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ASIAN Overland Holdings Sdn Bhd, having bought over Langkawi Village Resort from Maldives-based Universal Resort Ltd for RM18 million, will spend RM5 million to upgrade it to 4-star status and rename it Frangipani Hotel.

“We’re carrying out upgrading works and they should be completed by the last quarter of this year. We plan to relaunch it as Frangipani Hotel in early 2007,” group managing director Anthony Wong Kim Hooi said.

The resort, located at Pantai Tengah of the island, is made up of 65 chalets, each having its own private garden. The existing restaurant seats 60 people.

“We’re adding 15 chalets to bring up the total to 80 units on the 4ha compound. We’re also building a meeting room that can seat 80 people and another restaurant that can accommodate 60 diners,” he said.

With a meeting room where training and team-building sessions for corporates can be held, the resort can then cater for the business traveller too besides just holidaymakers.

Average room rate is currently RM200 and the resort is enjoying an occupancy rate of 60 per cent.

“We hope by the end of the year when all renovation works are completed, we can increase the room rates to RM350 and see the resort enjoying an occupancy rate of 65 per cent,” he added.

Wong is optimistic about attracting a critical mass of guests because Asian Overland, being an event organiser and inbound tour operator, can strategically promote Frangipani Hotel.

Positioned as an environmental-friendly hotel, solar panels are built on the roofs of the chalets to generate supply of hot water, and the sewerage will convert waste into fertilisers for use on vegetables planted within the compound.

Kitchen organic waste will also be converted into compost that can be used in the hotel’s herb garden.

The resort will also incorporate agro-tourism activities like bird-watching and herb gardening. Guests will get to watch monkeys plucking coconuts from the trees planted in the resort. Fishermen from the nearby villages can also sell direct their daily catch.

“This year’s prospects are going to be better than last year’s. With the Government’s support, all hoteliers are gearing up for Visit Malaysia Year 2007,” the 50-year-old businessman said.

Langkawi Village Resort  The Langkawi Village Resort is strategically set on a 10 acre verdant landscaped grove of coconut palms at Pantai Tengah, on the South West of Langkawi Island. With a golden beachfront of soft sand stretching over 400 metres and lapped by cool inviting waters, this wonderful resort offers a panoramic vista of the nearby islands. This resort has to offer beautifully appointed rooms, which are all fully equipped with the latest amenities and the best services delivered by the staff. Recreational activities like Island Hoping Trips, Jungle Trekking, Boat rides and Jet Skis are arranged by the resort to while away time during their stay.