How manay years HPJ has been exciting in Petaling

The roots and backgrounder of Hilton Petaling Jaya
The hotel’s roots can be traced back to the days when it was known as the Jaya Puri Hotel, a leading landmark in Malaysia’s premier satellite town. In 1982, the hotel came under the management of Hilton when the then-Pernas Hotel Chain Holdings Sdn Bhd (now known as Tradewinds Hotels & Resorts Bhd) bought over the controlling stake. On February 1982, Jaya Puri Hotel was closed for a RM40 million renovation and reopened in 1984 as the Hilton Petaling Jaya (which was known as Petaling Jaya Hilton back then).

The Hilton Petaling Jaya was officially opened by DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Syah, the current Sultan of Selangor, on May 16, 1984 and was Hilton‘s second hotel in Malaysia and the 17th Hilton International hotel in the Asia Pacific region. Hilton Petaling Jaya is now the longest managed Hilton property in Malaysia.

The 398-room hotel opened for business on April 2, 1984. It was made up of a 10-story main block and a 21-story tower block, with three restaurants (the current Toh Yuen Chinese Restaurant and Paya Serai were opened then), two bars and an exclusive club

and discotheque. The architect was Abdullah Bakri Berakan Sdn of Malaysia in collaboration with Hilton International’s Department of Architecture and Design. Interior Design by Chhada, Siembieda & Associates (Hong Kong) and Garden Landscaping by Belt-Collins & Associates International.

In 1992, the hotel underwent an extensive renovation to maintain its competitive edge. The renovation saw 28 units of a two-story tower block giving way to 212 rooms, a new irregular form swimming pool, expansion to the Kristal Ballroom, redesigning of Toh Yuen and Paya Serai Restaurant and the creation of Uncle Chilli’s Fun Pub. The hotel’s built-up area was increased from 210,000 square feet to 433,996 square feet. The renovation works completed in 1994, was in time for the influx of tourists during the Visit Malaysia Year. The 21-story tower block was officiated by the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on January 1995. The 220-room tower block at a renovation cost of RM75 million increased the hotel room inventory to 564.

In 1998, with the change of Hilton’s global brand identity and to mark an aggressive marketing strategy to strengthen Hilton’s brand equity into the new millennium, the current Hilton Petaling Jaya logo was unveiled on July 6, 1998. The design featured a bold blue “H” elegantly encircled to symbolize the strength and innovative style that has built the brand since its launch 80 years ago. The Hilton logo can now be seen on all Hilton hotel buildings around the globe.

Between 2004 to 2006, the hotel conducted major renovations to the popular Paya Serai restaurant with a RM2 million facelift for the main lobby RM4.5 million for public areas and a RM3.4 million rebirth of Uncle Chilli’s with a sleek and stylish ambience.