IHG Hotels & Resorts has broken ground on the new InterContinental Sabah Kota Kinabalu Resort.
The 450-room beachfront resort, located in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah state in northern Borneo, is slated to open in 2027.
InterContinental Sabah Kota Kinabalu Resort aims to adopt environmentally friendly practices throughout its design, construction and operations, with all rooms, suites and villas offering a strong “back-to-nature” theme steeped in Borneo culture.
Located just a 25-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu International airport, InterContinental Sabah Kota Kinabalu Resort will feature four restaurants and bars, 2,400 square metres of meeting space including 11 meeting rooms, a fitness centre, spa, kids club, three outdoor pools, and the brand’s signature Club InterContinental Lounge.
The resort will also offer activities that encourage guests to gain a deeper appreciation of nature and wildlife, including island hopping, snorkelling, forest walks, mangrove kayaking expeditions, and firefly and proboscis monkey cruises.
IHG currently has seven hotels across three brands – InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express – in Malaysia.
This is set to grow to 18 properties across six brands within the next five years as the group will introduce Regent Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Indigo to the Malaysian market.
“Kota Kinabalu is one of the leading leisure destinations in Malaysia and an eco-tourism hub renowned for its nature-based attractions and rich cultural heritage. InterContinental Sabah Kota Kinabalu Resort will quickly become a ‘must-visit’ destination, sensitively situated and sustainably operated in alignment with IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow 10-year responsible business plan,” said Rajit Sukumaran, managing director, Southeast Asia and Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts.
