IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced its plans to open a new beachfront resort in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah in northern Borneo, Malaysia.

Scheduled to open in 2027, the new resort is being introduced by IHG in collaboration with Zhancheng Tourism Development, which is a Taipei real estate broker and a subsidiary of Sinyi Realty.

The new resort is located a 25-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, thereby providing easy connectivity to guests.

The InterContinental Sabah Kota Kinabalu resort is expected to have 450 rooms and will feature a “back-to-nature” theme across all its rooms, suites and villas.

It will feature a 600m-long beach along with four restaurants and bars.

Guests will also have access to 2,400m² of meeting space, comprising a total of 11 meeting rooms.

Other amenities at the resort include three outdoor pools, a spa, a fitness centre, a kids club, as well as IHG’s Club InterContinental Lounge.

IHG said that its beachfront resort will leverage environmentally friendly practices throughout its design, construction and operations.

The company will set specific targets across energy, water, landscape, materials and waste.

The resort will offer natural ventilation and shading, along with focusing on other sustainable practices, such as using recycled water from a rainwater filtration system.

IHG will also prioritise buying local goods and materials and promote the use of low-carbon materials from the local area as part of its sustainability-based initiatives.

Together, these efforts will support IHG’s 'Journey to Tomorrow' ten-year responsible business plan.

At the new resort, guests can also take part in various activities, such as snorkelling, forest walks and trails, mangrove kayaking expeditions, hopping and firefly and proboscis monkey cruises.

IHG Hotels & Resorts South East Asia and Korea managing director Rajit Sukumaran said: “This signing continues IHG’s expansion in Luxury & Lifestyle space in East Malaysia and throughout the country.”

Sukumaran added: “InterContinental Sabah Kota Kinabalu Resort will be our third hotel in Kota Kinabalu, together with Holiday Inn Express Kota Kinabalu City Centre and upcoming Crowne Plaza Kota Kinabalu Waterfront.”

Recently, IHG announced it was signing a deal to open its first Vignette Collection hotel in Doha, Qatar.