Lest you’re unaware, the Covid-19 epidemic has proven to be the bane of many a business. Whether it’s fashion retail outlets, eateries or fast-food chains… you name it, the pandemic probably got them.
And it seems that across the causeway, a long-serving hotel is meeting the same fate.
The Puteri Pacific Hotel, an establishment that has been serving the people of JB for a good old 29 years…
Will be closing its doors for good on 30 August 2020.
Which will surely come as a rude shock to its usual patrons, considering how it was still well-oiled and functional prior to the outbreak.
JB Hotel Closing Permanently On 30 Aug 2020 After What’s Supposed To Be A Temporary Closure
Previously known as The Puteri Pan Pacific, the four-star hotel boasted 500 rooms, and is located a short distance away from the Johor Bahru City Square mall.
It’s also just a sky bridge away from the only convention centre in Johor Bahru, Persada Johor International Convention Centre.
The hotel was previously owned by Pan Pacific Hotels until 2005 before it was taken over by Puteri Hotels Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Johor Corporation (JCorp).
According to a spokesperson for The Puteri Pan Pacific, the hotel had initially stopped operations on a temporary basis, in compliance with the Movement Control Order (MCO) that was effected at that time.
However, the management eventually decided to shut down the hotel in its entirety.
Apparently, the doors leading to the hotel lobby have already been locked and cordoned off. A notice, which pertains to the then-temporary closure of the hotel, was still up.
Closing Ceremony
In an image that has been circulating on social media, it was revealed that the hotel will be organising a closing ceremony from 4 pm to 5 pm on 30 August.
All current and ex-employees are invited to turn up for the event.
However, it seems that the notion is not possible given the current circumstances.
According to a Facebook post from a page operated by ex-employees, the aforementioned invitation was met with an overwhelming response…
Which meant that the organisers would not be able to accommodate everyone while following social gathering rules.
As such, the event is reported to have been cancelled, which must have come as a real bummer to those keen on celebrating the hotel’s last moments in earnest.
With that said, we hope that the epidemic will ease up on financial tensions in due time and that other businesses will be able to pull through this crisis.
It may be tough, but as long as it’s not entirely impossible…
