KUALA SELANGOR, March 29 —The Selangor State Development Corporation’s (PKNS) De Palma Eco Resort Kuala Selangor, which ceased operations in October last year, has reopened at the start of this month under a new operator, The Blanket Hotel Sdn Bhd.
PKNS chief executive officer Datuk Mahmud Abas said the move would give the Bumiputera company an opportunity to take the De Palma hotel brand to a higher level.
He said PKNS is also bringing in new management for two other properties, De Palma Hotel Shah Alam which is also being managed by The Blanket Hotel, and a hotel in Ampang to be managed by another Bumiputera hotel operator, he told a press conference today in conjunction with the De Palma Eco Resort Kuala Selangor reopening.
“PKNS’ current direction is to give external parties the opportunity to manage and operate our hotels. All this while, PKNS has constructed and fitted out the properties as well as developing the De Palma brand.
“With this move, PKNS is indirectly helping these management companies in terms of operations and employee training so that they can become successful hotel managers,” he said.
De Palma Eco Resort Kuala Selangor comprises 48 chalets and 12 villas with facilities such as a swimming pool, free parking area, hall and coffee house.
Meanwhile, Blanket Hotel director Ieja Hindon Salleh said her company started operations in 2003 with its own budget hotel in Penang and now operates five hotels in Penang, Selangor and Kedah.
Bukit Melawati state assemblyman Juwairiya Zulkifli also attended the hotel reopening ceremony today.
— Bernama
