This event was held on 7th December 2016 as an end of the year closure for the MCG activities. As arranged the members and a couple of guests were there by 2.45pm. The hotel arranged for two guides so there were two groups taken separately on the tour by each guide. 

The tour began with a brief history of the hotel. The location to build this hotel was strategically chosen and this was opposite the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. The 51-room hotel was opened in 1932 and was well equipped with modern plumbing with hot and cold water, showers, and long baths in 18 rooms, and a roof garden with a dance floor and seating for 350 patrons while the furnishing and silverware were imported from England. The hotel was used by the elite and colonial officials but during the Japanese occupation it was used as a transit centre and when the war was over, it resumed its operations as a hotel. Due to stiff competition from the new hotels in 1983 the hotel was closed and used as the National Art Gallery. In 1995 YTL tookover this building and added a modern wing to the old building. The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur under the management of YTL subsidiary, YTL Hotels, was reopened on December 8, 2012 as a five-star hotel.  

We were then taken on a tour of the new wing and showed a luxury room on the 5th floor. The room was tastefully furnished and appeared very comfortable with a modern long bath. We then came down to Level 4 and were shown the gym and, via the swimming pool, taken up to the Roof Garden. One can get a good view of the buildings in the vicinity. The Roof Garden can be booked for a private event and as an example given, one was for a man to make a marriage proposal! We then made our way back to Level 2 to the huge Ballroom which can seat 1,000 guests and 1,400 standing guests. The guide then took us past the orchid room and since there were guests in this room we could just peek into the room which is decorated with the most beautiful and exotic orchids.

The next part of the tour took us into the old wing. We saw the original Smoke Room, Bar, Reading Room, Barber’s Room and finally out of the building into an annex which is the Spa and Gift Shop. We were not able to see a luxury room in the old wing as all the rooms were occupied. These rooms cost more than the rooms in the new wing but they come with special perks like free unlimited laundry, butler service, use of the boardroom and free local calls. 

We then made our way to level 1 where we had the afternoon tea with an assortment of delicious sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries. It was a very pleasant afternoon and most of the members left after 5pm. I must say it was a wonderful afternoon to welcome Christmas celebrations and end of the year holidays. 

Written by Jagdev Kaur