoining Pearl Shopping Gallery and Pearl Suria Residence, KL South.
The hotel was officially opened on October 11, 1997, and it occupies a 1.4ha site shared with Pearl Point Shopping Mall.
In the past few years, the hotel had embarked on an aggressive rebranding campaign to enhance its public image and service delivery to celebrate more than two decades of great hospitality.
Part of the rebranding process, which included refreshing its facade, and landscaping was to focus on the emerging Muslim tourist market
The four-star hotel also refurbished its main ballroom and 14 functions rooms, as well as upgraded all its 480 guest rooms.
It is discussed to expand its Muslim-friendly hospitality by hiring a certified halal executive to ensure compliance with Malaysia’s halal standards. Further, the hotel will employ 90 per cent Muslim staff in operations and management.
