INTERVIEW Darrell Metzger
To encourage more tourists to Malaysia, Destination Resorts is developing world-class luxury resorts and hotels, complemented by spas, theme parks and leisure attractions. We talk to the man in charge of pulling it all together
JENNIFER HARBOTTLE » JOURNALIST » SPA BUSINESS D
arrell Metzger has a twinkle in his eye. Mild-mannered and mischievous, his calm demeanour belies the task ahead of him. As chairman
of the Executive Committee Board of Direc- tors for Destination Resorts, Metzger is in charge of making sure his team delivers on its promise – to invest in and create world- class, leisure and residential developments for the Malaysian market. And to make them profitable too. Destination Resorts is a subsidiary of
Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the investment arm of the Malaysian government, tasked with developing industries that will benefit the nation’s long-term economic interests. Alongside its sister company, Temed
Attractions, Destination Resorts is responsi- ble for enticing more international travellers to Malaysia through the development of the country’s leisure and tourism industry. While Temed Attractions is in charge of
creating entertainment facilities and attrac- tions, Destination Resorts is providing the investment, development and manage- ment expertise for destination resort and hotel-related projects – all with spas – in the region. Although they’re both run as separate companies with their own CEO, Metzger has a role in each of them, ensuring they leverage the oppor- tunities between the two. He reports to Nadziruddin Basri, the managing director of Destination Resorts.
Metzger reports to Basri (right) managing director of Destination Resorts which is part of the investment arm of the Malaysian government
Spa tourism Destination Resorts has three integrated leisure developments underway, all of which include resorts and hotels with spas. Tere are two in the southern region of Malaysia in the state of Johor, and one on the island of Langkawi (see opposite). And they’ve already attracted some of the top branded resort own- ers and operators around the world such as Amanresorts, Shangri-La and Sheraton. Although the government’s
Economic Transformation Pro- gramme for tourism doesn’t specifically include a focus on spas, Metzger knows Destination Resorts can’t afford to ignore the importance of this market. “Part of having great destina-
Darrell Metzger, chairman of Destination Resorts’ Executive Committee Board of Directors
We need to get people to come here rather than Phuket or Bali, so our spa and recreational facilities will be as good or better
tions is to have very well known, impressive spas,” he says. “We know we need to build off Malaysia’s natural assets to get people to come here rather than Phuket or Bali, so we’ll make sure we have as good or better spa and recreation facilities as they have in those places.” Tis could prove a wise move, considering that according to Metzger, over 50 per cent of the tar- get market for its resorts will be from Europe and the Middle East, where people expect no less than a luxury spa as part of a five-star hotel. Tis sentiment is echoed by Basri,
who says: “Destination Resorts, as a developer of premier, integrated developments, will position Malaysia as an appealing and complete holiday destination of choice for all travellers. We
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will bring out the best of our country’s nat- ural wonders and complement them with world-class leisure and tourism products.” To ensure it delivers, Destination Resorts
is exploring joint venture opportunities with hotel partners which have a proven track record and which have a philosophy that’s in line with the concept and positioning of its projects. As its goal is to become the lead investor in resorts and hotel brands in the country, Destination Resorts owns a “not insignificant” shareholding in each of the branded hotels being built. In 2012, Destination Resorts also became
the majority (51 per cent) shareholder in an existing hotel group called Archipelago Hotels & Resorts. Te Asia-based company was established in 2010 and has four, five-star hotels with spas, which it owns and manages in Malaysia. Tey include Te Datai Lang-
SPA BUSINESS 2 2012 ©Cybertrek 2012
© 2011 DESTINATION RESORTS AND HOTELS SDN BHD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
© 2011 DESTINATION RESORTS AND HOTELS SDN BHD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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