FiveS Hotel is opened at Johor Baru city centre

 

In the brilliant sunshine on a midweek morning, Jalan Wong Ah Fook looked relatively clear of vehicular traffic while the promenade that runs parallel to Johor Baru’s famous main street, was a comfortable pedestrian walkway.

 

The Johor Baru city skyline as interpreted
by FiveS Hotel Johor Baru City Centre

I was heading to the opening ceremony of FiveS, a local brand hotel by the SKS Group that will offer another accommodation option to visitors, located in a familiar part of the city. In fact, walking distance to where I used to live with our grandparents at No. 154 Jalan Ngee Heng.

 

To enter the indoor multi-storey carpark of the FiveS Hotel, I drove down Jalan Sulaiman,* a one-way street off Jalan Trus that bordered the side of this Hotel.

 

On arrival, I saw guests gathered at the hotel forecourt where a red carpet was laid out for traditional Lion Dancers to perform an auspicious lion dance at the Ribbon-Cutting ceremony.

 

View of Jalan Wong Ah Fook from
the front of FiveS Hotel

The opening of this hotel in the heart of Johor Baru was witnessed by representatives from the SKS Group, in what I guessed, would be a proud moment for its founder, Alan Sim See Kiong, and his family members.

 

Founded in 1983, the SKS Group of companies is a multi-disciplined organisation with core businesses that spans across property development, investment holding, hospitality, credit finance and aviation in Johor, Malaysia and Western Australia.

 

While waiting for the event to start, I stood on the promenade to admire the façade of the 22-level hotel building and wondered to myself, “Why, FiveS?”

 

You see, I had recently witnessed the opening of another SKS property in Johor, the Four Points by Sheraton at Desaru Utama, and could not help wondering whether there was something about going from Four to Five…

 

Auspicious Lion Dance at the
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Standing on this promenade (which conceals the once infamous Sungai Segget that still flowed below), it occurred to me that this part of Jalan Wong Ah Fook was bordered by towering buildings that housed multinational corporations, hotels, banks and corporate headquarters of internationally-recognised brands.

 

Directly across Jalan Wong Ah Fook was the ultra-modern Menara JLand which was linked to popular shopping malls, KOMTAR Johor Baru City Centre or JBCC and Johor Baru City Square Mall.

 

This mall was also conveniently linked to the Johor Baru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex, an international entry point into the Republic of Singapore via the Causeway.

 

This energetic Lion Dance 
continued throughout the hotel

Pedestrians can now experience a more walkable city because JB City Square was also linked to the R & F Mall and Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House by a covered pedestrian skywalk while the promenade in front of the hotel, will lead to the city’s heritage quarter, fondly known as Kampung Wong Ah Fook (at left) and the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk (at right).

 

The rear of the Hotel was bordered by Jalan Trus for a short walk to the Persada Johor International Convention Centre.

 

The voice of the event Master of Ceremony brought my attention back to the FiveS Hotel’s opening ceremony and I listened with interest to the speeches that shared some of the proud accolades which the SKS Group had achieved over the years.

 

There was indeed, much to be proud of and I thought that the opening of their own-brand hotel in the heart of the city was yet another feather in their cap.

 

The clever use of mirrors created the
impression of a larger space within the rooms

The deafening beat of traditional drums and clashing cymbals set the rhythm for the auspicious Lion Dance which continued to sound throughout the building as the energetic troop pranced and danced from the Lobby Lounge and Reception Desk all the way through to the upper floors.

 

In the hotel tour, our media group had the privilege to inspect various room types designed in the 243 rooms that ranged from Deluxe Twin and King, Executive Suite and Family Suite, to an Executive Room fitted out for special-needs guests.

 

A private Meeting Room in the mezzanine floor

All rooms were equipped with ensuite bathrooms, air-conditioning, television with satellite and cable channels, coffee and tea-making facilities, electronic safe box, hairdryer and complimentary WiFi access.

 

It was interesting that the Executive Suite which could accommodate four guests, had a separate lounge area where the sofa could be transformed into a sofa bed.

 

The tour also took us up a spiral staircase from the lobby that led to the mezzanine floor.

 

The buffet lines at Feast@FiveS on Level Six

Here a corner Gymnasium was designed with floor-to-ceiling glass walls for guests to enjoy their physical workout along with a panoramic view of Jalan Wong Ah Fook.

 

Meanwhile, the enclosed space opposite the gym was a private Meeting Room that could comfortably seat up to eight participants around the table.

 

Our tour ended on Level Six where a versatile Function Hall was situated.

 

Over refreshments hosted at the all-day dining restaurant Feast@FiveS also on Level Six, it occurred to me that the “S” in the brand, fiveS was a capital letter “S” placed at the end of the word five which was rendered in small letters.

 

Entrance to the multi-storey carpark
from Jalan Sulaiman

I did (privately) hazard a guess that this alphabet “S” represented the owners’ family surname and if I was right, I have yet to figure out who the Five-S people were.

 

Meanwhile I remain hopeful to discover more when I got to know this hotel better.

 

Congratulations FiveS Hotel Johor Baru City Centre on your opening!

 

Fives Hotel Johor Baru City Centre is located at No. 45 Jalan Wong Ah Fook, 80000 Johor Baru, Johor. Tel: +607 – 219 7777. Email: info@fiveshotel.com

 

For more info, visit website: www.fiveshotel.com

 

*[Last year, the Persada Johor International Convention Centre was used as a Vaccination Centre and to create a better flow of vehicles, Jalan Sulaiman was turned into a one-way street with entry only off Jalan Wong Ah Fook. Please note that this one-way street had reverted to the former where entry was only via Jalan Trus.]