C. Khor
New hotels in Penang are lining up, and more rooms are on the way. Around 10 hotels are under construction and 11 more have approval, according to The Edge.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said several new hotels are in the pipeline. He named JdV by Hyatt, The Westin Penang, InterContinental Penang Resort and Le Méridien Penang Airport.
Another opening, also in December, is the Courtyard by Marriott at Icon City.
Here is what opens soon, what is still to come and what it means for travellers. Overall, the pipeline is big.
New hotels in Penang opening soon
InterContinental Penang Resort is due in December 2026 in Teluk Bahang. It is the former Mutiara Beach Resort, rebranded under IHG. The resort will have 348 rooms and suites, and it is billed as the brand’s first resort in Malaysia.
Dining includes Peranakan, Italian, Nikkei and oceanfront restaurants. In addition, the resort plans Gemala Spa, a Grand Ballroom and a kids’ club. Further details on reservations will come later, the release says.
Later, Hotel Equatorial Penang in Bukit Jambul is expected to reopen in 2027. It has been closed since 2021 and is being renovated. All 412 rooms are being upgraded. As a result, the plan adds family suites and a spa.
Still, Wong said the Equatorial should reopen next year. However, no month has been given.
The Light City hotels
JdV by Hyatt and Galaxy Minyoun Penang The Light City Hotel will sit inside a 34-storey mixed-use development. The same project holds the Waterfront Shoppes, which soft-opened on 29 October.
Among them, JdV by Hyatt is a five-star boutique hotel with 156 rooms over six floors. It marks the brand’s debut in Penang and Malaysia.
By contrast, Galaxy Minyoun is a four-star hotel with 303 rooms over nine floors. It is the Chinese brand’s first hotel in Southeast Asia.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow welcomed the deal when it was signed in August 2024. He said he hoped more such brands would follow. He also called The Light City key to making Penang a top MICE destination. It should bring jobs in hospitality, retail and technology. So far, the hotels’ opening dates have not been confirmed.
What else is coming, and the market
The Westin Penang on Gurney Drive plans 217 rooms and a ballroom for 1,000 guests. It was expected to open in 2026, though its status is unclear. Our earlier report covered the Westin brand’s Penang plans.
Le Méridien Penang Airport in Bayan Lepas, for its part, plans 200 rooms and 608 serviced apartments. It was also pencilled in for 2026, but no update has surfaced yet. An Ascott project in Batu Ferringhi is expected around 2028. Capri by Fraser on Magazine Road has also been listed as a new entrant.
Meanwhile, the market is shifting fast. About 13 hotels opened between August 2023 and 2025, adding more than 2,300 rooms. For example, recent additions include the Penang Marriott Hotel along Gurney Drive.
At the same time, the four-star Cititel Penang in George Town was put up for sale at RM163 million. It has 451 rooms on three freehold lots of nearly one acre, and expressions of interest closed on 30 September.
On quality, the picture is rising too. Fifteen Penang hotels have been recognised in the Michelin Guide Hotel Selection. Soori Penang and Cheong Fatt Tze-The Qing Suites each earned a Michelin Key.
In short, new hotels in Penang are arriving at pace. Still, travellers should check each opening date before booking.
CJMY
Sashidaran Gunathevan
Add comment