KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Sept 2017:
The transformation of Cheras suburb into a major commercial hub took another step today with the launch of Sunway Velocity Hotel – part of an overall development aimed at supporting conventional activities nearby venues like Menara PGRM and also spur medical tourism by 2020.
As part of this outlook, Sunway Bhd is looking to acquire more land with good connectivity to new public infrastructure for transit-oriented development, said managing director of Property Division for Malaysia and Singapore, Sarena Cheah today.
“It is important as we want to diversify our locations which are very well served by roads and public infrastructure such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Light Rapid Transit (LRT).
“So, we are looking for more land for transit-oriented development, as when the MRT and LRT projects are completed, it will add value.”
She was referring to a type of urban development that maximises the amount of residential, business and leisure space within walking distance of public transport – as well as being plugged into commercial venues within easy access.
“For example, we have the Sunway Putra hotel near Putra World Trade Centre. Those attending events there can also stay at the Sunway Velocity hotel as it’s just a few stops away via the various rail links,” explained Cheah.
The Sunway Velocity Hotel will open for guests next week, on Sept 20 and the RM146 million residential block will be the only transit-oriented, as well as the biggest and only integrated hotel in Cheras. The hotel is also connected to the Sunway Velocity Mall.
Sunway Hotels & Resorts Sdn Bhd cluster director of operations Kelly Leong said the 351-room Sunway Velocity Hotel would progressively open its doors for operations from Sept 20 with 121 rooms available and full inventory of 351 rooms by Oct 30.
Upon opening of the RM300 million, 240-bed Sunway Medical Centre in the first quarter of 2019, the hotel will also be able to welcome healthcare tourists, Cheah said.
The Sunway Velocity hotel forms part of the Sunway Hospitality Division’s RM875 million redevelopment and expansion plans to its collection of hotels across Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam, she explained.
The group currently owns 11 hotels, nine of which are in Malaysia, for a total of 3,388 rooms under the hospitality division.
Moving forward, Sunway’s total landbank stands at 1,335ha with gross development value of RM55 billion. Cheah said the group had acquired five different plots of land in the Klang Valley, including in Kajang and Wangsa Maju, since January worth RM5.5 billion.