IGB unit plans 2 hotels in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: Cititel Hotel Management Sdn Bhd (CHM), a subsidiary of IGB Corp Bhd, is set to introduce two new hotels in this heritage city.

Construction on 0.4ha for both hotels in Jalan Magazine began in September last year and the hotels are expected to open for business in 2014.

CHM managing director Datuk Eric Lim said the gross development value for the new four-star St Giles Hotel and three-star Cititel Express Hotel was about RM180mil.

Lim: 'St Giles Penang will be the first in Malaysia'

“St Giles Penang will house a grand ballroom with a seating capacity of 1,200, several meeting rooms, a cafe, swimming pool, gymnasium, health centre, executive lounge and a helipad,” he told reporters after unveiling an 8.5m dragon made of recycled mineral water bottles at the Cititel Penang in Upper Penang Road here yesterday.

He said the hotels, which would be built back-to-back to each other, were scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2014.

“The development will also include retail shops, restaurants, a food court and parking area for more than 500 vehicles,” he said

He added that the 32-storey St Giles would have about 500 rooms while the 23-storey Cititel Express would have 270 rooms.

“St Giles Penang will be the first (of its kind) in Malaysia after two in England, two in the United States and one in the Philipines,” he said. — Bernama