AVANI Hotels and Resorts (www.avanihotels.com) continues to expand the brand presence in Asia with an agreement with KTI Property Sdn. Bhd. to manage an AVANI hotel in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, Malaysia.

Kota Kinabalu, better known as “KK” among locals, is the vibrant capital of Malaysia's Sabah state, blending old world charm with a cosmopolitan multi-ethnicity. This unique mix of cultures resonates in KK's sights, sounds, and, of course, flavors. KK boasts beautiful landscapes such as the highest peak in Southeast Asia – Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as Kinabalu National Park that shelters such diverse native flora and fauna as the orangutan and sun bear. The coastal city is also a popular destination for some of the world’s best island-hopping with nearby Manukan Island, Mamutik Island, Gaya Island, Sulug Island, and Sapi Island.

Scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2021, the newly built AVANI Kota Kinabalu Hotel will be just a 20-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, one of the busiest airports in Malaysia with international flights from Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, as well as China. As part of a mixed use development with retail, office, and condominium complex, guests will find a wide range of dining and entertainment options just steps away in the heart of Sabah’s capital on Jalan Lintas.

AVANI Kota Kinabalu will open with 378 new keys ready to welcome business and leisure travellers with trademark AVANI sleep satisfaction, contemporary living spaces, and Honest Food. The hotel will feature an all-day dining restaurant and a rooftop pool & bar, as well as 855 square meters of meeting space, perfect for conferences or social functions.

Alejandro Bernabé, Vice President of Operations for AVANI Hotels & Resorts, said "we are excited to expand our Malaysia portfolio with this second property, and especially to have it in Kota Kinabalu. KK is a well-known business and leisure destination, and AVANI Kota Kinabalu Hotel will put guests in the centre of everything.”

AVANI currently operates 23 hotels and resorts in 15 countries, including one in Malaysia. The brand recently debuted in Australia, New Zealand, and Laos. AVANI currently has 13 new hotels in the pipeline, including the latest signing in Melbourne, Dubai, and a third AVANI property in Bangkok. — SG