WHEN it opened its doors in 1973, it was acclaimed as the most glamorous resort of its kind in the country. It went on to become an icon in Penang and led to the mushrooming of other hotels along the Batu Ferringhi tourism belt.
As Penang grew in stature with its tourism offerings, the 303-room oldest resort in Malaysia – Rasa Sayang – also rose in tandem as a leading hotel.
It has braved and overcome various challenges from political changes to recession and now climate change which has brought about beach erosion and stronger waves than usual.
Today, renamed as the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang after Malaysia's richest man, business magnate Robert Kuok Hock Nien's Shangri-La Hospitality Group purchased it, the hotel continues to stay competitive despite the arrival of more than 10 five-star properties here.
In 1973, it was named simply the Rasa Sayang Resort. Famed for its Minangkabau dark brown timber roof, the resort has become a stately home to thousands of guests – from celebrities, and royalty to global leaders and community personalities.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah stayed at the resort recently during his official royal visit to Penang.
This year, the resort celebrates its 50th anniversary and it has come up with a unique way of celebrating its golden jubilee – Rasa Sayang is searching for couples who married at its glittering property.
Its director of communications, Tunku Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman, shared details of the search. He said it is trying to locate 50 couples who tied the knot there between the 1970s and 1980s, specifically from 1973 when it was officially unveiled.
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The resort is also celebrating its 50th year in business.
The couples stand to be offered a complimentary three-day staycation as a token of appreciation. The resort has decided to extend the search for an additional four years, from 1973 to 1980 after previously announcing a similar initiative but up to 1976 only.
Couples who exchanged vows at Shangri-La Rasa Sayang during this period are encouraged to reach out to the resort directly to claim their reward. They only need to provide proof of their wedding at Rasa Sayang by presenting images, photographs, or invitation cards from their wedding.
Tunku Suleiman expressed his excitement about this unique initiative, stating, “The effort is our way of reconnecting with our past guests and expressing our gratitude for choosing Shangri-La Rasa Sayang as their wedding venue during those memorable years.
"We believe it would be a wonderful opportunity to engage with them once again, reminiscing about their special day and the cherished memories created at Rasa Sayang. We look forward to rekindling those connections and creating new moments of joy together.”
Tunku Sulaiman said the resort had successfully located the first-ever couple to tie the knot at Shangri-La Rasa Sayang on December 23, 1973.
Chan Seng Chow, 74, and Mrs Chan, 73, married just a month after the resort's grand opening.
Hailing from Penang and Ipoh, respectively, the couple fondly recalls their extraordinary wedding celebration. Their love story brought together 1,000 guests, filling up 100 tables that spilled over into the ballroom foyer. Both were 23 years old at their wedding and distinguished charter accountants who initially met in London.
Twelve years after their marriage, they started a new chapter and migrated to Melbourne, Australia, where they have since settled down and enjoy a beautiful life together.
When Mrs Chan heard that Rasa Sayang was offering complimentary suite accommodation, she was overwhelmed with happiness and looked forward to celebrating Rasa Sayang’s 50th anniversary in November this year.
Tunku Sulaiman said that the resort continues to innovate to cope with the new age of accommodation, especially with the arrival of online bookings for homestay schemes.
"In the end our service is never compromised nor our quest to offer a pleasant stay and quality gastronomic adventures," said the veteran hotelier.
All eligible couples are encouraged to come forward to claim their stay. Contact the Communication Department at 604-888 8888, extension 6650 during office hours or email [email protected]. – The Vibes, August 24, 2023
