Thailand’s ONYX Hospitality Group has signed agreements with SP Setia Berhad, Malaysia’s leading property developer, to launch two new Amari hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Amari Kuala Lumpur will be developed as part of KL Eco City in the capital’s Mid Valley district, whilst Amari Penang will offer direct connectivity to the Setia SPICE Convention Centre. Amari Penang is scheduled to open in late 2020, with Amari Kuala Lumpur opening in early 2021.
Situated within the KL Eco City mixed-use landmark development, the 252-room Amari Kuala Lumpur will enjoy direct access to corporate office buildings, residential towers, a retail mall and integrated rail hub with inter-city and inter-state rail connections. Following completion, the 25-acre KL Eco City, master-planned by Los Angeles based architectural and urban design firm The Jerde Partnership, is also anticipated to be Malaysia’s first integrated mixed-use green development.
Meanwhile, Amari Penang will offer 453 rooms in a tower connected to Setia SPICE, the world’s first hybrid solar powered convention center. The complex also incorporates a 10,000-seat events arena, aquatic and sports center, and a lifestyle and retail village. Strategically located in the Bayan Lepas district of Penang island close to multinational corporate offices, Penang Golf Club, shopping malls, entertainment areas and places of interest, the hotel will appeal to both business and leisure travelers.
Both hotels will feature key Amari brand signatures including service from Amari Hosts, the street market-style Amaya Food Gallery, Cascade lounge, creative meetings facilities and generous indoor and outdoor space thoughtfully designed for sharing and informal gatherings. Other facilities include pools and terraces, as well as fully equipped fitness centers.
Douglas Martell, President and Chief Executive Officer, ONYX Hospitality Group, said: “In a market as dynamic as Malaysia, we are proud to establish a dual-property deal with world-renowned SP Setia to bring our flagship Amari experience to two premium locations in the gateway cities of Kuala Lumpur and Penang.”
“Since launching our first hotel in Malaysia with the opening of Amari Johor Bahru, we are continuing our commitment to this market with the upcoming opening of OZO and Shama properties in Iskandar, Johor, as well as an OZO hotel in Penang’s Georgetown. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with SP Setia for Amari Kuala Lumpur and Amari Penang, and to have three of our core ONYX brands present across some of the most popular business and leisure travel destinations in Peninsula Malaysia,” Martell added.
Dato’ Khor Chap Jen, President and Chief Executive Officer, SP Setia Berhad, said: “Setia has grown leaps and bounds in property development sector, and the need for having hotels is a natural progression for SP Setia Bhd Group as we grow from developing townships and expand into integrated developments. The Amari hotel in Kuala Lumpur will be developed as part of KL Eco City in the capital’s Mid Valley district, while the Amari hotel in Penang will offer direct connectivity to the Setia SPICE Convention Centre.”
“When we first started looking for a hotel operator, we knew we would engage with a brand that is not only well-positioned in the market but one that exudes class and quality. Originally from Thailand and expanding rapidly across Asia, Amari is a flagship brand of ONYX Hospitality Group with a rich and long-standing heritage of over 52 years, and we are confident that the brand will add value to our developments,” Dato’ Khor added.
The Amari brand by ONYX Hospitality Group celebrates the colours and rhythms of modern Asia, with each hotel in its portfolio highlighting the textures and flavours of its unique setting through architecture, design, cuisine and service complemented by subtle Thai touches.
The years 2017 and 2018 have been significant for the regional expansion of Amari, with the brand being launched in new locations including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, China and Laos. Amari Kuala Lumpur and Amari Penang will be the second and third Amari-branded hotels in Malaysia, and will complement Amari Johor Bahru which opened last year. The company has one hotel operating and five properties in the development pipeline in Malaysia.
Based in Bangkok, ONYX Hospitality Group has a growing regional portfolio of close to 50 operating properties across three core brands in eight countries. The Group has a robust development pipeline of close to 30 new properties in markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia, and has set a target of having 99 hotels open by 2024 as part of its journey towards being the best medium-sized hospitality player in the region.
