Minor Hotel Group announces development of Anantara Desaru Resort in Malaysia

Minor Hotel Group has announced additional details of its joint venture with Malaysian partner, Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels Sdn. Bhd. (TAR&H), a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, to develop an Anantara resort in Desaru Coast in south-east Malaysia. MHG's shareholding of the 242 million MYR (USD 58 million) project is 60%, with TAR&H holding 40%.

Scheduled to open in 2018, the new-build Anantara Desaru Resort & Villas will be located in the heart of the new beachfront development in Desaru Coast and will have 123 keys comprising a 103-room resort with deluxe guest rooms and villas and 20 three- and four-bedroom Villas. Facilities in the resort will include restaurants and bars, two swimming pools, a lounge and observation bar, kids and teens clubs, meeting rooms, a gym and an Anantara Spa. Watersports will also be available.

Desaru Coast is a resort area located at Malaysia's south-eastern tip in Johor Bahru and spans over 3,900 acres along a pristine 17 kilometre beachfront facing the South China Sea. It is in close proximity to Iskandar Malaysia and is easily accessible, 45-minutes from Senai International Airport and a two-hour drive from Singapore. Additionally visitors from Singapore can travel to Desaru Coast by ferry followed by a short drive.

Attractions in the area will include two championship golf courses (27-hole Ernie Els and 18-hole Vijay Singh designed) managed by Troon Golf, a water adventure park, a waterfront retail village, a conference centre and additional world class hotels and resorts. The area is well-supported by existing and upcoming transportation and infrastructure.

William E. Heinecke, Chairman and CEO of Minor International, commented, "Following our initial announcement earlier in the year of this collaboration with our Malaysian partners, we are excited to now move to the next stage of this project to bring our luxury Anantara brand to Desaru Coast. We believe Malaysia has a vast potential for growth in the tourism sector and we look forward to working with TAR&H for many years to come."

Dillip Rajakarier, Group COO of Minor International and CEO of Minor Hotel Group, added, "The development of Anantara Desaru Resort & Villas, in partnership with TAR&H, represents MHG's first investment in Malaysia and we are confident that the new property will showcase the best that Anantara and Malaysia have to offer."

Tunku Dato' Ahmad Burhanuddin, Group Managing Director of Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels, added, "Desaru Coast has been conceptualised as the gateway to this premier luxury destination, with impressively expansive property such as Anantara Desaru Resort & Villas planned with picturesque architecture overlooking the South China Sea. This collaboration is set to catapult Malaysia into the global tourism market while ambitiously honing its position within the luxury segment."