KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) is seeking more collaboration opportunities with the hotel industry to expand its hospitality entertainment solution (HES).
"We are in talks with a few hotels to provide them with the solution, and same as before, we will start with one hotel and further expand it to all the hotel chain under the group," TM executive vice president for SME, Azizi A Hadi told reporters after signing a collaborative agreement with Accor Hotels here today.
Azizi said to date, there are about 40 hotels using the HES, which features information and entertainment package, in-building broadband solution, TM's IPTV service, HyppTV and call centre service, powered by its high-speed broadband network connectivity.
On the collaborative agreement, TM is expected to provide the solution for 10 hotels under Accor Hotels in Malaysia.
The partnership will also focus on mutual benefit cooperation of products and services, loyalty programmes, corporate collaborations, joint marketing and promotions, earned media values as well as additional benefits for both parties' employees.
"Novotel Hotel in Kota Kinabalu is the pilot project for TM and Accor and we are keen to continue the partnership as there is no specific time frame for the collaboration.
"We view the collaboration as beneficial for both parties and shall grow the partnership," Azizi said.
Commenting on monetary benefit, he said the outcome of the collaboration was at a premature state and the leading integrated information and communications group would need to review the take-up rate to determine the effect on the group.
At the same event, Accor Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore chief operating officer Gerard Guillouet said the group was expected to operate about 20 hotels in Malaysia by 2016.
"We have opened nine hotels so far, and 16 more hotels are still under construction," he said.
Asked on total investment, Guillouet said that the group acted as a hotel operator and was not involved in real estate investment.
"We are only involved in the web platform, which provide customers a better experience as it is available in 18 languages. As for real estate investment, it is handled by the local partners," he said, adding that the group was also keen to explore Johor as a potential hotel location.-- Bernama