By V. Sivaji
Former employees of the 5-star Mutiara Beach Resort in Teluk Bahang rejoiced on news that their beloved hotel will be making a comeback under a new name.
It has been reported that it will be opened under the InterContinental Penang Resort.
Despite the resort closing down in 2006, former employees have been holding their get-together dinner “religiously” all this while prior to the pandemic.
What is wonderful is that many of them have moved on to other jobs, new careers or even migrated but the resort is still close to their heart.
Penang Hyperlocal reached out to several former employees for their response on this new development.
Jeeny de Kuijper who was attached to the Food & Beverage Department described the development as thrilling and a dream come true as the resort is still close to the heart of former employees.
She now lives in the Netherlands but makes it a point to organise among the ex-Mutiara colleagues for a bi-annual get-together.
“The moment I received news on this, I didn’t really believe as for years we have been hearing so much news but nothing happened. In 2014, there was news saying that the whole building was going to be demolished and nothing took place.
“This time around, I received a message from a very reliable source regarding the hotel and that’s when I realised it was for real.
“Of course as a former Penang Mutiara Beach resort staff, I am so happy with the great news and it is like a dream come true for us Mutiarans,” said Jeeny to Penang Hyperlocal.
Another ex-employee is Lionel Khoo who was attached as the assistant financial controller for more than eight years at the resort.
“Basically we still talk about the good times at the resort. A lot of us started our hospitality career there and we were so young. It was among the premier 5-star hotels at that time and everyone grew up with the hotel in terms of experience and camaraderie,” said Khoo.
He also added that many ex-staff of the Mutiara Resort are now in good positions in other hotels, Nevertheless, they do not forget their early days at Mutiara Beach Resort.
Popular deejay, James Naras was also a staff at the resort back then. He served at The Study discotheque for more than six years.
“It is about time that the resort is revived as lots of events and parties were held there with great atmosphere and food. I loved spinning at the disco there as they had great lights and sound systems.
“The unique part of the disco was that they had a boat with hydraulic systems and would go up and down with lights in it. Although I had spinned at most of the clubs along Batu Ferringhi, the Study is the best I worked in.
“I even had four contracts renewed there. Meanwhile, the staff at the resort were also capable and we worked in a family-like environment.
“If the new resort has a club like the Study from yesteryear, I would be the first to volunteer my services as I still have the playlist of The Study in my collection,” said Naras.
The Mutiara Beach Resort was known for its all sea facing 438 luxury rooms on a 18 acre plot.
In its heyday, the resort offered eight different categories of room with the Mandarin and Royal Suite among the premier rooms.
They also have two outdoor swimming pools with dolphin figurines decorating the pools in the sprawling lawn area.
Other recreational facilities included the 9-hole putting green, five tennis courts, four squash courts, gym, beachfront volleyball court, sea sport activities and many more.
The resort also featured the Tsuru-No-Ya Japanese restaurant, the La Farfalla fine dining restaurant and Palmetto Lounge which was also popular with guests.
Meanwhile, the Penang State Government heralds news of the Intercontinental Hotel in the pipeline in Teluk Bahang.
This is following the announcement that the owners of the former Mutiara Hotel, Tradewinds Corporation Berhad, are linking up with IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s largest luxury hotel chains.
“The plan to resurrect the former five-star Penang Mutiara Beach Resort in Teluk Bahang after it was closed down for the past 16 years signifies international investor’s confidence in the Penang tourism industry.
“Their partnership shows their trust in the Penang tourism sector, although the business was clouded by the repercussions of the pandemic for the last two years,” said Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy, YB Yeoh Soon Hin.
He also added that the presence of IHG’s brand is totally on par with the Penang2030 Vision and Penang Tourism Master Plan to elevate Penang’s tourism industry.
In a related development, Yeoh also announced that the “Hotel fee” will be implemented from July 1, 2022. The fee was exempted due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. It is expected to generate funds to further promote Penang as a tourist destination even further.
