Business Travel Guide: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sprawled over nearly 100 miles in western Malaysia, about sixty miles inland from the coast, Kuala Lumpur—commonly known as KL—is a fast-paced capital city. Founded in the mid-1800s by a small group of tin miners, it is now on par with Singapore and Hong Kong as one of Southeast Asia’s most important destinations for business travelers. Finance, information technology, textiles, footwear and petroleum are just a few of the industries that draw briefcase-wielding travelers to KL: industries as diverse as the city itself, with its Chinese shop houses, colonial buildings and swaths of skyscrapers, including the dramatic, Cesar Pelli-designed Petronas Towers, the tallest buildings in the world when constructed in 1998. The city’s Malay, Chinese and Indian heritages mean a wealth of great dining, and a tourism industry that caters equitably to both regional and western visitors ensures a variety of ways to spend those post-meeting hours.

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Hilton Kuala Lumpur
3 Jalan Stesen Sentral
603-2264-2264
www.hilton.com

Don’t judge this hotel by its cover—a typical, unimaginative, urban skyrise. Who would have thought that Hilton would be the group to up the hip factor in KL? Located at KL Sentral (certainly a convenience when taking the Ekspres in from the airport), it sits across from the National Museum; inside, it boasts approximately 2,500 pieces of original artwork of its own. Flowing lines and subtle colors in the guestrooms provide a relaxing contrast to the city. All accommodations come with 42-inch plasma screen TVs, as well as plenty of business amenities; some suites have outdoor spas; and executive rooms and suites give you access to freebies and gorgeous views in the 33rd floor executive lounge. A nice touch: separate smoking and non-smoking lounges. For recreation, there’s a terrace pool, tiered fitness room and spa that would look right at home on Bali. You’ll have a hard time finding such a smart collection of dining venues under one roof anywhere else in the city; with its stunning, stained-glass, domed ceiling, the Hilton’s Studio complex houses five restaurants and two bars. Business spaces are equally design oriented, from contemporary meetings rooms whose floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the city to a lovely ballroom with skylights and Art Deco finishings.

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
603-2380-8888
www.mandarinoriental.com/kualalumpur

The Mandarin Oriental group’s subtle, Asian-inspired style, blended with traditional western décor, allows this hotel to fit right into East-meets-West KL. It’s in a great location, adjacent to Petronas Towers and Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park. As for the business-friendly factor, it caters to traveling execs with seven Mandarin Oriental Club executive floors. The private Club Lounge has a pair of dedicated conference rooms, an executive business center and wireless access; perks also include up to five pieces of laundry per room daily. Don’t expect dreary corporate colors. Jewel-toned silk accents add drama to these beautiful accommodations. Even if you stay in a standard room, you’ll still enjoy plenty of amenities, including data ports, high-speed Internet access, two dual-line IDD phones plus a phone in the bathroom and personalized voicemail. There are also two- and three-bedroom apartments with fully-equipped kitchenettes. Among facilities are Vitality Club with a full spa, a swimming pool overlooking the fifty-acre park and six restaurants and lounges. Large conferences can be accommodated with two grand ballrooms, sixteen function rooms and catering for up to 2,400.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur
168 Jalan Imbi
603-2142 8000
www.ritzcarlton.com

With just 248 rooms, The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is almost a boutique, especially when compared with the other hotels in this guide. And although the three-level conference facility with 27 meeting rooms can “only” host up to 350 (it’s all relative), the sense of intimacy—and the calm that comes with it—is worth it; colorful, action-packed Bintang Walk is close by. Another nice aspect of this service-oriented hotel is that you don’t have to stay in a club level room to get club level treatment: Even standard rooms provide butler service and complimentary broadband Internet access. The key-access club rooms come with a club lounge on the 19th floor, and The Ritz-Carlton Suite is in fact a two-story duplex penthouse. Don’t expect major surprises with the décor. It’s lovely, but very European and traditional, accented with 19th and early 20th-century artwork. There are two on-site restaurants—Li Yen and Rossini’s—and a spa “village,” offering indoor/outdoor treatments and a pool with waterfalls.

Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur
11 Jalan Sultan Ismail
603- 2032-2388
www.shangri-la.com

Against a backdrop of gardens and busy commercial avenues, Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur offers 701 guestrooms and suites, including sixteen apartments ideal for long-term stays. The rooms are simple and elegant. Horizon Club rooms on the top five floors offer Horizon Club Lounge access and are equipped with private fax machines, personal voicemail, international adaptors and broadband Internet access; apartments feature separate bedrooms and living rooms, dining areas with tables for four and kitchenettes. The hotel offers plenty of extras for both business and leisure travel: tennis courts, a full-service spa, fitness center, swimming pool and shopping arcade whose offerings range from flowers to wine. A choice of dining options includes a Cantonese “palace” and traditional English pub. For large meetings and events, the pillar-less grand ballroom hosts up to 1,800. Spread over fifteen acres of landscaped gardens, the Shangri-La makes a calming retreat from the city.

Sheraton Imperial, Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Sultan Ismail
603-2717-9900
www.starwoodhotels.com

Those seeking an appealing, reliable business hotel will appreciate the Sheraton Imperial, Kuala Lumpur. Offering the tasteful style we’ve come to expect from Starwood’s Luxury Collection, this property complements its residential look with traditional Malaysian accents. The 398 accommodations include executive rooms and suites, providing 24-hour personalized butler service, six pieces of laundry or pressing each day and access to the club lounge; suites also come with CD libraries. The hotel is situated in the Golden Triangle, with the Asean Heritage Row dining and entertainment area right outside its front door. Along with business facilities such as 14,000 square-feet of meeting space and Nusantara Ballroom, which can host cocktail parties for up to 1,000, there is also the Imperial Spa by Mandara, a fitness center, a landscaped pool area and five restaurants and lounges. If you’re looking for a place to sip a Bellini, grab a table at the Italian country-style Villa Danieli Restaurant by the pool.

Petronas Towers

This obvious attraction is a fun place to spend an afternoon when it’s just too hot or rainy outside. At 88 stories, they were the tallest towers in the world until a financial center in Tapei dwarfed it in 2004. The towers are based on the five pillars of Islam and feature a double-decker skybridge between their 41st and 42nd floors—from here you’ll marvel at one of the best views of KL possible. Get in line for an elevator time early, as lift reservations for the day often fill up by 10 a.m. Suria Mall, at the base of the towers, is one of the best shopping options in the city. Among its offerings are two bookstores, electronics shops, swanky boutiques and even a massage machine store with chairs that “read” your body for acupressure points. Along with a food court selling excellent Malaysian and Indonesian fast food, there is plenty to keep you occupied while you wait your turn for the elevator.

Qba
The Westin Kuala Lumpur
199 Jalan Bukit Bintang
603-2731-8333
www.starwoodhotels.com

A fair share of nightlife districts keep things lively well past the midnight hours in KL. But if you’re looking for a little sophistication, head to QBA. This ornate venue features tapas, Argentinean beef, a great selection of boutique wines from Spain and South America and salsa dancing to a six-piece band from Columbia. Feeling frisky? Order a mojito or caipirinha in the al fresco Latin Courtyard. As for the Havana cigar selection, it will appeal to dilettantes and well-heeled connoisseurs.

Saujana Golf & Country Club
www.saujana.com

As if the aggravations of the boardroom aren’t enough, we suggest you challenge yourself on the fairways, as well. Considered one of the finest golf destinations in the world, Saujana Golf & Country Club features two courses dauntingly nicknamed The Cobra and The Crocodile. Vijay Singh played here during the 2001 Malaysian Open. When you’re not teeing off, you can unwind with a game of tennis, squash or snooker.

Street Markets

A night out on the town for many locals still involves a visit to a bustling pasar malam (street market), where the focus is more about people watching than shopping for socks or scarves. The predominantly Malay street food is excellent at the markets, and the beer is ice cold. The Saturday market on Jalan Raja Muda is a highlight, although Jalan Petaling in Chinatown closes itself to traffic nightly and remains a local favorite. Pasar Minggu, the Sunday Market, is in fact a top spot on Saturday nights, the action going well into the early hours of Sunday morning. If you want to pick up a treasure, check out Rolexes, earthen pots, embroidered songkets, prayer books and Malay baskets.

Foot Massage

KL is a paradise for tired feet, and if you’ve been sitting in an office chair all day, this is the ideal way to get the circulation going again. Whether at the airport, your hotel spa or on the busy sidewalks of Jalan Ismail or Jalan Bukit Bintang, you’ll find a place to drop in for a reviving foot reflexology sessions. For seven to ten dollars an hour, you can sit in a comfy chair and let a local practitioner pamper your soles. The hour often includes a little shoulder time, too. Shops are usually open daily and well into the evenings.