The much-anticipated hotel nods to the Park Hyatt brand&rsquo;s distintive take on understated luxury.

Opening this August, Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur marks the brand&rsquo;s debut in Malaysia, setting a new standard for luxury in the city. Perched atop Merdeka 118, the hotel offers Insta-worthy views, polished interiors inspired by Malaysian culture, and elevated dining and wellness experiences. With more than 250 spacious rooms and exclusive offerings like artisanal treats and curated cultural excursions, the hotel promises a memorable stay in the heart of the capital.

L&rsquo;OFFICIEL Why in Kuala Lumpur and why now?
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HERMAN KEMP This project has been on the radar and planned for years &ndash; the deal was struck way back in 2011. From there, development, research, design, and real building began in around 2016. However, it was delayed due to COVID and other factors. Immediately after COVID, work resumed. That was when I joined, roughly two and a half years ago.
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And, given the current market conditions in Malaysia, I believe it&rsquo;s time for Park Hyatt. I believe it&rsquo;s time to elevate the hospitality standard here again and, at the same time, to ensure that we&rsquo;re the market leader. In general, tourism is positive, and the country is poised to welcome more hotels.
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LO Other than the price point, what makes the Park Hyatt different from the rest of the Five Stars Hotel?
&nbsp;
HK If you look at our hotel, I believe it&rsquo;s very distinctive from the others. Park Hyatt, in general, is well-known for providing a personalised and curated experience. If you look at our regular room categories, they start at 56 square metres, which is one the large side in comparison. Our health and wellness amenities include a 24-hour gym, circadian treatments, and several wet spaces for varied sensations. Our conference rooms, flagship restaurants, and selected food and beverage outlets have unique offerings at the highest standard possible.

LO In terms of design, what do you want your guests to feel when they enter the hotel?
&nbsp;
HK Two words: returning home. We want you to feel at home. When you step into Park Hyatt, you will see various spaces, from the dining room to the living room to the Park Lounge. Moreover, we have the porch serving as our greeting area. If you look at the design of this hotel, you&rsquo;ll notice that as you travel up the escalators from the ground floor to Level 3, you&rsquo;ll see a canopy on top. That is what you see in a traditional Malay house, so you don&rsquo;t just feel like you&rsquo;re at home but also experiencing Malaysia too.
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LO I know we talked about COVID being one of the biggest hindrances in bringing this hotel to life. Are there any other challenges which you faced along the way?
&nbsp;
HK Perhaps it&rsquo;s more appropriate to define them as a combination of complexities. Obviously, Merdeka 118, being the world&rsquo;s second-highest skyscraper and a mixed-use building, comes with its own set of obstacles. In addition to the fire safety rules, there are different construction codes, due to the height of the structure, which make it more difficult to finish the project in an effective and timely manner. We also have to take our time to ensure that we meet all the necessary requirements because this is Park Hyatt after all.
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LO What does great service mean to you?
&nbsp;
HK My definition of outstanding service is anticipating a guest's wants and being able to sense their mood correctly without having to ask them. And be able to foresee, what they would like to have next at that time.
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LO With guests from different regions, how do you cater to everyone needs?
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HK I believe it will be very tough to meet every single need. For example, if you&rsquo;re organising a wine dinner in a restaurant, catering to families will be an issue. But I feel we are providing distinct, one-of-a-kind&nbsp;experiences across the hotel, which can tailor to the specific needs of certain guests based on where and why they&rsquo;re staying with us.
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LO What would you say is your proudest moment so far?
HK My proudest moment so far is having the opportunity to be on this Park Hyatt journey. We&rsquo;ve had a lot of very massive milestones, especially lately. I think my ultimate joy will come when we officially open the doors. And that won&rsquo;t be just mine, but also Park Hyatt&rsquo;s for establishing such a distinct and significant property.

For more information, visit <a href="http://parkhyattkualalumpur.com/">http://parkhyattkualalumpur.com/</a>

Interview: Herman Kemp, GM of Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, on what makes the hotel special

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