Businesses gearing up for Malaysia Day splash

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KUCHING: Malaysia Day is shaping up to be more than a national celebration for local businesses, bringing fresh opportunities for hotels, beauty services and event operators.

As Kuching prepares to welcome visitors for the national-level celebration, businesses are anticipating higher demand generated by festive activities, visitor arrivals and the Sept 16 public holiday.

The occasion has prompted some operators to adjust their working hours and marketing strategies, while others are rolling out themed menus, room packages and service promotions to capture additional spending.

Hotel Grand Continental Kuching food and beverage executive Juffri Ratrakawi said the celebration was expected to have a positive impact on the hospitality industry, particularly through increased demand for rooms and hotel facilities.

He said the arrival of tourists, programme participants and other visitors from outside Kuching could lift occupancy above that of ordinary periods, especially when large-scale events were held in the city.

“Besides accommodation, the increase in guests will also have a positive impact on the hotel’s restaurant, coffeehouse, banquet facilities and other services,” he told Sarawak Tribune.

To prepare for the expected increase, the hotel is reviewing its manpower and operational arrangements across departments such as housekeeping, front office, food and beverage and event management.

Juffri said staff schedules would be arranged according to the projected number of guests to ensure operations ran smoothly without compromising service standards.

The hotel would also pay particular attention to cleanliness, food preparation, the efficiency of check-in and check-out processes and the readiness of its facilities.

“If there is a significant increase in the number of guests, the hotel will make the appropriate operational adjustments to ensure their experience remains comfortable and satisfactory,” he said.

Rather than focusing solely on room occupancy, the hotel is also looking to draw local customers through food and beverage offerings.

It has introduced a Malaysia Day Super Deal throughout September, offering rooms from RM159 per night with breakfast for two.

A Malaysia-themed hi-tea buffet will also be held on Sept 16 from noon to 4pm, providing families and local residents with another option to mark the occasion.

Juffri said such promotions were intended not only for hotel guests but also for Kuching residents who wanted to celebrate Malaysia Day through local food and hospitality experiences.

He believed the economic impact of hosting the celebration would extend beyond the hotel industry to restaurants, transport services, shopping centres, tourism attractions and businesses selling local goods.

“It also gives small and medium enterprises an opportunity to introduce Sarawak’s products and identity to visitors from outside the state,” he said.

Besides generating immediate economic activity, Juffri said hosting a national event could strengthen Kuching’s visibility as a destination for tourism, business and major events.

Small service-based businesses are similarly positioning themselves to benefit from consumers having more leisure time during the public holiday.

Sisi Skin Studio owner Sisi Joren said the studio expected demand for facial, massage and beauty treatments to rise during the Malaysia Day period.

To accommodate additional appointments, it will extend its operating hours from 9am to 8pm during the public holiday.

However, no additional workers will be recruited because the studio has limited treatment space.

Instead, its existing schedule will be arranged as efficiently as possible to provide more appointment slots while maintaining customers’ comfort.

“The celebration and public holiday indirectly benefit small businesses like ours.

“The holiday gives customers more time and flexibility to pamper themselves and undergo beauty treatments outside their normal working days,” she said.

The studio is also offering a buy-one-free-one promotion for its Pure Le’ Treatment from Sept 8 to 30.

For Sisi, the public holiday is particularly valuable to businesses that rely heavily on appointments, as customers who are normally occupied with work have more time to seek personal care services.

The potential benefits are also reaching the creative and event service industry.

Mobile photo booth provider RE:CEIPT ARCHIVES has already begun receiving more enquiries ahead of the celebration, with its booking slots gradually filling up.

Its founder, Nur Syazana Zakaria, said the business expected an encouraging response throughout the festive and public holiday period.

“We have started seeing an increase in enquiries from the public, and the number of bookings is also growing from time to time.

“We expect the response to be very encouraging throughout this celebration and public holiday season,” she said.

As a mobile service available for event rentals, the photo booth is not tied to a permanent location and can be brought to different venues for functions and celebrations.

Instead of expanding its workforce or extending fixed operating hours, the business is focusing its preparations on increasing its online visibility.

Nur Syazana said it had intensified content sharing on social media platforms such as Threads, TikTok and Instagram to keep prospective customers informed of its services and ongoing promotion.

The strategy is also aimed at encouraging customers to make early reservations before their preferred slots are taken.

In conjunction with Malaysia Day, the business is offering a RM100 discount from its normal service rate.

Nur Syazana said the public holiday created an advantage for small businesses because it tended to increase event activity, customer interest and demand for related services.

“Many customers are taking the opportunity to ask about the packages and special promotions being offered.

“With more potential customers during the holiday, the likelihood of converting enquiries into confirmed bookings is also much higher,” she said.

While the three businesses operate in different sectors, their preparations illustrate how the economic value of a major celebration can spread through the local business ecosystem.

Visitor arrivals create demand for rooms and meals, while the public holiday gives residents more time to spend on leisure, personal care and social events.

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