Amirull Salihing
Thistle Johor Bahru is being turned into JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru. Its new owner, YTL Hotels, plans to open it on 1 December 2026. The site stands near the Johor Bahru CIQ checkpoint and the Bukit Chagar RTS station.
YTL Hotels bought the property from GuocoLand for RM150 million, according to The Edge. The sale completed on 1 December 2025, and renovation began the next day. The site covers 1.9 hectares at Jalan Sungai Chat and Jalan Lingkaran Dalam.
Overall, here is what changes, what guests will get and what is still unconfirmed.
From Thistle to JW Marriott
The hotel dates back to 1994, according to a Malay-language hotel blog. It opened as Hyatt Regency Johor Bahru and became the Thistle in 2009.
The same blog says it closed on 30 September 2025 after more than 30 years.
Meanwhile, the number of rooms will rise from 381 to 410, based on The Edge’s report. Even so, it will be only the second JW Marriott in Malaysia. The first is in Kuala Lumpur.
Therefore, Thistle Johor Bahru is a conversion of an existing hotel, not a new building. Reports say the building is still being renovated.
What guests will get at JW Marriot
Rooms will have panoramic views, and there will be an Executive Lounge. The hotel will also have an outdoor pool and a fitness centre. In addition, guests can use a tennis court and three pickleball courts.
The spa has five treatment rooms and hydrothermal features. Families get a Kids’ Club and the JW Garden, according to one guide.
Dining will cover an all-day restaurant, a bakery and coffee kiosk, a Chinese restaurant and a smokehouse. There will also be a Lobby Lounge. Moreover, the bakery and coffee kiosk suits quick stops before a border crossing.
For events, the hotel offers 2,517 sq m of space. That includes a 900 sq m grand ballroom, a 600 sq m junior ballroom and 16 meeting rooms.
Hotel dining and event space
The 1 December date comes from remarks made in December 2025. YTL Hotels executive director Dato’ Mark Yeoh Seok Kah said then that work started the day after the sale closed.
Marriott International Asia Pacific (excluding China) president Rajeev Menon called it a strategic expansion in Malaysia, the press release says.
However, no room rates or booking dates have been published.
Therefore, travellers should wait for a confirmed announcement before they plan a stay.
Why the location matters
The hotel is minutes from the CIQ complex and the Bukit Chagar RTS station. In addition, Senai airport is a short drive away. Mid Valley Southkey and LEGOLAND Malaysia are 10 to 20 minutes by car.
Meanwhile, the RTS Link is now slated to start in February 2027. The link will join Bukit Chagar to Woodlands North in about five minutes.
Singapore’s transport authority says it can carry 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction. So the hotel may open before the rail link does.
Johor Bahru is also adding hotels and malls near the border. For instance, a 200-room Hyatt Place was announced for the city. Likewise, SKS City Mall JBCC sits minutes from the checkpoint.
In short, the old Thistle is set to return as a JW Marriott for Singapore day-trippers, business travellers and families. As a result, the opening date and rates will matter more than the plans.
C. Khor
Sashidaran Gunathevan
Yalinie Mathan
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