The Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur is what hoteliers call an urban resort – a species of hotel that combines city centre convenience with a retreat-like sense of escape. The concept is perfect for those travelling for ‘bleisure’, a term denoting business trips with leisure days tacked on. And at 60 floors up in the Pavilion Building, everything comes with a great view.
The hotel is in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle, the city’s CBD. The Petronas Twin Towers, the sprawling KLCC Park and Pavilion megamall are all nearby. It’s a 10-minute walk to the Bukit Bintang MRT train station, while taxis are frequent and cheap.
With just 55 rooms and suites, the Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur feels like a boutique hotel. The smallest rooms start at a spacious 549 square feet, while the largest, the Banyan Tree Suite, reaches 3,369 square feet over its duplex layout. Desk space and socket panels are plentiful for getting work done. In-room flourishes include a ‘chromotherapy’ rain shower that lights water in a rainbow of hues, a bathtub that faces out over the city and a pillow menu.
The business side of this urban resort is catered for by a dedicated team of event planners and three large boardrooms stocked with state-of-the-art presentation equipment. Throw in the open-air swimming pool, gym, spa and rooftop bar – a magnificent eyrie complemented by a heroic drinks list – and you’ve got the total bleisure experience.