Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces today marked its entry into south east Asia by entering into a management contract with the Rebak Island Marina Berhad, to operate and manage the Rebak Marina Resort, a 106-room premium resort on the mystical island of Langkawi in Malaysia. This is part of Taj’s global strategy to establish its presence in key gateway cities and leisure destinations.

The Rebak Marina Resort is idyllically located on a 390-acre island off the Langkawi mainland and has mountains, cliffs, and beaches. The resort has the only fully equipped marina in Malaysia, currently facilitating the maintenance of sailing yachts. It is close to the airport and is a 15-minute ferry ride from the mainland jetty. While the current resort is located in one side of the island, much of the large 390-acre island is currently in the natural state covered with vegetation, hills and beaches. Rebak Island Marina Berhad is a joint venture between the DRB-HICOM Group of Malaysia, one of biggest conglomerates in Malaysia, and Langkawi Development Authority.

Langkawi, a prime tourist destination in Malaysia, is made up of 99 tropical islands in the Andaman Sea and lies in northwestern Peninsula, close to the Thailand border. It is renowned for the natural beauty of its beaches, tropical forests, natural caves, marine life and hot springs.

The Taj will shortly take over the day-to-day operations of the resort, and run it under the Rebak Marina Resort brand. Simultaneously, the management will work with the owners to undertake a comprehensive US$ 5 million upgradation and renovation program, which is scheduled to be completed over a period of 12 to 18 months.

Commenting on the new addition to the Taj portfolio, Raymond Bickson, managing director, The Indian Hotels Company Limited, said, “With considerable promotion by the government, Malaysia has truly emerged as one of the most popular international tourism destinations. Additionally, with the emergence of a number of airlines operating from India to south east Asia, and the rapidly burgeoning Indian outbound travel market, these destinations are beginning to form an integral part of the Taj group’s strategy. Our foray into Langkawi is a big step towards establishing a significant presence for the Taj brand in South East Asia.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dato’ Wan Abd Razak Bin Ismail, director, Rebak Island Marina Berhad, said, “We at the DRB HICOM are quite excited with our association with Taj Hotels, and are confident that this is just the beginning of a long-term partnership with the Taj group. The Rebak Island master plan envisages further development of the island with luxury villas, and we look forward to working together with the Taj group to establish a strong relationship in Malaysia.”