IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) today announced the signing of voco Muar, marking the company’s debut in the Johor riverside town and introducing the first international‑branded hotel to the destination
Signed in partnership with KCC Hotel (Muar) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of reputable Malaysian real estate developer KCC Holdings Group, the 107‑room property is in advanced stages of construction, with interior design works underway, ahead of its opening later this year
Located within KCC City Business Park, which is owned and developed by KCC Holdings Group, voco Muar will appeal to leisure travellers drawn to the town’s rich cultural heritage, historical landmarks, scenic riverside and renowned local cuisine. As one of Malaysia’s key manufacturing hubs, Muar also benefits from strong domestic and regional business travel demand
Known for its individual charm and thoughtful design, voco hotels – IHG’s fastest‑growing premium brand – combines a premium stay experience with a warm, unstuffy and welcoming atmosphere, offering guests something refreshingly different while remaining anchored in trusted operational and brand standards
This distinctive positioning makes voco hotels a strong fit for IHG’s first‑mover strategy in Malaysia, with the signing of voco Muar reinforcing the company’s ambition to enter high‑potential markets – building on its growing presence in destinations such as Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Penang and Kuantan
Vivek Bhalla, Managing Director, South East Asia & Korea, IHG 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
“As our fastest‑growing premium brand, voco hotels is ideally suited to the market, combining individual charm with strong commercial performance and broad guest appeal. We’re delighted to partner with KCC Holdings to introduce voco Muar which will offer travellers a stay experience that is both thoughtful and distinctive when it opens later this year.”
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
We believe this is the right time to introduce a hotel that offers world-class hospitality while embracing the unique charm and character of Muar. The voco brand is renowned for combining the reliability of an international hotel with the warmth, individuality and local character that guests increasingly seek. With IHG’s global expertise and the voco brand’s distinctive experiences, we’re confident it will become a market-leading destination when it opens later this year.”
voco Muar will feature F&B outlets, function and meeting spaces, an infinity pool, gym and a grand ballroom, providing a premium lifestyle destination in the town, located just a 40-minute drive from Malacca
The signing adds to the growth momentum of voco hotels which has 137 open hotels globally, including recent regional additions such as voco Bangkok Surawong, voco Bandung Setiabudi and voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang. In Malaysia, voco Muar will be IHG’s second voco hotel, following the brand’s country debut in Kuching which opened its doors this June
IHG continues to strengthen its presence in Malaysia across all brand segments, with 13 open hotels and eight in the pipeline, including the upcoming debut of Regent and Vignette Collection in the market
