In 2023, Putrajaya Marriott Hotel in Malaysia was honored with the title of Best Luxury Conference & Event Hotel in Putrajaya, Malaysia by Luxury Lifestyle Awards. Recognized for its premier luxury, sophisticated design, and exceptional service, the hotel has established itself as the ultimate venue for corporate events, conferences, and distinguished gatherings since its inauguration in 2002.

We spent some time with the hotel’s General Manager, Mr. Kumar Renoo, to learn more about this award-winning hotel’s story.

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: Congratulations on winning a Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 2023! Can you tell us what it means to your team and the hotel to receive such recognition?

Mr. Kumar Renoo: Thank you for the acknowledgment of Putrajaya Marriott Hotel as the Best Luxury Conference and Event Hotel in Putrajaya. We are truly honored to be recognized for this prestigious award. I am especially proud of Putrajaya Marriott Hotel as it has been an immensely popular venue for conferences, events, and weddings here in Putrajaya.

LLA: Putrajaya Marriott Hotel has been serving guests for over two decades. Can you share some key milestones and achievements of the hotel since its opening in May 2002?

KR: The number of VIPS such as Royalty, Ministers, and Head of state that have had events here from official ceremonies to private weddings throughout Putrajaya Marriott’s 20 years in the business are the true indication of the service and dedication that we provide that brought them to return again and again. Some of our key milestones are:

• APEC Malaysia 2020 was the year-long hosting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Malaysia from December 2019 until November 2020. This was the first time economic leaders from APEC’s 21 member economies met virtually. After successfully hosting the first set of technical meetings in Putrajaya Marriott Hotel from 3 to 22 February this year, Malaysia adjusted its hosting year to a digital format after the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 situation as a pandemic.
• 19 May 2023 Associated Country Women of the World – Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah graced the 30th edition of the Associated Country Women Of The World (ACWW) Triennial World Conference 2023.

LLA: Your hotel is known for catering to VIP guests, including Royalty, Ministers, and Corporate Top Management. What are some of the unique services and features that set Putrajaya Marriott apart as a destination for these high-profile guests?

KR: PMH is unique in its stature with a grand and luxurious entrance to welcome any VIP guests to the largest ballroom in the Putrajaya area and 16 other smaller conference rooms. Besides that, a dedicated VIP holding room is allocated next to the Grand Ballroom. The hotel provides great security with an enclosed area with limited entrances which can be mobilized for maximum security. The management team is well versed in Marriott Security policies to ensure smooth proceedings of any event.

LLA: The hotel is praised for its understanding of protocols. Could you describe how the hotel ensures the utmost privacy and discretion for Royal or Diplomatic events held in the expansive ballroom and private VIP room?

KR: Our Banquet and Catering team is very well versed with the protocols for any VIPS visiting the hotel, working hand in hand with the authorities for flushing the hotel before any event. The team’s attention to detail are able to execute our services with utmost care and in great confidentiality.

LLA: Putrajaya Marriott Hotel offers an impressive array of meeting rooms, both indoor and outdoor. How does the hotel accommodate various types of events and preferences with its 16 meeting spaces?

KR: Putrajaya Marriott Hotel has built a team that is dedicated to delivering exceptional requests and experience. It has been through the dedication of the Food and Beverage team especially banquet to enhance the guest’s experience here. The relationship and trust built by our wonderful hosts are proven through the feedback and praise from the organizers.

LLA: The hotel’s dining options, including private dining rooms in restaurants like Zest Lifestyle, Summer Palace Chinese, and Midori Japanese, sound truly exclusive. Could you elaborate on these dining experiences?

KR: Zest Lifestyle Restaurant is our main Coffee house serving a la carte and international buffets. It is well known for its excellent buffet spread with an open kitchen concept in which patrons may interact with the chefs. Zest has one private dining room which is perfect for casual working meals or even a small get-together for a celebration.

Summer Palace Chinese Restaurant and Midori Japanese Restaurant are our signature restaurants and offer 2 and 4 private dining rooms respectively. One can impress business partners with an exclusive Japanese dinner at Midori or an opulent Chinese Set dinner at Summer Palace. These restaurants have too been venues for many a high-profile event.

LLA: Customization seems to be a significant aspect of your service. Can you share an example of how the hotel tailored its offerings for a specific event, like the Associated Country Women of the World event in May 2023?

KR: Customization is the key benefit to any client and that is why Her Royal Highness has a particular preference for PMH when hosting the recent Associated Country Women of the Work event. Her Majesty wanted to share the culture of the different weddings in Malaysia to the International participants. Therefore the team recreated the Malay, Chinese, and Indian Wedding experience for their esteemed guests showcasing the cuisine, cultural dance, and wedding proceedings.

LLA: The architectural and interior design of the hotel is described as a work of art by ZDR Design. How does the hotel’s design contribute to the overall guest experience, and what makes it stand out?

KR: PMH was designed as a Classic Grand hotel offering sophisticated spaces. The sprawling spaces lend the feeling of opulence and grandeur.

LLA: Comfort and relaxation for guests are emphasized. Can you tell us more about the accommodations and amenities provided to ensure a restful stay after productive meetings or events?

KR: Curated with your comfort in mind, our innovative everyday essentials help you balance work and leisure for the ultimate retreat. At Marriott, we specialize in quality sleep with thoughtfully designed bedding, pillows, fragrances, and bath favorites.  Spacious and well-designed, our hotel rooms and suites come with chic bathrooms, featuring a separate bathtub.

LLA: Putrajaya Marriott Hotel’s location near IOI City Mall and Palm Garden Golf Club offers guests additional attractions. What are some of the unique experiences guests can enjoy in the vicinity of the hotel?

KR: We are very gratified to be in IOI Resort City itself sharing the location with IOI City Mall, the largest mall in Malaysia, and the prestigious award-winning Palm Garden Golf Club.  With the mall itself, our guests are spoilt for choice in every aspect whether it’s for luxury brands, retail, dining experiences, entertainment, movies, or more. IOI itself has its major tenants such as the Ice Scape skating rink, the District 21 indoor theme park, IOI City Farm, an experiential indoor farm and education center, and IOI Sports Center with the largest facilities for badminton and futsal. And for the avid golfer, the experience of teeing off at the Palm Garden Golf Club should not be missed to challenge one’s skill on the undulating fairways.

LLA: To wrap up, do you have any exciting plans for the hotel for the near future that you’d like to share with us?

KR: I am very pleased to inform you that the owners have approved the major refurbishment of PMH, with a total makeover of our 488 rooms, whereby currently 300 rooms have been completed and we are expecting the refurbishment to be completed by 2024. There will also be some upgrades to the lobby, Zest Lifestyle Restaurant, the Putrajaya Ballroom, and the children’s pool. These are exciting times for the hotels which I am currently managing. With PMH’s refurbishment of rooms and the recently re-opened first Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Malaysia, Palm Garden Hotel plus Le Meridien Putrajaya and the upcoming Moxy Putrajaya, we aim to be the leading hotels in this vicinity.

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