Hotel Equatorial will celebrate its Golden Anniversary in Malaysia in 2023. The first hotel in Kuala Lumpur opened its doors on December 27, 1973, and it was a part of the Golden Triangle hotel complex that enabled Malaysia to enter the modern era of hospitality. At EQ (Kuala Lumpur), a yearlong calendar of events will be held to celebrate the milestone.

“When Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur opened its doors some fifty years ago, it was welcomed instantly and rapidly became a landmark in the city. Over the past five decades, the Equatorial brand has built a strong reputation for delivering exceptional service and excellent hospitality; its range of restaurants that have become household names such as the Kampachi, Chalet, Nipah Coffeeshop, Golden Phoenix, Étoile Bistro and Blue Moon lounge. The plans for our golden anniversary are designed to celebrate with our loyal customers, partners, and employees who have supported us throughout the years.”

Mr. Donald Lim, Chief Executive Officer of the Equatorial group

50 commemoration events will take place during the course of the celebration, which starts on 5 July 2023, and lasts for a full year. Each event will present a unique perspective against a historical backdrop or with an eye toward the future.

Events like the pop-ups of the renowned Chalet and Golden Phoenix restaurants in August 2023 and January 2024, respectively, brought back pleasant memories among attendees. Another popular request to be honored is a Blue Moon Night on 31 August 2023, which will obviously be centered around a soundtrack from the time. The variety of celebrations is enhanced by visiting guest chefs, winemakers, sake masters, and even specifically commissioned merchandise.

More announcements will made throughout the commemorative year at http://www.equatorial.com/equatorial-50

Visitors will be able to examine images of significant events involving Equatorial since 1973 on a memory wall that will be built in the EQ lobby. The opening of commemorative sites on Facebook and Instagram for guests to share recollections will mark the occasion online.

The hospitality industry in Kuala Lumpur saw a significant transition in the early 1970s with the arrival of a new wave of modern hotels. One of these was the 300-room Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur, which also included a number of eateries that would later become widely recognized. This area became the primary area for shopping and entertainment because it is situated in the “Golden Triangle” (the region surrounding a triangular plot in downtown Kuala Lumpur bordered by Jalan Treacher, Jalan Parry, and Jalan Weld and since renamed Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan P. Ramlee, and Jalan Raja Chulan, respectively).

Major occasions like the renowned World Heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and British challenger Joe Bugner in June 1975 saw Bugner’s entourage staying at Hotel Equatorial. Equatorial has gradually woven itself into the social fabric of the city as a result of the numerous events and celebrations that have taken place there throughout the years. In fact, a lot of the employees who rose through the ranks of the hotel became well-known professionals and even celebrities.

The building saw a number of important firsts over the years, including the installation of electronic lockets in every guest room and the introduction of WiFi, both of which are now standard amenities. The hotel has undoubtedly left its imprint on both Malaysian society and the world at large, receiving mentions in periodicals like the New York Times and being named Best City Hotel by Travel & Leisure Asia, among other accolades.

Since then, Hotel Equatorial has built and/or run hotels in Penang, Bangi, Cameron Highlands, and Melaka. This Golden Anniversary is all the more amazing given its success as a locally recognized brand, especially in a market that is currently overrun by a wide range of foreign competitors.

The new Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur has become a favorite among a new generation of guests, just as the former Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur served as the location of so many special festivities and weddings. The original hotel was demolished in 2012 to make room for a comprehensive redevelopment of the area where today’s stunning Equatorial Plaza structure, which houses EQ, the multi-award-winning hotel, is located. The new 440-room property has raised the bar in Malaysia’s hospitality sector by becoming the first (and currently only) 5-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur with a GBI Gold certification and the best possible green-building credentials, much like its predecessor did with regard to critical acclaim and financial success.

With an unparalleled amount of domestic and international accolades, including being voted the top hotel in the city by Tripadvisor since August 2019, EQ has emerged as the industry leader among hotels in the city in the four years since its inauguration in 2019. The Preferred Hotels group just recognized EQ Hotel of the Year Asia Pacific, making EQ the first Malaysian hotel to receive this honour.

With a variety of new restaurants and facilities to complement established favorites, it has had an immediate and significant impact. Sky51, with its breathtaking views of the city skyline, is now one of the must-visit sky bars for any visitor, and new eateries like Sabayon and the Bottega-licensed lobby bar, along with the Sanctum urban spa, provide unique options for a new generation of visitors.

Visitors can expect a range of events over the course of the next year, occasions that blend nostalgia and expectation, the former of which is likely to arouse “blast from the past” recollections and the latter of which is created by a showcase of events that only a premier hotel like EQ can put together.

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Equatorial Plaza Awarded with Green Building Index Gold Certification

Equatorial Plaza is the first hotel in Kuala Lumpur to earn the prestigious Green Building Index (GBI) Gold certification. GBI evaluates projects based on six criteria: innovation, materials & resources management, indoor environmental quality, sustainable site planning & management.

“From the outset, this building was designed to be extremely energy-efficient: some of the features incorporated into its design are truly innovative and reflect the care and consideration that went into the early design development. With the GBI Gold certification for Equatorial Plaza, it meets or exceeds most requirements for modern office space. It also means that the EQ is currently the only 5-star hotel rated as such.”

Mr. Donald Lim, Chief Executive Officer of the Hotel Equatorial Group

High levels of passive and active design elements are present in the striking skyscraper, including a highly effective chiller plant, effective lighting system, waste heat recovery system, wastewater treatment system, rainwater harvesting, and sustainable building materials. The structure uses 55% less energy than the benchmark, resulting in an annual carbon emissions reduction of 6.5 million KgCO2e, or the equivalent of growing 300,000 trees.

The building’s long axis is oriented east-west to maximize natural light and reduce solar heat gain from direct sunlight.

An energy-efficient chiller plant system, lighting, and generative elevators are all part of the building’s architecture. Utilizing three-tick WELS-rated fittings, rainwater collection, and grey water treatment for reuse, the development simultaneously cuts water use by over 50%. It is significant that the comfort of hotel visitors and workplace tenants was not jeopardized in the name of energy conservation.

Its efforts to lessen its carbon footprint included employing materials with a 30% recycled content and using materials with a 75% recycling rate for building trash.

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Photos courtesy of Hotel Equatorial (M) Sdn. Bhd.