KUALA LUMPUR, 16 October 2026 – Malaysian hospitality group Ormond Group is continuing its expansion with the announcement of a 396-key beachfront resort on Johor’s Desaru Coast.
As the second new addition under the Ormond Hotels brand, the resort marks a significant milestone in the group’s growth and its first venture into resort-style hospitality.
Over the years, Ormond Group has steadily built a diverse portfolio of hospitality concepts, including The Chow Kit – an Ormond Hotel, MoMo’s and Tune Hotels. This year, the group added Ormond Sandakan and the management of The RuMa Hotel to its portfolio.
Each represents a different expression of hospitality, reflecting the group’s ambition to cater to a wider range of travellers and occasions, from accessible stays to more elevated, design-led experiences.
Desaru Coast represents more than just a new destination in the group’s portfolio. It signals the evolution of Ormond Hotels as a brand, extending its philosophy of simplified luxury beyond urban settings and into a family-friendly resort environment.
“This is another important milestone for Ormond Hotels as we continue to grow the brand and bring our approach to hospitality to more destinations,” said Navin Singh, CEO of Ormond Group, at the recent groundbreaking event for the Desaru Coast property.
“Our ambition is to build a portfolio that offers something distinctive across different travel occasions and price points, from the economy tier through to luxury. As a homegrown Malaysian hospitality group, we believe there is a real opportunity to bring an Asian perspective to the forefront of the industry, with experiences shaped by thoughtful design, genuine hospitality and a strong sense of place. Our hotel in Desaru Coast is an exciting next step in that journey.”
In an industry shaped by established international hotel groups, Ormond Group is building its presence through a portfolio of brands with distinct identities and a perspective rooted in the region.
Its approach places design, local character and the guest experience at the heart of its hospitality offering, while allowing each property and brand to respond to its own destination and audience.
Bringing Simplified Luxury to Desaru Coast
Ormond’s guiding philosophy, “everything you need, nothing you don’t”, takes shape in a beachfront setting designed for families of all ages.
The resort combines bold tropical modernism with a landscape-first approach, balancing thoughtful design with nature, barefoot comfort and a relaxed coastal atmosphere. This approach will also extend to its indoor and outdoor kids’ clubs.
Designed by award-winning design firms Post Company and HL Design Group, alongside Philippe Villeroux, the resort features rational, sculptural buildings set within dense tropical greenery.
Rather than relying heavily on conventional signage, colour will help guide guests through the property, while nature-led design principles aim to encourage natural ventilation and create a closer connection between the built environment and its surroundings.
Food and beverage experiences at Ormond Desaru Coast will draw inspiration from Malaysian and international culinary traditions, with the group’s signature Malaysian restaurant bringing together dishes inspired by recipes passed down through generations.
At Desaru, the menu will feature a wider selection of seafood dishes that reflect its coastal setting.
The all-day dining restaurant will be arranged around a garden courtyard, featuring a mix of family tables, bar seating and outdoor terraces. It will serve buffet breakfast and dinner, while an open-air beach bar beside the main pool will offer drinks, light bites and à la carte lunch in a relaxed seaside setting.
The hotel will also be well equipped to host a diverse range of events and meetings, with versatile MICE facilities, including a ballroom with a capacity of 300 guests, meeting rooms and a selection of indoor and outdoor event spaces.
The hotel's opening will also build on Desaru Coast’s established position as a leisure destination in Johor.
Developed as an integrated resort destination, Desaru Coast brings together international hotels and resorts, championship golf courses and waterfront lifestyle attractions.
With its beachfront setting and range of family-friendly activities, Desaru Coast offers an ideal location for Ormond Hotels to extend its philosophy of simplified luxury into resort-style hospitality.
Ormond Desaru marks the next stage in Ormond Hotels’ expansion, taking the brand into a new hospitality setting while building on the group’s wider ambition: to create distinctive experiences that combine thoughtful design, local character and a contemporary Asian perspective on hospitality.
