With the current situation in the world and the global travel slowdown, we are looking at a different world. This is especially true for the travel community and everyone involved.
To better understand the challenges the industry is facing, we spoke to Ellen Franke from The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, to find out how the hotel is faring and her expert insight into the travel industry in Asia.
READ MORE: The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi made it into our list of the most luxurious hotels and resorts in the world
Find out what she had to share here.
Tell us a bit more about The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi.
Set in a tranquil private bay, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi is surrounded by an ancient jungle, while its beachfront is sheltered by trees and gently lapped by the Andaman Sea. Designed to reflect the beauty and vibrancy of the nearby traditional villages – which are known as Kampongs – The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi incorporates influences from local culture, creating a uniquely luxurious retreat with an authentic touch.
Designed by Philippe Villeroux of Kuala Lumpur-based Tropical Area Architects, the resort has been carefully created to fully immerse travelers in the island’s natural ecosystem and local culture.
Spacious interiors in the 75 guest rooms, 15 suites, and 29 villas are framed by delicate references to Malay architecture, which can be seen in the intricately-designed features, large windows, and gabled roofs. The room’s vertical lines fully integrate the living spaces into the surrounding jungle, while elegant overwater villas offer panoramic views of the sea, complete with magnificent Langkawi sunsets.
Especially suited to multi-generational families or other groups, the resort’s Villa Mutiara offers deluxe accommodations for up to eight and boasts two pools and access to a private beach.
The resort is home to four distinct dining venues, each overlooking the glistening Andaman Sea offering striking views from sunrise to sunset. From the blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine in Langkawi Kitchen, to western favorites in the Beach Grill, and Chinese seafood in Hai Yan, there are options to delight the palates of all.
With the local travel restrictions easing up, have you seen an improvement?
Yes, we do see an improvement and as our resort was not close during MCO/RMCO, we have seen a great number in bookings for July & August. Our weekend business is picking up with booking from Malaysian as well as foreigners who are currently in Malaysia. With international borders still close, we are heavily relying on the local market which is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our beautiful resort to Malaysians.
What are your plans to get people coming back to the resort?
We are working very closely with our Marriott digital counterpart to push local awareness for the resort. At the same time, we crafted a more enticing staycation package on our website. We have also partnered with influencers to market the resort as a destination. Our return guests also play a vital role in recommending others to come and experience the resort.
Do you believe that the hospitality industry in Asia will be the same after the pandemic dies down? If not, what do you think the changes are going to look like?
The hospitality industry will never be the same and Marriott International from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has always been focusing on the health and safety of our Ladies & Gentlemen, guests, and visitors.
Marriott International has introduced the Commitment to Clean, a global brand standard that takes standards of hygiene and cleanliness very seriously and we are taking additional steps to ensure the safety of our guests and Ladies & Gentlemen. Our resort has been working on implanting enhanced hygiene and cleaning protocols, including using hospital-grade disinfectants, supporting social distancing, and mandating our Ladies & Gentlemen to wear face coverings. We also continue to follow local government guidelines.
We now have to look at things very differently to personalize service to our guests. With social distancing guidelines, reducing seat capacity in the restaurant, and function space this will change the way of service to ensure that we do not crowd the space at full capacity. As we progress to adapt to the “New Normal” I am sure that there will be more changes in the future.
What can we expect from the resort in the coming months, as we will hopefully see more people starting to travel again?
Our lush tropical greens and the sunny beach awaits those who will start to travel again. We are now working on our festive offerings and that is a very exciting month for the Ladies & Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi. We are also looking into inviting guest chefs to be featured in one of our restaurants and our chefs are working tirelessly to refresh the menus in our resort’s restaurant.
For those who love sunsets, they may look forward to coming to our Horizon Bar to enjoy a cocktail or two overlooking the Andaman Sea. The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi it’s a destination itself, perfect for couples, families or solo traveller and our Ladies & Gentlemen is ready to welcome you to help create a memorable experience.
We are on the look out for insight from the leading travel experts from around the world to give our readers a better understanding of what the world will look like post COVID-19.
If you are a travel expert or know someone that is, please drop us an email.
