Keith009

The refurbished Sheraton Imperial

I stayed at the Sheraton Imperial for the 3rd and 5th nights of my trip. The hotel is under renovation until December which means that the rates are most conducive for a stay run. Renovation works occurred 0900-1830 every day. I managed to score refurbished rooms for both stays.

For the first stay I got upgraded to the Executive Suite!! For some reason the changes seem more visible in the standard room than the suite. Hmmm

The most obvious plus of the refurbishment was the installation of huge wall mounted plasma TVs. This also made the standard room more spacious as it meant that the entertainment stand was a lot slimmer.

I was also glad to see higher quality beds, with softer mattresses and more sumptous duvets.

The standard rooms now come with a MUCH nicer sofa.

The decor looked a lot fresher, with new light fittings and wallpaper.

On the whole - a very nice and welcome change.

The temporary lobby:





I somehow liked it better than the old lobby - less fussy somehow, and not as cluttered with random bits and pieces.

Executive Suite

Living Room:









Bedroom:







The huge bathroom:





Temporary Club lounge on level 3:







You'd have a choice of either continental breakfast in the lounge, or hot breakfast next door, complete with an egg station with a chef waiting to prepare eggs to your liking.

The lobby being renovated:







Standard Room

mario33

Thanks for the pictures !

I have to admit I dont like the new design. Yes the plasma tv / stand and reupholstery of the sofa is nice; but I dont quite understand what the interior designer had in mind with the new carpets which looks as if someone had spilled some drinks all over it (or is it supposed to represent the spg logo ?). Also the red headboard and green wall in the bedroom just looked awful !

No the new design doesnt quite blend in with most of the old furnitures and fittings that they are retaining. W-style design doesnt quite match with LC style furnitures. I was hoping for something along the lines of the new Westin Langkawi (same owner) which is a good compromise between sleek modern design and traditional warmth, but the ID here is more adventurous.

Looks like the Westin is now firmly the best Starwood property in KL.

Keith009

"W-style"?? Hmm, I still thought it all looked quite 'old.' YMMV obviously.

Westin KL is my all time favourite spg pty in KL by far - as ultra modern as possible is good and location is heaps heaps better, and I'd have stayed all 5 nights there had i not needed the 'stays.'

mario33

Effective 1st January 2008 this property will be known as The Imperial Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Not sure whether it is still in business but there is/was a lesser establishment with the same name off Bukit Bintang (near KFC where Jalan Alor starts). I can imagine many guests having a shock of their lives when taxi drivers deliver them to the budget hotel near a semi red-light district

camsean

Can anyone give me advice or an opinion about if it is worth spending 1500 points or RM145++ to upgrade to executive club level at this hotel.

I have a stay coming up in December.

mario33

I believe no one except yourself can answer this question with the following variables :-

1) How much do you drink during evening cocktails
2) Would you buy breakfast at RM60-70 per head if not on club floor.
3) No. of guest in the room (maybe worth it for 2)
4) Do you really use "butler" service ?

Personally I will keep the cash/points and leave my eating/drinking options open.

camsean

I guess I meant do the offerings in the Club lounge represent good value. ie Is the breakfast good etc.

Thanks for the info.

mario33

The breakfast and food offerings during evening cocktails were average. However I believe you are given the option of full breakfast in the restaurant if you are on club floor (they denied me this option because I was upgraded )

VanMan

The newly renovated Sheraton Imperial in Kuala Lumpur is now rebranded as the Luxury Collection "Hotel Imperial"...still a Cat. 2 though

flyalotlm

Has any one experienced the renovated Club Lounge? Are they still serving more than just a continental breakfast in the morning? Are they still serving food along with drinks in the evening? We are planning on staying there in early March.

DRGLRD

Recently Mrs DRGLRD and I stayed twice at the Hotel Imperial (formerly Sheraton Imperial) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia within a week.

During both stays, the service was well below the standards befitting this once grand hotel. Having lived in KL for a couple of years, I chose to stay at the Hotel Imperial because of the excellent reputation that it once had. Sadly, I can not recommend this hotel to anyone and would personally select one of the other Starwood properties in KL when I return.

The service follies included a reservation for a taxi to the airport at 4:00 am that was not made (try finding a taxi at that time of the morning!), ~50% increase in the hotel charge for the taxi depending on who one spoke with, unfulfilled requests for turndown service, disappearing reservations for hotel shuttles, room service breakfasts that did not arrive and mistakes with the bill. This was brought to the attention of the Guest Services Manager who apologized, made promises and did not follow through. With leadership like that, no wonder the staff service was so poor.

Again, if you have the chance to visit KL, do yourself a favour and do NOT choose the Hotel Imperial.

mario33

I find it amusing how some joined FT just to bash a hotel they dont like

And I dont see how the poor service you received would automatically rebrand/disqualify the hotel from being a "Luxury Collection" as indicated on your headings

And did you actually stay there when it was "once a grand hotel" ?
While its certainly a grand hotel, service has never been good despite your claim of the "excellent reputation it once had" .......

DRGLRD

Interesting....I thought that the purpose of FT was to share experiences (good or bad)....perhaps I misunderstood....in the future I'll restrict any comments to glowing, syrupy, pollyanna'ish drivel. NOT!

As well, how do the number of my posts reflect the credibility of my comments?...they don't...you just want to pick apart my post...

Labelling a hotel as a "Luxury Collection" would imply to me that not only are the facilities luxurious but that the service is of a similar quality and the staff professional. Unfortunately I did not experience the latter two.

It is also puzzling that you seem to agree with me that the service is not good while criticizing my complaints.

SingaporeDon

Among the SPG properties in KL, I find Westin to have better service. I stayed at the Imperial while it was being renovated last year, and was not too impressed with the property. Outside of *wood, I have always found the Ritz much better value and the service there is seven stars!

mario33

1) "Luxury Collection" is a brand name, and not what your intepretation of luxury should be.

2) Your comments "this once grand hotel" & "excellent reputation it once had" seem to imply that it was once a great hotel and that standards have dropped recently. Did you come to the conclusion that it was "once grand hotel" based on your past personal experience there with good service etc or was it based on hear say (which is far from accurate) ?

3) There is nothing wrong with posts complaining about poor service etc However, information posted should be accurate . Your headings "NOT a Luxury Collection" is actually FALSE information !!

4) Your comment "do NOT choose the Hotel Imperial" is full of emotions and dare I say irrational. While service level at the Imperial is not the best I have experienced, neither are the rest of the Starwood hotels in KL. Have you actually stayed at all the other SPG hotels (or any other hotel in KL) to come to the conclusion that its the worst/bad choice in KL ?

And you also chose to ignore the fact that the physical property is top notch; and that its the best value SPG hotel when using points (cat 2) and sometimes unbelievable value when paying cash. Your bad experience does not justify everyone else staying away from this hotel .

And finally, FT is not TripAdvisor . Posters here are far more experienced/knowledgeble and inaccurate/false information will be challenged ......