CHICAGO (October 26, 2022) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the opening of Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu, which marks the debut of Hyatt’s rapidly growing lifestyle brand in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. The 222-room hotel is centrally located in the heart of the city’s lively dining and entertainment district, providing a convenient homebase for adventurous explorers and local residents to discover authentic experiences and hidden gems in the coastal capital of Malaysia’s Sabah state on the island of Borneo.
“We are delighted to introduce Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu as Hyatt’s first Hyatt Centric hotel in Southeast Asia, setting a new milestone for our rapidly expanding lifestyle brand,” said David Udell, group president, Asia-Pacific, Hyatt. “Building on Hyatt’s brand presence in Malaysia for over 40 years, we are excited that this hotel will offer fresh experiences through this new launchpad from which savvy travelers can discover the natural beauty and local experiences around Kota Kinabalu and beyond.”
The 23-story hotel features modern guestrooms with balconies and is crowned with an infinity pool, duplex restaurant and bar on the rooftop, offering sweeping views overlooking Signal Hill, the islands at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and the South China Sea. Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu is steps away from shopping hotspots and the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal from which guests can take a short 20-minute boat trip to surrounding islands to enjoy white sandy beaches and underwater activities. The hotel is conveniently located for business travelers with its close proximity to Sabah International Convention Centre, a sports complex and a university. Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) is a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
Set against the lush backdrop of Signal Hill, the hotel’s contemporary, inviting architecture and interiors by globally renowned architect Kengo Kuma reflect the heritage of Sabah. The interior design is inspired by the majestic jungles of Borneo, with bamboo found in the lobby representing the vegetation in the forest floor while the greenery-accented rooftop creates the sense of being at the canopy overlooking the blue waters and verdant hills.
“Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu truly embraces the city’s flourishing cultural and culinary scenes, from our ON22 restaurant and ON23 rooftop bar serving traditional family recipes with a modern twist and locally inspired craft cocktails respectively, to guided tours of the colorful street art in the neighbourhood, led by our hotel team,” said Ruben Schrijver, general manager, Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu. “Our passionate Sabahan team is excited to share their local knowledge and tips on local, under-the-radar attractions, ensuring travelers and locals alike never miss a moment of adventure.”
Guestrooms
Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu features stylish guestrooms, including 16 spacious suites, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private balcony complete with outdoor furniture, overlooking the bustling city and lush green hills. Accessible via a digital key in the World of Hyatt mobile app, the guestrooms offer thoughtful amenities for leisure and business travelers – from oversized ergonomic workspaces and large 55” television where guests can stream their favorite media to a relaxing rain shower with Hyatt Centric hooded bathrobes and exclusive Beekind® socially conscious bath amenities to refresh after a day of exploration.
Food and Beverage
Together, ON22 restaurant and ON23 bar form the duplex dining destination, immersing guests in vibrant Asian flavors and creative beverages alongside mesmerizing views from day to night. Featuring indoor and outdoor patio seating, complete with a live kitchen, ON22’s ‘Dining in the Gardens’ theme features three distinct spaces: ‘Sea-Forest,’ framed with sweeping sights of the sea and the lush hills; ‘Wood Garden,’ where the décor and greenery is inspired by the tropical rainforest in Borneo; and ‘Dry Garden’ with its large boulders, stone floors and cinnamon-colored wooden panels, which pay tribute to Malaysia’s mighty Mount Kinabalu, with an exclusive section that can be used for intimate events.
Connecting ON22 restaurant to ON23 rooftop bar is a show-stopping curved centerpiece staircase leading guests to a light-filled ambiance with floor-to-ceiling windows where they can enjoy the lounge amid modern furnishings with wood finishes and granite. A perfect spot for sundown to take in the panoramic island sunset, ON23’s welcoming and fun atmosphere is ideal for after-work drinks as well as daytime relaxation where guests can choose from craft cocktails and ciders alongside shared plates and snacks.
Screened with bamboo and calming water from the street entrance, The Lounge in the lobby is an inviting social space for travelers and local guests to enjoy quick bites and beverages, and is home to a pop-up artisan corner as well. The two striking artworks on the wall reflect the local culture, art and points of interest in Sabah, adding a conversational piece to the communal space.
Leisure and Event Space
The showstopping double-edged infinity rooftop pool on level 23 offers an incredible site of the hills connecting to the sea. Guests who wish to keep up with their wellness routine on the road can also make use of the fitness center, which looks out to the nearby, energizing greenery.
The hotel features 3,154 square feet (293 square meters) of versatile function space with seven meeting rooms conveniently located on the third floor. Each meeting room comes with balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, high-spec audio visual equipment for in-person seminars as well as hybrid meetings and social events for up to 170 people.
Bookings for Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu are now open, with stays from October 20, 2022. For more information and full terms or to book a stay, please visit www.hyattcentrickotakinabalu.com or call +60154 874 1234.
World of Hyatt Gives Members 500 Reasons to Stay Somewhere New
To provide World of Hyatt members even more ways to be rewarded, World of Hyatt is offering members the opportunity to earn 500 Bonus Points for qualifying nights at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu, from October 20, 2022 to January 31, 2023, part of World of Hyatt’s new hotel member offer. Additional participating hotels and their offer stay periods can be found at worldofhyatt.com/newhotelbonus. No registration is required and members can earn on top of other offers.
Terms & Conditions
Offer valid for 500 Bonus Points for each qualifying night stayed by World of Hyatt members in good standing during a hotel’s offer period at participating hotels and resorts. Offer valid at participating hotels and resorts for stays with a checkout date during each hotel’s offer period. For each hotel’s offer period, visit worldofhyatt.com/newhotelbonus. To be eligible for this offer you must be a World of Hyatt member in good standing at time of reservation and stay, stay at a participating hotel with a checkout date during that hotel’s offer period, provide your World of Hyatt membership number at time of check-in, and either pay an Eligible Rate or redeem a free night award. An “Eligible Rate” and “Ineligible Rate” are defined in the World of Hyatt Terms and Conditions (located at worldofhyatt.com/terms). Only one point bonus may be earned per member, per stay, regardless of the number of rooms booked. Only the room occupied by the member will count toward this offer. Two or more consecutive nights at the same hotel will be deemed one stay. All points awarded under this offer are Bonus Points. This offer is subject to the complete terms and conditions of the World of Hyatt program. Please allow 3-4 weeks after travel is completed for World of Hyatt Bonus Points to be credited to your Account. To join World of Hyatt, visit world.hyatt.com. Qualifying nights will automatically be tracked when you provide your World of Hyatt membership number at check-in. A limited number of rooms are allocated to this offer; reservations subject to availability. Offer not valid with groups, conventions, other promotional offers, tour packages or special rate programs. Promotional blackout periods may apply due to seasonal periods or special events, and normal arrival/departure restrictions apply. Hyatt reserves the right to alter or withdraw this offer at any time without notice. The trademarks Hyatt®, World of Hyatt® and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its affiliates. © 2019 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.
For additional information, visit worldofhyatt.com/newhotelbonus
The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.
