S O P A A W A R D W I NiN I! R F O R E D I T O R I A L E X C E L L E N C E

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Redefining Malaysian hospitality

Ireka Corp group managing director Datnk Lai Voon I Ion a n d * Urban ResoitCqncepts co-founder Markus Engel prepare to |

launbh the inherently local hotel, The RuMa t !

Page 1 of 5

19 Nov 2018The Edge, Malaysia

Author: No author available • Section: Options • Page: OP1,OP8TOOP10Printed size: 3997.00cm² • Region: KL • Market: Malaysia • Photo: Full ColorASR: MYR 68,820.00 • Item ID: MY0034338765

Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published inany form without the prior consent of the copyright owner.

C O V E R S T O R Y

j- 'V-^^SjE

Page 2 of 5

19 Nov 2018The Edge, Malaysia

Author: No author available • Section: Options • Page: OP1,OP8TOOP10Printed size: 3997.00cm² • Region: KL • Market: Malaysia • Photo: Full ColorASR: MYR 68,820.00 • Item ID: MY0034338765

Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published inany form without the prior consent of the copyright owner.

REDEFINING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MALAYSIAN HOTEL, THE RUMA OFFERS A FAMILIAR BRAND OF WARM HOSPITALITY WRAPPED IN SUBTLE NODS TO OUR

STORIED HISTORY AND DIVERSE CULTURES. PETRINA FERNANDEZ LEARNS ABOUT ITS UNIQUE CONCEPT OF 'HOSTMANSHIP' FROM IREKA CORP GROUP

MANAGING DIRECTOR DAT UK LAI VOON HON AND URBAN RESORT CONCEPTS CO-FOUNDER MARKUS ENGEL,

in s t e a d of w o n d e r i n g w h y t h e caged b i rd s i n g s , I a m t r y i n g t o i m a g i n e w h a t s o r t of f e a t h e r e d c r e a t u r e wou ld have called t h i s mass ive bird-cage h o m e , f a s h i o n e d f r o m i n t e r -l aced n a t u r a l l y finished a n d g lazed t e r r a c o t t a . I t w o u l d be s o m e t h i n g

m y s t i c a l , m o s t l ike ly , b u t t h i s f l i g h t of f a n c y is j u s t t h a t , a p a s s i n g w h i m s y . I n reality, a h a n d c r a f t e d b r o n z e f o u n t a i n ac t s as t h e base , r e a d y to r e l ease je ts of w a t e r i n r i p p l i n g w e l c o m e .

T h i s d r a m a t i c i n s t a l l a t i o n s i t s i n t h e c e n t r e of a n a n t e c h a m b e r t h a t s e p a r a t e s t h e p o r c h f r o m t h e foye r p r o p e r of T h e R u M a H o t e l a n d R e s i d e n c e s . You w o u l d b e h a r d - p r e s s e d t o g u e s s t h a t y o u a r e a m e r e s trol l a w a y f r o m t h e P e t r o n a s T w i n Towers . T h e e n t i r e c i ty — s i g h t s , s o u n d s a n d m a y h e m u b i q u i t o u s t o a n y b u s t l i n g me t ropo l i s — h a s b e e n effect ively s h u t o u t w i t h t h i s c lever b i t of a r c h i t e c t u r e .

A n d c lever is t h e g u i d i n g p h i l o s o p h y t h r o u g h o u t t h i s b e s p o k e ho t e l , s p r i n g i n g f r o m a d e s i r e t o g i v e K u a l a L u m p u r a l u x u r y h o t e l t h a t is i n h e r e n t l y M a l a y s i a n . I reka Corp g roup m a n a g i n g d i rec tor Datuk Lai Voon H o n is a prac t i sed h a n d at a d d i n g a n or ig ina l s i g n a t u r e to t h e h o s p i t a l i t y in-dust ry , d r iv ing t h e v i s ion b e h i n d The Wes-t i n KL a n d Aloft KL Sent ra l .The f o r m e r w a s t h e b e n c h m a r k to b e a t w h e n i t j o ined t h e l u x u r y ho t e l s c e n e in 2003, w h i l e t h e la t te r w a s t h e s t y l i sh , first-of-its-kind o f f e r i n g for t e c h - s a w y t rave l le rs w h e n i t o p e n e d i n 2013. I t r e m a i n s t h e w o r l d ' s l a rges t Alof t Ho te l to d a t e i n t e r m s of r o o m s .

W h i l e b o t h excel a t w h a t t h e y do, as do m a n y o t h e r ho te l s i n t h e city, t h e r e d id n o t ye t ex i s t o n e t h a t ce l eb ra t e s i t s ve ry locale . A c o m m o n d o w n s i d e of global c h a i n s e x t e n d i n g t h e i r r e ach to KL a n d local b o u t i q u e ho te l s a s p i r i n g to t hose s t a n d a r d s is t h a t in te r io rs have s ta r ted to b e c o m e s o m e w h a t h o m o g -e n o u s — n o m a t t e r w h e r e you are , t h e five-star h o t e l you a r e c h e c k i n g i n t o o n o n e c o n t i n e n t s e e m s i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m a n o t h e r ha l f a wor ld away.

T h e r e su l t of a co l labora t ion w i t h S h a n g h a i - b a s e d des ign firm M Q - s t u d i o a n d p r e m i e r h o t e l m a n a g e m e n t c o m p a n y U r b a n Resor t C o n c e p t s (URC), T h e RuMa, f r o m t h e Ma lay w o r d " r u m a h " for h o m e , is a s t u d y of M a l a y s i a n h e r i t a g e i n m o r e w a y s t h a n o n e . Aes the t i c , of cou r se — s o m e d e s i g n cues a re i m m e d i a t e l y recogn isab le , s u c h as t h e b i rdcages , l a m p s a n d copper- t i led ce i l ing evoca t ive of o u r m i n i n g h i s to ry , or t h e g r a n d doub le s t a i r w a y r e m -i n i s c e n t of t h e s t a i r c a s e s i n co lon ia l h o u s e s . O t h e r cues m i g h t t a k e s o m e t h o u g h t to w o r k ou t , s u c h as t h e da rk s labs t h a t pave t h e w i d e foyer.

" T h e s e a r e c e n t u r y t i les , t h e s a m e o n e s u s e d i n t h e C h i n e s e e m p e r o r ' s s l e e p i n g c h a m b e r s i n t h e F o r b i d d e n Ci ty i n Bei j ing ," says Lai. "They w e r e i n c l u d e d t o te l l t h e s t o r y of h o w M a l a y s i a n c u l t u r e h a s b e c o m e so r i c h i n h e r i t a g e a n d colour , to ld t h r o u g h t h e m a t e r i a l s s o u r c e d f r o m C h i n a a n d I n d i a , a m o n g o t h e r s . M a l a y a w a s c e n t r a l t o t h e t r a d e r o u t e s a n d w o u l d rece ive goods f r o m all over t h e w o r l d . T h o s e w h o l ived n e a r t h e p o r t i n Melaka w o u l d get first p ick of fine m a r b l e a n d s tones , sti l l s e e n i n old h o u s e s t h e r e . W e d id n o t w a n t t o r e s t r i c t ou r se lve s t o t h e obv ious , w e w a n t e d t o t e l l a b igge r story."

Beyond t h e t a les t h a t w r i t e t h e book of i t s de s ign ,The RuMa, w h i c h o p e n s a t t h e e n d of t h i s m o n t h , ce lebra tes a n o t h e r M a l a y s i a n legacy. T h e sp i r i t of hosp i ta l i ty is a t h r e a d t h a t w i n d s t h r o u g h all of ou r cu l tu res he re , a n d p lac ing t h a t a t t h e f o r e f r o n t of t h e The RuMa e x p e r i e n c e is URC. C o - f o u n d e r M a r k u s Engel b r i n g s m o r e t h a n t w o decades of h o s p i t a l i t y e x p e r i e n c e t o t h e h o t e l m a n a g e m e n t c o m p a n y , h a v i n g d o n e s t i n t s a t T h e D o r c h e s t e r i n L o n d o n , The Datai i n L a n g k a w i a n d T h e P e n i n s u l a Hote l s i n Be i j ing a n d Chicago.

H e w a s i n t h e US w h e n a f r i e n d ca l l ed h i m a b o u t t h e r e s t o r a t i o n a n d r e n o v a t i o n of t h e f o r m e r A m e r i c a n e m b a s s y n e x t t o T i a n a n m e n S q u a r e

Bernard Chandran's Kebayaku for The RuMa

i n B e i j i n g , a h u g e l i f e s t y l e p r o j e c t t h a t i n v o l v e d r e t a i l a n d f o o d a n d b e v e r a g e i n t e r e s t s . I t w a s h e r e t h a t h e m e t t h e o w n e r s of T h e P u L i i n S h a n g h a i , w h o c o n v i n c e d E n g e l a n d h i s p a r t n e r s t o m a n a g e o p e r a t i o n s a t t h e l u x u r y h o t e l .

" T h a t t u r n e d o u t to be a good d e c i s i o n . T h e financial c r i s i s m e a n t t h a t m a n y of o u r p r o j e c t s o v e r s e a s w e r e g e t t i n g i n t o d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i l e C h i n a p r o v e d m o r e r e s i l i e n t t h a n t h e r e s t of t h e w o r l d . O u r s u c c e s s a t m a n a g i n g T h e PuLi g e n e r a t e d q u i t e a b i t of t r a c t i o n i n C h i n a a n d w e e x p a n d e d o r g a n i c a l l y f r o m the re , " Enge l says . URC n o w m a n a g e s T h e P u X u a n i n Be i j ing ,The P u S h a n g i n X i a m e n , w i t h The RuMa t h e n e w e s t e n t r y i n i t s por t fo l io .

"The seeds of URC w e r e a c t u a l l y s o w n i n M a l a y s i a w h e n I w a s w o r k i n g a t T h e Da ta i 23 yea r s ago," says Engel .

" W h e n w e m e t D a t u k [Lai] fo r t h e first t i m e a n d were p r e sen t ed w i t h t h e idea of a co l l abo ra t ion , w e w e r e , of cour se , ec s t a t i c . I h a v e a l w a y s h a d a spec ia l a f f i n i t y w i t h M a l a y s i a , b u t b e y o n d t h a t , i t h a s also b e e n m y belief t h a t t h e r e w a s n ' t a ho t e l p r o d u c t i n KL c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e s o p h i s t i c a t i o n of t ravellers a n d Malays i an cus tomer s .The i n d u s t r y w a s like vani l la ice c r e a m w h e n it could be m o r e a t t u n e d to t h e c i ty ' s u r b a n e s tyle . KL dese rves to be a t t h e f o r e f r o n t of i n n o v a t i v e c o n c e p t s ; t h e m a r k e t is r e a d y fo r i t a n d D a t u k w a s t h e first p e r s o n t o a p p r e c i a t e t h a t , I t h i n k . "

Engel first m e t Lai i n S h a n g h a i w h e n t h e la t te r checked i n to The PuLi. Lai, w h o h a d b e e n a n a rch i t ec t before jo in ing t h e f a m i l y b u s i n e s s a n d i n i t i a t i n g i ts h o t e l d e v e l o p m e n t a r m , h a d a c q u i r e d a p iece of p r i m e rea l e s t a t e i n t h e h e a r t of Buki t B i n t a n g i n 2013. A d a m a n t t h a t h i s n e w v e n t u r e m u s t be s o m e t h i n g d i s t inc t ive , h e w e n t t h r o u g h a l is t of p o t e n t i a l p a r t n e r s a n d no t iced t h a t The PuLi — a n a m e u n k n o w n to h i m — b o a s t e d a s t r i n g of acco lades a n d awards . He w e n t to S h a n g h a i to e x p e r i e n c e t h e h o t e l fo r h i m s e l f , c o n t a c t e d Engel a n d t h e t w o h i t i t off i m m e d i a t e l y .

" T h a t w a s w h e r e w e first m e t , i n S h a n g h a i , w a s n ' t it?" Enge l a sks Lai, w h o n o d s . T h e t w o could n o t look m o r e d i f f e r e n t , t h e l a n k y Enge l t o w e r i n g above a s h a r p l y d res sed a n d bespec t ac l ed Lai. T h e y a re s i t t i n g s ide by s ide o n a t w o - s e a t e r i n t h e hal f of t h e foyer t h a t wi l l a c t as t h e r e c e p t i o n a rea . I t s ident ica l c o u n t e r p a r t o n t h e fa r lef t is t h e bar .The en t i r e space is b a t h e d i n t h e m e t a l l i c s h e e n of t h e copper - t i l ed ce i l ing , t h e sof t c o r n e r s of w h i c h r e m i n d m e of a t r a i n ca r r i age .The RuMa is w e e k s a w a y f r o m o p e n i n g a n d w o r k m e n are sti l l h a m m e r i n g a n d dr i l l ing i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d . O n l y t h e large f u r n i t u r e h a s b e e n set up , t h e finer de ta i l s t o c o m e . T h e g r a n d s t a i rcase , w h i c h sp l i t s in to s epa ra t e sp i ra ls o n e i t h e r s ide of t h e l a n d i n g , awa i t s a cen t r a l s h o w p i e c e d e s i g n e d by B e r n a r d C h a n d r a n .

"I t h i n k w h a t m a d e t h i s w o r k w a s t h e m u t u a l t r u s t b e t w e e n us," m u s e s Engel. "The type of h o t e l s w e develop a n d u l t i m a t e l y m a n a g e c a n n o t ope ra t e i n a m e r e l y c o n t r a c t u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p as is t h e case w i t h m a n y h o t e l m a n a g e -m e n t c o m p a n i e s . I t w a s a p p a r e n t f r o m o u r first m e e t i n g t h a t w e w e r e t w o k i n d r e d sp i r i t s w i t h rea l c h e m i s t r y a n d a m u t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g of w h a t t h e e n d goal w o u l d be."

A l t h o u g h Lai h o l d s t h e t i t l e of deve loper a n d Enge l wi l l oversee ope ra -t ions , t h e y m a d e all m a j o r des ign dec i s ions toge ther , e n s u r i n g t h i s a g e n u i n e co l l abo ra t i on .

"We are a lways m i n d f u l t h a t ou r ho te l s are c o n t e x t u a l a n d I h o p e w e have b e e n r e spec t fu l i n a d a p t i n g a n d c o n t e m p o r i s i n g s o m e of t h e des ign e l e m e n t s wh i l e h o n o u r i n g old a r t i sans a n d tradi t ions," Engel con t inues . "Datuk provided invaluable knowledge a n d access o n t h i s f ron t , s u c h as s ecu r ing a p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h Bernard C h a n d r a n for t h e s t u n n i n g Kebayaku showpiece."

C O N T I N U E S N E X T PAGE

Page 3 of 5

19 Nov 2018The Edge, Malaysia

Author: No author available • Section: Options • Page: OP1,OP8TOOP10Printed size: 3997.00cm² • Region: KL • Market: Malaysia • Photo: Full ColorASR: MYR 68,820.00 • Item ID: MY0034338765

Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published inany form without the prior consent of the copyright owner.

The Library is a soothing lounge with heavy emphasis on natural materials that tell a story, such as the century

tiles that pave the floor

C O V E R S T O R Y

F R O M P R E V I O U S PAGE

"I t h e l p s t h a t w e a re a s t a n d a l o n e e n t i t y , n o t c o n f i n e d b y b r a n d s t a n d a r d s or p a r a m e t e r s y o u h a v e t o f i t i n to , " s ays Lai . " O u r p r e r e q u i s i t e — t h a t T h e R u M a h a s a M a -l a y s i a n i d e n t i t y — is w h a t a l u x u r y h o t e l s h o u l d be . W e h a v e t h e f r e e d o m to be i n d i v i d u a l , n o t h i n g is u n i f o r m . Look at t h e w o v e n e l e m e n t s a r o u n d t h e ho t e l , i n t h e sea t s of t h e c h a i r s a n d K e l a r a i - w o v e n w a l l s o n t h e s i x t h f loor ; t h e r e is n o t h i n g s t a n d a r d a b o u t t h e m , e a c h is u n i q u e . T h e b e s t p a r t of t h i s p a r t n e r s h i p is n o t j u s t c r e a t i n g a n e n v i r o n m e n t g u e s t s w o u l d love t o r e t u r n t o b u t a l so be -i n g a s s u r e d b y t h e f i n a n c i a l v i a b i l i t y of t h i s p l a n . W h e n y o u c r e a t e s o m e t h i n g a r t i s t i c a n d a m b i t i o u s , i t i s e a s y t o o v e r s p e n d o n t h i n g s t h a t m i g h t n o t c o m m e n s u r a t e w i t h v a l u e . M a r k u s a n d h i s t e a m u n d e r s t o o d w h i c h a r e a s t o i n v e s t in ."

"We did see t h a t as our u l t i m a t e responsibi l i ty, r e t u r n i n g Da tuk ' s i n v e s t m e n t , " r ep l i e s h i s p a r t n e r . "Yes, w e w a n t e d t o b r i n g i n s o m e t h i n g n e w a n d d i s r u p t i v e o n s o m e level, b u t w e a r e a l so r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e financial p e r f o r m a n c e of t h e h o t e l a n d t h e r e t u r n s for all s t a k e h o l d e r s . T h e key t o a c h i e v i n g t h a t is a n i m m a c u l a t e a n d i n n o v a t i v e p r o d u c t , a n d h o p e f u l l y you wi l l feel you a r e i n a q u i n t e s s e n t i a l l y M a l a y s i a n h o t e l as s o o n as y o u w a l k in . W e w e r e m i n d f u l of c r e a t i n g a c o n t e m p o r a r y i n t e r p r e t a t i o n roo t ed i n t h e DNA a n d h e r i t a g e of a r i ch c u l t u r e w h i l e n o t e m p l o y i n g p a s t i c h e or c l iches . But m o r e t h a n a phys ica l p roduc t , t h e r e is t h e g u e s t e x p e r i e n c e . "

As p e r i t s i n n o v a t i v e p r e m i s e , U R C h a s i n v e n t e d a w o r d t h a t b e s t e n c a p s u l a t e s t h e e x p e r i e n c e i t s t r ives t o de l iver : h o s t m a n s h i p .

"It is a w o r d t h a t doesn ' t ex is t b u t descr ibes e v e r y t h i n g w e w a n t to express . I t is a r e t u r n t o t h e or ig ins of luxury , s o m e t h i n g c ra f ted w i t h i n t e n t i o n . I t doesn ' t jus t h a p p e n , " says Engel. "We have seen a n evolution of t he physical product in hosp i t a l i t y over t h e pas t f e w years b u t t h e r e h a s b e e n a s teady dec l ine in t h e qua l i ty of gues t exper iences ."

The t w o a re qu i ck to i d e n t i f y t r e n d s t h a t t r a n s l a t e i n t o g rea te r ef f ic iency for ope ra t ions t h a t c o m p r o m i s e t h e gues t e x p e r i e n c e , t h o u g h t h e y a re fa i r i n d e f e n d i n g t h e m o t i v a -t ions a n d c o m p e n s a t i o n s of these . A u t o m a t i o n , for i n s t ance , m e a n s g u e s t s c a n self c h e c k - i n a n d se t t l e i n w i t h o u t ever h a v i n g to l ia ise w i t h h o t e l s taff , a n d d o i n g a w a y w i t h t h e f r o n t l ine is a m o r e cost-effect ive approach , w i t h t h e savings ideal ly t r a n s f e r r e d to gues t s .

" M e c h a n i s a t i o n a n d a u t o m a t i o n w i l l h e l p h o t e l s i n m a n y w a y s a n d t h e r e a re spaces for t h e m , s u c h as b u s i n e s s h o t e l s l ike Alof t , a n d t h i s is r e f l ec ted i n t h e p r i ce — t h a t is t h e i r mode l , " says Lai. "Large c h a i n h o t e l s h a v e n o c h o i c e b u t to s t anda rd i se . You are i n every city, ca te r ing for vo lume , a n d you n e e d a c o n s i s t e n t i d e n t i t y a n d service ac ros s t h e wor ld . But w h e n you a re p a y i n g t o p dollar, your e x p e r i e n c e s h o u l d n o t be c o m p r o m i s e d . W e a r e t r y i n g to b r i n g b a c k t h e t r u e p a m p e r i n g of a h o t e l stay."

H o s t m a n s h i p , t h e a r t of h o s t i n g g u e s t s a n d m a k i n g t h e m feel a t h o m e — s t r e n g t h e n e d by t h e n a m e R u M a — does a w a y w i t h all t h e " p e t t y c h a r g e s , u n d u e b u r e a u c r a c y a n d i d i o s y n c r a s i e s t h a t you e n c o u n t e r o n a da i ly b a s i s i n hote ls" , a s Enge l de sc r ibe s t h e m .

Just as the materials and designs tell the story of Malaysia's heritage, so too does the view outside the window, overlooking

the Petronas Twin Towers and other iconic landmarks

"How of ten have you stood at a recept ion desk a t check-out a n d b e e n asked w h a t you h a d f r o m the min ibar , on ly to t h e n s tand there wai t ing, after listing t he i tems, whi le t he reception-ist h a s housekeep ing r u n to check a n d verify t h a t you are n o t lying?" h e asks."The n e x t evolut ion of luxury, w e feel,is do ing away w i t h these pe t ty t h i n g s to m a k e t h e gues t exper ience as intui t ive , h u m a n , engag ing a n d inclusive as possible."

T h e R u M a is e q u i p p e d w i t h l a rge h e a t e d s w i m m i n g a n d w a d i n g p o o l s , a J a c u z z i , s u n d e c k , p o o l b a r , g y m a n d s p a , o f f e r i n g a h o l i s t i c c o l l e c t i o n of e x p e r i e n c e s fo r a t r u l y r e l a x i n g s t ay . C h e c k i n t o a n y of t h e 253 r o o m s s p r e a d a c r o s s 12 f l o o r s a n y t i m e y o u l ike — y o u r r o o m is a v a i l a b l e a s e a r l y a n d f o r a s l o n g a s y o u n e e d i t , n o q u e s t i o n s a s k e d , a n d is r e a d y fo r y o u u p o n a r r i v a l , e v e n if t h a t m e a n s c o m i n g s t r a i g h t i n f r o m t h e a i r p o r t a t 6 a m . I n - r o o m d i n i n g is a v a i l a b l e 24 h o u r s a d a y a n d c o m p l i -m e n t a r y a m e n i t i e s i n c l u d e b r e a k f a s t a n y w h e r e you l ike ,

t h e m i n i b a r , l a u n d r y a n d p r e s s i n g , c o n c i e r g e a n d v a l e t s e r v i c e s as w e l l as t h e u s e of f a c i l i t i e s s u c h as m e e t i n g r o o m s a n d loca l p h o n e ca l l s .

"I don ' t t h i n k a n y o n e is d o i n g t h i s yet , b u t t h a t ' s real ly t h e m i n i m u m you s h o u l d expec t f r o m a l u x u r y ho t e l a n d I t h i n k it is go ing t o be g a m e - c h a n g i n g , " says Engel . " M a n y of t h e s e t h i n g s d o n ' t cost m u c h or even cos t a n y t h i n g t o do; you a re b e i n g c h a r g e d for t h e e x t r a ef for t . I t is pu re ly c o n v e n i e n c e o n t h e p a r t of m a n a g e m e n t c o m p a n i e s t o s i m p l i f y o p e r a t i o n s as m u c h as poss ib le . I a m c o n f i d e n t t h a t people are h a p p y to pay a p r e m i u m for t h i s exper ience , so w h a t w e a re do ing is n o t a g a m b l e . I w a s jus t r e a d i n g a n ar t ic le abou t ho te l s i nves t ing heavi ly i n service t e c h n o l o g y a n d I h a v e o n e w o r d for you : ana logue .To m e , t h a t is w h a t l u x u r y is, pe r sona l i s ed care a n d a t t e n t i o n . "

Lai p r o p o s e d t h e n a m e T h e R u M a a n d Enge l loved it i m m e d i a t e l y , p r o n o u n c i n g it to e n c a p s u l a t e t h e ve ry expe-r i e n c e t h e t w o h a d i n m i n d . I t w o u l d be a k i n to s t a y i n g i n a f r i end ' s h o m e , b e i n g t r ea ted n o t o n l y to t h e h o s p i t a l i t y of s o m e o n e w h o cares, b u t also h a s local knowledge of t h e city.

"Brands are yesterday," says Engel. "You w a l k d o w n KLCC a n d h o w m a n y b r a n d e d b a g s do you see i n a n hou r? Too m a n y . T h e c u r r e n c y of l u x u r y is knowledge ; t h e bes t p laces to stay, t h e bes t tai lor , spa , ch i rop rac to r . I t is social cap i ta l , t h e s e pe rsona l referra ls or r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s t h a t are m u c h m o r e va luab le a n d i m p o r t a n t t o d a y t h a n d i s p l a y i n g y o u r a f f luence w i t h s t a n d a r d t h i n g s . T h e aud i ence w e are ta rge t -i n g u n d e r s t a n d s a n d a p p r e c i a t e s t h a t w e a r e t r u l y p l ay ing h o s t t o ou r loca l i ty w i t h o u r serv ices a n d exper i ences . "

A n d to w e l c o m e s t a k e h o l d e r s t o t h e K u a l a L u m p u r h o m e a w a y f r o m h o m e t h e y h a v e c rea ted , Lai a n d Engel a re e s c h e w i n g t h e typ ica l g r a n d o p e n i n g even t i n f avour of a ser ies of i n t i m a t e dos w i t h c u r a t e d g u e s t l is ts .

" W e don ' t w a n t to p a c k a f e w h u n d r e d peop le i n h e r e a n d say t h e m i n i m u m to everyone ," says Lai. "We w a n t t o g ree t you persona l ly , h a v e t i m e to si t a n d c h a t w i t h you. I t wi l l be d o n e w i t h s m a l l g r o u p s so w e c a n s h o w everyone a r o u n d a n d s p e n d t i m e w i t h o u r gues ts . "

"It 's t h e d i f fe rence b e t w e e n speed d a t i n g a n d t a k i n g t h e t i m e to get to k n o w s o m e o n e , " q u i p s Engel .

S t a r t i n g as t h e y m e a n to go o n se t s a p r o m i s i n g t o n e for T h e R u M a , t h i s oas i s of o n e - o f - a - k i n d i n t e r i o r s a n d i n i m i t a b l e se rv ice jus t m e t r e s f r o m KL's g r a n d e s t l a n d -m a r k . T h e P e t r o n a s T w i n Towers ac ross t h e road c a n be s e e n s t r e t c h i n g t o t h e sky f r o m c e r t a i n w i n d o w s a n d T h e R u M a ca r r i e s t h a t s a m e h e i g h t of a m b i t i o n a n d n a t i o n a l p r i d e w i t h i n i ts equa l ly i m p r e s s i v e s t r u c t u r e . For all i t s s p l e n d o u r , i t is r e m a r k a b l y c o m f o r t a b l e a n d f r i end ly , j u s t t h e p lace you w a n t to r e t u r n t o a f t e r a day i n t h e city.

" W e w a n t peop le t o feel l ike t h e y a re b e i n g w e l c o m e d i n t o a h o m e , c o m i n g h o m e , " says Lai.

" W e w a n t t h e m t o l eave i n t e a r s — i n a good way," l a u g h s Engel . "I t h i n k w e h a v e b u i l t a b e a u t i f u l s tage se t b u t i t wi l l c o m e d o w n to t h e p lay a n d t h e a c t i n g .We c a n ' t w a i t for i t to s ta r t . " 13

The RuMa will open officially on Nov 30

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19 Nov 2018The Edge, Malaysia

Author: No author available • Section: Options • Page: OP1,OP8TOOP10Printed size: 3997.00cm² • Region: KL • Market: Malaysia • Photo: Full ColorASR: MYR 68,820.00 • Item ID: MY0034338765

Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published inany form without the prior consent of the copyright owner.

SUMMARIESRedefining Malaysian hospitality Ireka Corp group managing director Datnk Lai Voon I Ion a n d* Urban ResoitCqnceptsco-founder Markus Engel prepare to | launbh the inherently local hotel, The RuMa t !

REDEFINING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MALAYSIAN HOTEL, THE RUMA OFFERS A FAMILIAR BRAND OF WARMHOSPITALITY WRAPPED IN SUBTLE NODS TO OUR STORIED HISTORY AND DIVERSE CULTURES.

Page 5 of 5

19 Nov 2018The Edge, Malaysia

Author: No author available • Section: Options • Page: OP1,OP8TOOP10Printed size: 3997.00cm² • Region: KL • Market: Malaysia • Photo: Full ColorASR: MYR 68,820.00 • Item ID: MY0034338765

Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published inany form without the prior consent of the copyright owner.