Thailand-based, ONYX Hospitality Group has been appointed to operate a 207-room property in the Malaysian town of Johor Bahru. Amari Johor Bahru is owned by Exquisite Mode Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of United Malayan Land Bhd) and will be managed by ONYX under their upscale Amari brand. The property will offer a selection of Amari's signature features including an Asian Food Gallery, Breeze Spa and Idea (meeting) Rooms. The property is scheduled to open in 2015 and is part of the Suasana Iskandar Malaysia development, which also offers serviced apartments for sale and a retail podium. The development is within a 5-minute walk of the upcoming JB Sentral Mass Rapid Transit System (MRT) which will link Johor Bahru and Singapore.

Located in southern Malaysia, Johor Bahru is becoming a popular weekend escape for families and leisure travellers. Singapore is currently Johor's top source of international arrivals, followed by Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines and India. Johor's Department of Tourism is aiming for 24.2 million arrivals in 2013, having recorded 12.6 million as of July. The state of Johor offers a number of popular attractions, including Johor Premium Outlets, Legoland Malaysia, Danga World theme park and the Angry Birds Activity Park.

ONYX President and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Henley, said: "We are very excited to be in a position to announce our second hotel development in Malaysia, so soon after the first. 
As a Thai company, having a presence in one of our closest neighbouring countries has always been a priority for us. We are excited
to be joining forces with Exquisite Mode Sdn Bhd. and bringing the first Amari to Malaysia with Amari Johor Bahru. Amari has 
become a household name in Thailand and we look forward to building that level of brand recognition in Malaysia." 

UMLand GCEO, Mr. Charlie Chia Lui Meng said: "We are honoured to have ONYX Hospitality Group on board to manage and operate Amari Johor Bahru. With its solid 
reputation and global marketing network, we strongly believe that the collaboration with ONYX will be a win-win for 
all parties. The development's prime location in the heart of the city, combined with the retail component, is hoped to
rejuvenate and revitalise Johor Bahru, preparing the city for economic growth, whilst also offering an attractive and conducive
living environment for locals and expatriates."

ONYX announced their first property in Malaysia earlier this year for select service brand OZO. OZO Penang is scheduled to welcome its first guests in 2016. There are currently six OZO properties under development in Malaysia, Thailand and Sri  Lanka.

About ONYX

ONYX Hospitality Group operates four diverse yet complementary brands – Saffron, Amari, Shama and OZO - each catering to the distinctive requirements of today's business and leisure travellers. The group reaches beyond its Thai roots to offer innovative management solutions across the Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf and Asia-Pacific regions. Visit www.onyx-hospitality.com.

Hannah Filer
Director, Communications
Onyx