Mother's Day celebrations boost hotel business
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

A family having dinner at the Holiday Lodge on Mother's Day
Photo: Zureena Abdullah 

An enthusiastic response by the local population in celebrating the Mother's Day at the Holiday Lodge, Jerudong had brought temporary relief to the hotel. In fact, such a response was a timely and much-needed boost to the local hotel industry currently facing a downturn as a result of the global outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which saw a huge reduction in the number of foreign patrons.

However, hotels such as the Holiday Lodge had been banking on the locals to help them out though the prospects for a full recovery yet to be seen.

SARS had affected mostly the travel and hospitality industry where this sector is dependent upon travellers. Without in-bound travellers, hotels will continue to be deserted.

Observers said local hotels should provide incentives to the local population to stay there during weekends and holidays. "What about offering the locals huge reductions for weekend stay including exclusive dining at their restaurants," they said.

Holiday Lodge meanwhile was also banking on the local population to fill up their restaurants especially at special celebrations.

During Mother's Day celebration last Sunday, people swarmed to the hotel since it had provided satisfying services in the past. A family said they went to celebrate Mother's Day celebration at the hotel because it offered satisfying services.

The hotel presented Mother's Day carnations to mothers who dined at its Mills Coffee House as a gesture of appreciation, according to its sales manager Masnoni Hj Selamat.

"Apart from children paying tribute to their mothers by dining here, the hotel also wished to be a part of the happy family by offering carnations to mothers," she said. Apart from offering free carnations, the hotel also presented Happy Mother's Day cakes to all dining mothers.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin