KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 19 -- Long before Bukit Bintang became synonymous with mega malls, neon-lit nightlife and some of Kuala Lumpur's busiest streets, The Federal Kuala Lumpur was already welcoming travellers to the city.

Now, one of the capital's most storied hotels is welcoming them back.

The Federal Kuala Lumpur has reopened following a refurbishment, bringing 150 refreshed guestrooms and suites, renewed social spaces and a more contemporary feel to the Jalan Bukit Bintang landmark - while holding on to reminders of a history stretching back nearly seven decades.

Opened in August 1957, in time for Merdeka, The Federal occupies an unusual place in the story of modern Kuala Lumpur. Described by the hotel as Malaysia's first internationa...