Ramesh Jackson, Regional Vice President, Indonesia & Malaysia.
With 56 properties encompassing hotels, resorts, convention centres and residences, Mariott International is well-represented on Malaysian shores. That however doesn’t mean the group is resting on its laurels. This year alone Marriott International has several hotels in the pipeline that will effectively bring its total number of properties above 60.
Sitting down with The Peak, Ramesh Jackson, Regional Vice President, Indonesia & Malaysia, Marriott International reveals that the hospitality group is optimistic of its growth prospects in Malaysia. “Last year was a good year for us with double digit growth in Asia Pacific excluding China. Next year given it is Visit Malaysia Year, we are expecting around 35 million tourists coming into Malaysia.”
Malaysian Expansion
The Millen Penang opened its doors earlier this year.
With a surge of visitors expected, Marriott International is gearing up to capitalise. This year alone, the company has opened the doors to AC Hotel by Marriott in Ipoh and The Millen – Autograph Collection in Penang. In the months ahead, it will further expand its footprint with a Sheraton property in both Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu. A Moxy Hotel in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur is also scheduled to open this month.
Touching more on the growth focus of the group, Jackson admits despite being well distributed across the country, Mariott International is still yet to step into other states like Kedah and Kelantan. “We have two properties in Terengganu in Perhentian and Kuala Besut at the moment. Personally though, I would love to have one in Taman Negara like an Eco-Resort, and a presence in Tioman,” he adds.
“I think there are many destinations here for us to consider, which is why we are constantly looking.” Much of the positive growth in the hospitality segment, Ramesh points out, is due to factors such as Malaysia becoming the ASEAN Chair for 2025 and upcoming events like LIMA in Langkawi.
“Beyond tourism we have also seen FDI growing which is boosting the business segment,” he states. “Plus, I think the Malaysian Government’s VISA policy for markets such as China and India – both of which are huge source markets – have helped drive visitor arrivals.”
Brand Experiences
With new properties opening and the prospect of the hospitality industry enjoying a robust year, Jackson remains focused on elevating not just Mariott International’s presence but also the guest experience. “I believe that travellers today, whether they step into a St. Regis or a Fairfield, they know what to expect” he explains.
One of the areas Jackson and his team are focusing their attention on is having a cohesive experience spread across all brands within the Marriott International portfolio in Malaysia. The roll-out of the Malaysian Kitchen in March exemplifies this focus.
The Malaysian Kitchen celebrates local cuisine.
The year-round campaign celebrates the nation’s vibrant culinary heritage through recipes and dishes curated by an exceptional roster of talented chefs from Marriott Bonvoy’s properties across the country. “Malaysian cuisine is a true reflection of our nation’s diversity and heritage. With Malaysian Kitchen, we aim to bring this culinary magic directly to our guests,” adds Jackson.
“We want every guest – whether they are locals longing for familiar tastes or travellers eager to explore Malaysian cuisine – to experience the same authenticity, consistency, and richness of flavours that they would find in the beloved bazaars or family kitchens of Malaysia without ever needing to step outside our hotels.”
