Berjaya Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality arm of Berjaya group, plans to open two five-star properties this year, in Malaysia and Vietnam, in a bid to focus on only five-star or premium-class hotels given their better yields.

The group currently owns and operates 14 hotels under the Berjaya brand and owns two others operated by international hotel chains. Berjaya has sold the Berjaya Le Morne Beach Resort in Mauritius, KL Plaza Suites in Kuala Lumpur and Berjaya Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu in a move towards premium properties.

In the pipeline are openings in the Maldives and South Korea, as well as additional openings in Vietnam and Malaysia; adding to its current room inventory of 4,000. The group seeks to further develop its presence in Vietnam and is looking at two or three more hotels in Vietnam within five years.

Its 70:30 joint venture, with Berjaya holding majority stake, on Phu Quoc Island is estimated at below RM34 million. The 110-room hotel, ready by year-end, is expected to achieve average room rates of between RM513 and RM616 a night.

Meanwhile, its existing properties will be spruced up. Berjaya Times Square Hotel and Convention Centre is undergoing a RM20 million renovation and refurbishment exercise, while its 196-room Berjaya Redang Beach Resort will have an additional 130 new rooms. At Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf and Spa Resort, 10 suites and 52 deluxe rooms have been renovated.