A treat for the seniors

A GROUP of grandmothers nonchalantly sauntered into Ber-jaya Georgetown Hotel’s The Café one evening to rekindle their long-established friendship as well as to catch up on the latest happenings.

Painting a dainty picture of joy and laughter, they exchanged juicy stories about their families and proudly circulated photographs of their loved ones. Occasionally, the jolly banter grew loud, much to the astonishment of other guests dining in the same hall. Nonetheless, the grannies seemed least perturbed by the din that they were creating.

 

The hotel view from Burmah Road.

To say they were having the time of their lives may be an overstatement, but they certainly knew how to spend a lovely evening amidst the cool and classy ambience. And providing the icing on the cake was the sumptuous international buffet prepared by the hotel’s finest chefs. The grannies were treating themselves to Berjaya Georgetown’s After 5 dinner buffet, which is available from Sunday to Friday between 5.30pm and 9.30pm.

The After 5 menu is changed daily from Italian to Peppercorn, to Roast and Grill, American, Carvery and Texmex. The salad bar is very attractive, with colourful vegetables, seafood and cold meats displayed creatively. However, the biggest attraction is the desserts corner, which boasts, among others, 10 flavours of Haagen Daz ice-cream, (which had kept the grannies going back for more). And all of this only cost them RM14++ per person.

This is because they all qualified for the hotel’s special 50% discount on buffet spreads for senior citizens at The Café. The hotel general manager Ung Beng Huat said when the hotel was first opened in 1997, a 25% discount on meals at the restaurant was offered to senior citizens. In Sept 2000, it was revived and upgraded to 50%.

“This is our humble way of saying ‘thank you’ to all senior citizens — both locals and foreigners. The discount is applicable on all buffets, but during the festive season, special rates would be given to them,” he said.

Other highlights at the 24-hour coffee house, include the Wow Wow Brunch — Sunday (noon - 3pm), Tete N Bites — Saturday and on public holidays (12.30pm - 4pm), Oriental & Dim Sum Lunch — Monday to Friday (noon - 2.30pm) and Seafood Bazaar and Steamboat — Saturday (5.30pm - 9.30pm).

The hotel recently launched a Gourmet Card, which comes with special dining privileges of between 10% to 25% discounts at The Cafe and The Bar (the hotel’s watering hole). Limited to the first 300 persons who spend more than RM100 at either of the venues, card holders are required to pay a RM2 processing fee — which will be given to the Wishing Well Charity Project organised by the Rotary Club of Penang and the Penang Adventist Hospital.

“All room reservations by Gourmet Card holders will be on priority status. They will also stand a chance to be upgraded to the next room category, subject to availability,” said Ung, adding that the card, which is transferable, expires on March 2003.

Berjaya Georgetown Hotel in Burmah Road has over the years earned the distinction of being one of the best-located mid-town hotels in Penang. Flanking the ever-bustling One-Stop Mid-lands Park shopping complex, the hotel is within walking distance to the vibrant Gurney Plaza and the ever-popular Gurney Drive — which takes pride in its scenic view and hawker’s paradise.

It is also nestled within the fast-developing Pulau Tikus commercial and business centre, which is laced with trendy cafes, “happening” nightspots and fan-cy condominiums. Apart from facing the Penang Adventist Hospital and having the Church of the Immaculate Conception down the street, the hotel is surrounded by pre-war houses and buildings.

 

The Club Lounge at Level 28.

Nature lovers can take a 20-minute walk from the hotel to the 29ha Botanical Gardens nearby, famed for its flora and fauna, including the long-tailed maca-que. Penang’s Heritage Trail within the inner-city of George-town is only a five-minute drive while tourist attractions such as the Wat Chayamangkalarm, which has the world’s fourth longest reclining Buddha statue, is also within reach.

Berjaya Georgetown also happens to be the only hotel in Penang that has a water-theme park next-door, and hotel guests enjoy a 50% discount on the entrance fee. Adventure Island, the premier rooftop water theme park at Level 8, One-stop Midlands Park Complex, has several exciting games — Monster Slide, Anti-Twister, Hydrowhip, Torpedo, Flume and Raft Ride — to appeal to all thrill-seekers.

The 323-room four-star hotel has a special Berjaya Club Lounge at Level 28, catering to businessmen occupying the well-facilitated club floors. Here they can hold small meetings and entertain guests in private. Berjaya Georgetown also boasts a 10,000sq ft column-free ballroom, which can accommodate up to 1,500 persons for cocktail receptions, 700 persons for sit-down dinners and 300 persons for group meetings.

Other facilities include a rooftop swimming pool, a gymnasium and a bar within the hotel premises, while the 32-lane Jaya Bowl, and Midlands KTV karaoke outlet are located nearby.

“Our hotel is perfect for businessmen who wish to bring their families along. While attending to important meetings and engagements, the head of the family need not worry about his spouse and family, as they can move around freely due to the facilities available,” said Ung.

He noted that the hotel’s main clientele comprised guests from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong, adding that peak periods include local festivals such as Thaipusam and St Anne’s Feast as well as long weekends. E

Berjaya Georgetown Hotel
One-Stop Midlands Park,
Jalan Burmah,
10350 Penang, Malaysia.