Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is entering the Malaysian luxury hospitality sector with the debut of the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas property, scheduled to open on 1 December 2019. Desaru Coast, Malaysia’s rising-star luxury resort destination, is located at the country’s south-eastern tip in Johor Bahru and spans over 16 square kilometres along a pristine 17-kilometre beachfront facing the South China Sea.  It is near Iskandar Malaysia and is easily accessible via a 45-minute drive from Malaysia’s Senai International Airport (JHB) and a two-hour drive from Singapore. Additionally, visitors from Singapore can travel to Desaru Coast by ferry, followed by a short drive. 

The new-build Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is located on the golden Malaysian shores of the new high-end resort development and offers a range of luxury accommodation nestled in lush tropical gardens.  The resort has 123 keys comprising 90 deluxe guest rooms in low-rise buildings that overlook the gardens, lagoon and ocean; thirteen stand-alone luxury one- and two-bedroom pool villas; and 20 expansive three- and four-bedroom residences that offer guests utmost privacy with an infinity pool, full kitchen and chef and butler service. 

Designed by Singapore architect firm WOW Architects & Warner Wong Design and interiors by Environment Design Consultants from Malaysia, the resort’s architectural design resembles traditional Malay buildings and is adorned with indigenous materials and fabrics such as woven textiles; renowned Malaysian wicker elements; and silhouettes of traditional Malay crafts.  The luxurious pool villas are located around a lagoon and their design draws heavily from a traditional kampong house that is designed to suit the tropical Malaysian climate with floor-to-ceiling windows; slanted carved wooden panels; louvres and vents under the roof; and wide-open doors that allow natural airflow to cool the interior.

Facilities at the resort include Sea.Fire.Salt, a specialty grill and seafood restaurant with alfresco courtyard and beachside dining; an all-day dining restaurant offering local Malay, Asian and international fare; an observatory bar overlooking the lush resort and ocean; an infinity beach pool bar; and Dining By Design, Anantara’s signature private dining experience in exotic locales. Two swimming pools offer refreshing freshwater alternatives to the azure ocean, while kids and teenagers alike can laze the day away playing the latest high-tech games or partake in cross-cultural educational activities in separate dedicated clubs.  A signature Anantara Spa and well-appointed health and fitness centre offer wellness fanatics and adrenaline junkies a welcome respite to relax or reinvigorate, and a conference centre complete with a mid-sized ballroom and meeting rooms offers the perfect business milieu in a luxury destination.

Attractions in the area include The Els Club Desaru Coast that comprises two beautifully manicured golf courses that feature 45 holes in total: Ocean Course, a 27-hole golf course designed by four-time major champion, Ernie Els; and Valley Course, an 18-hole golf course designed in collaboration with another major champion, Vijay Singh.  Additionally, an adventure waterpark; a waterfront retail village; a conference centre; and other world class hotels and resorts make Desaru Coast a premium integrated destination resort and one of Malaysia’s most anticipated new tourism developments. Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas’ first venture into Malaysia, is a joint venture between the Bangkok-based international hotel group and its Malaysian partner, Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels Sdn. Bhd. (TAR&H), a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

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