The five-star Hotel Equatorial Penang is expected to close on 31 March of this year.
In an internal circular to employees, General Manager Alan Ong said that the hotel directors had announced their closure due to the adverse business conditions caused by Covid-19.
He added that the last day of business to the public is yet to be decided, but it will be before March 31.
The hotel, which is about 30 years old, is located 250 feet above sea level in
the southwestern part of the island, near to the industrial zones and the Penang International Airport.
It is a convention resort with 413 guest rooms, catered primarily to business travellers, meetings, banquets and conventions. It has two large column-free ballrooms that can accommodate up to 2,600 people and 21 function rooms.
If the plan goes accordingly, it is sad news for all of us in the travel industry since we lost another 'gem'.