IHG Hotels & Resorts is expanding its presence across Southeast Asia with two new hotel signings in Malaysia and Thailand, bringing voco to Muar and Kimpton to Phang Nga.
At a Glance
- voco Muar: 107 rooms, opening later in 2026
- Kimpton Phang-Nga Natai Beach: 150 rooms, suites and villas, opening in 2028
- Locations: Muar, Johor, Malaysia and Natai Beach, Phang Nga, Thailand
- Brands: voco and Kimpton
- Partners: KCC Hotel (Muar) Sdn Bhd and Natai Venture Co., Ltd.
- Regional strategy: Expansion into emerging leisure and business destinations across Southeast Asia
IHG targets emerging Southeast Asian destinations
IHG Hotels & Resorts is strengthening its Southeast Asia portfolio with two new hotel signings in Malaysia and Thailand, expanding its presence into Muar in Johor and Natai Beach in Phang Nga.
The latest developments will introduce voco Muar, IHG’s first hotel in the riverside town, and Kimpton Phang-Nga Natai Beach, a new-build beachfront resort that will mark Kimpton’s debut in Phang Nga.
Together, the signings highlight IHG’s strategy of expanding beyond established gateway cities and into emerging destinations with growing leisure and business travel demand.
voco Muar to open later this year
In Malaysia, IHG has signed voco Muar in partnership with KCC Hotel (Muar) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Malaysian real estate developer KCC Holdings Group.
Located within KCC City Business Park, the 107-room hotel is already in advanced stages of construction, with interior design works underway. It is scheduled to open later in 2026 and will become the first international-branded hotel in Muar.
The hotel is designed to serve both leisure and business travellers. Muar is known for its cultural heritage, historical landmarks, riverside setting and local cuisine. At the same time, the town is one of Malaysia’s key manufacturing hubs, supporting demand from domestic and regional business travellers.
The property will feature a selection of food and beverage outlets, function and meeting spaces, an infinity pool, gym and grand ballroom. It will also be positioned as a premium lifestyle destination, approximately 40 minutes by car from Malacca.
Voco Muar marks IHG’s continued expansion into Malaysia’s secondary and tertiary markets, following the company’s growing presence in destinations including Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Penang and Kuantan.
Vivek Bhalla, Managing Director, South East Asia & Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said:
“The signing of voco Muar marks an important step in our strategy to expand into Malaysia’s high-growth secondary and tertiary markets. As travel demand continues to broaden beyond primary gateway cities, we see strong opportunity in destinations such as Muar where a rich cultural heritage, growing economic activity and leisure attractions come together to create a vibrant destination.”
He added that voco’s combination of individual character, premium positioning and broad guest appeal makes the brand well suited to Muar.
Mr. Ker Soon Yong, Executive Director, KCC Hotel (Muar) Sdn Bhd, commented:
“We are proud to partner with IHG to introduce voco Muar, the first international-branded hotel in the town. Located within our KCC City Business Park, it will play an important role in elevating the local hospitality offering and supporting both business and leisure travel.”
He said the partnership would combine IHG’s international hospitality expertise with voco’s emphasis on warmth, individuality and local character.
Kimpton to make Phang Nga debut
Meanwhile, in Thailand, IHG has signed Kimpton Phang-Nga Natai Beach, a 150-key beachfront resort being developed in partnership with Natai Venture Co., Ltd.
Scheduled to open in 2028, the new resort will introduce the Kimpton brand to Phang Nga, one of Thailand’s emerging coastal destinations.
The signing strengthens IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio in southern Thailand, building on Kimpton Kitalay Samui and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. It also adds to the brand’s pipeline across the country, with future Kimpton properties planned for destinations including Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin, Khao Yai and Pattaya.
Pathana Jitsaereetham, Director, Development, Thailand, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said:
“We are delighted to bring Kimpton to Natai Beach and expand our luxury and lifestyle portfolio in Thailand, offering travellers greater choice across some of the country’s most sought-after destinations.”
She added that the signing represents an important milestone for IHG’s growth strategy in Phang Nga, supported by infrastructure investment and improving connectivity.
A beachfront resort shaped by Natai Beach
Kimpton Phang-Nga Natai Beach will comprise 150 guestrooms, suites and villas set among lush tropical landscapes.
The resort will offer a range of lifestyle-focused facilities, including all-day dining, beach and lobby bars, a spa, swimming pools, fitness centre, kids’ club and flexible function spaces.
Located directly on Natai Beach, the resort is approximately 20 minutes from Phuket International Airport, giving it convenient access to one of Thailand’s major tourism gateways.
Longer term, the planned Andaman International Airport, targeted to open in 2032, is expected to further improve connectivity to Phang Nga and support the province’s tourism development.
With direct access to the coastline, Kimpton Phang-Nga Natai Beach will combine design-led experiences with a strong sense of place. The resort is intended to reflect the natural surroundings and relaxed character of Natai Beach while creating a new lifestyle and dining destination for both visitors and the local community.
Naphat Boontanonda, Director, Natai Venture Co., Ltd., said:
“Phang Nga is renowned for its breathtaking natural landscapes, from pristine beaches and dramatic limestone formations to its tranquil coastal setting. Travellers increasingly seek authentic experiences combined with a growing appetite for lifestyle experiences, we believe Natai Beach is exceptionally well-positioned to meet this demand.”
Titiwat Kuvijitsuwan, Director of Natai Venture Co., Ltd. and CEO of Capstone Asset, the shareholder and development partner of Kimpton Phang-Nga Natai Beach, said:
“We look forward to working closely with the IHG team to create a world-class lifestyle resort that showcases the best of Phang Nga, while introducing a compelling social and dining destination for both visitors and the local community.”
Capstone Asset is a Thai real estate and hospitality developer whose portfolio includes Kimpton Kitalay Samui, the first Kimpton resort in Asia.
IHG continues Southeast Asia expansion
The two signings add momentum to IHG’s broader expansion across Southeast Asia.
In Malaysia, IHG currently has 13 open hotels and eight properties in the pipeline, with the upcoming debut of Regent and Vignette Collection also set to expand its brand presence in the country. Voco Muar will become IHG’s second voco hotel in Malaysia, following the opening of voco Kuching in June 2026.
Globally, voco has reached 137 open hotels, with recent regional additions including voco Bangkok Surawong, voco Bandung Setiabudi and voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang.
In Thailand, IHG currently operates 42 hotels across 11 brands, with another 39 properties in the pipeline. Kimpton Phang-Nga Natai Beach will be the second IHG resort signed in Phang Nga, following InterContinental Phang Nga Bay Resort.
The two new developments reflect IHG’s strategy of bringing its international brands to destinations where tourism infrastructure, connectivity and demand continue to develop. From the cultural and commercial appeal of Muar to the beachfront setting of Natai Beach, the latest signings broaden IHG’s reach across Southeast Asia while adding new options for both leisure and business travellers.
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