Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu elevates events

Newly opened Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu is taking meetings to a new level in Sabah. Its first goal is to enhance events that are held in the resort to ensure that guests are not confined to the walls of a meeting space.

“We have unique spaces where events can be held out of the usual meeting environment for example, our spacious living area at the lobby lounge, exclusive private areas at ON22 restaurant, and flexible social space at ON23 Sky Bar - all customisable to our clients’ needs,” said its GM, Ruben Schrijver.

By focussing on details and striving to make every event unique, his team will be working to make the event planning process easy and to curate an event where guests can interact, and collaborate in either a physical or hybrid setting. The hotel has seven meeting rooms. Business events currently contribute about 20% of its business.

“Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu has put in a lot of work to ensure that security, technology, support, and general well-being are at the core of all our services, and we are here to work with event organisers to create a path forward that we believe will lay the foundation for a new era of private events that are more creative, unique, and inclusive,” he said.

The hotel has organised social events highlighting Sabah’s vibrant culture and local artisans with hopes that this will pave the way for a more diverse and welcoming community.

As the only meeting space in Kota Kinabalu with adjacent balconies in all meeting rooms and floor to ceiling-high windows which provide natural sunlight for attendees, it is positioning itself as an ideal meeting venue for creative thinking and brainstorming. “During breaks, they can go outside for a breather or bask in the city’s sunny weather,” he said.

Sustainability initiatives

The hotel’s capabilities range from private functions, intimate gatherings, to group meetings for 10 to 250 pax. Chefs from ON22 restaurant create special culinary experiences and drinks which are made from seasonal and local ingredients. It is also seeking Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certifications to ensure sustainable seafood procurement.

Focus on innovation

The hotel has received a Silver Certification by GreenRE, Malaysia’s leading green building certification body for its commitment to advancing sustainability actions. With Hyatt EcoTrack, staff can monitor greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water usage, trash and recycling rates, and other sustainability data.

“These findings are crucial to the development of more effective procedures in organising future events in the hotel. We are the first hotel in Sabah to use air-cooled chillers with 300 tonnes of cooling capacity, eliminating the need for condenser pumps and saving up to 35% of energy consumption,” added Schrijver.

A water condensation programme recycles air conditioning water, which is subsequently used in the hotel’s bamboo gardens, ON22 restaurant, and ON23 rooftop bar. This saves money on fresh water, and helps the local community by lowering the amount of pressure placed on public water supply.

“Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu ensures that all our staff members are aware of sustainability priorities through training during orientations. We strongly ensure that our business partners are informed about the hotel's environmental commitment as well as encourage our clients and guests to incorporate environmentally responsible and sustainable practices into their events,” added Schrijver.