Hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

When you think of it, the essence of a truly excellent, world-class hotel is not its footprint or its food, its staff or services. It's its culture. And when that culture is masterfully attuned to the needs of high-pressured, overtaxed individuals, all else rightly pales in comparison. Singularly, among the 200 hotels I've frequented in world travels over 15 years, the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur stands far above the rest. For two reasons: Richard Johnson and Pierre Barthes, its resident and general managers. Indeed, it's not the hotel's dramatic entrance or the poolside massages and bottomless watermelon juice by the palatial borderless swimming pool which artistically frames the city as the nightly call to prayer echoes over the minarets in the twilight. It's not the magnificent renovations or excellent fare. It's not the 500 sq foot breakfast buffet of 6 international cuisines which will daily introduce you to tastes you've never before experienced. It's not the walking proximity to the city gardens or the Petronas Towers or the world famous flea market. Rather - it's the attention to detail and a culture meticulously constructed by caring, professional, and committed management. On a recent business trip to KL, I had a difficult stay. Cultural disparities heightened frustration already exacerbated by professional disappointments, 35 hours travel, and back-to-back-international-trip-compounded jetlag. Yet Mr. Johnson and Mr. Barthes could not have been more accommodating - generously and graciously anticipating and serving every need as they both brilliantly deciphered them. When I was having difficulty with a business luncheon for example, Mr. Johnson mysteriously appeared and facilitate the conversation. When I was having difficulty translating services to the excellent spa staff, he again mysteriously appeared to expedite my transaction. When I was entertaining potential clients, he mysteriously appeared to welcome them, treat us to dessert and, in general continue to support my endeavors. All of this: in addition to a wealth of personal kindnesses shown a young professional half a world from home for which I'll forever remain personally-indebted and chain-loyal. So yes, the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur is far more than you would expect even of any Mandarin Oriental in terms of a physical hotel, but it is its management which renders it superlative: singularly the "best" of the 200 "worlds-best" I've ever known. Thanks to the culture created and lovingly maintained by these two "world's best" professionals, every guest is - truly - treated as if they were Prime Minister. The reliability of that welcome and the unparalleled nature of their dedication to complete guest satisfaction - as anyone who's traveled extensively knows - is priceless. Indeed, the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur is not a hotel, it's an experience. . . one which will leave you forever changed for the better. Enriched, will your memories forever remain by its own particular definition of luxury. So if you find yourself within any proximity at all, I couldn't more highly recommend a stay. You'll never meet a more reliably priceless experience, and you'll never find a better hotel.