By V. Sivaji
The Wyndham Hotels & Resorts brand makes its foray into the already crowded hospitality industry scene in Penang.
This is following the strategic collaboration signing ceremony between GIC Group and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts held at the Iconic Marjorie Hotel earlier today.
The new hotel to be known as Wyndham Garden Penang World City will offer 408 keys along with facilities like swimming pool, gym, sky bar among others.
Present at the signing ceremony was Datuk Eddie Song, Group Founder & Director of GIC Group along with Ooi Joon Aun, President, Asia Pacific, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
On hand to witness the event was Dato’ Yeoh Soon Hin, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia and Penang Port Commission Chairman. Also present was Dato’ Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (MP Balik Pulau), Datin Joelyn Teoh Lay Fung, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Chile in Penang, Dato’ Lim Choo Hooi, Legal advisor for GIC Group, Nixon Koay Shean Loong, Group CEO of SEAL Incorporated Berhad, Brian Ooi, Executive Director of GIC Group among others.
Song in his address GIC Group has always been focused on property development, while expanding into hospitality is part of their growth journey.
“Today marks another important milestone for us as we move forward with our second hotel management project, further strengthening our presence in the hospitality sector. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is recognised as one of the top hotel groups globally, and we are proud to bring this international standard of hospitality to Penang through our project, Bayan Suite. This partnership not only reflects our confidence in the future of Penang’s tourism industry, but also our commitment to delivering quality developments that contribute to the local economy and community.
“Bayan Suite will also mark the first Wyndham-branded hotel in Penang, which makes this collaboration even more meaningful to us. We sincerely look forward to building a
strong and long-term partnership with Wyndham as we move forward together.
“The project is currently under construction, with a targeted completion by the end of 2027, and we aim to commence operations in 2028. The hotel will feature 408 keys, offering a few room types including studio, two-bedroom suites, and three-bedroom suites designed to cater business, leisure and family travellers,” shared Song.
Meanwhile, Ooi added that What makes today especially exciting is that the signing of Wyndham Garden Suites Penang World City marks our first Wyndham hotel in Penang, a destination that is iconic not only in Malaysia, but across Asia Pacific. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in the United States, is the world’s largest hotel franchising company. With a global footprint spanning over 8,300hotels across nearly 100 countries on six continents, the company offers a diverse portfolio of 25 hotel brands designed to meet the needs of everyday travelers.
“At Wyndham, our mission is simple: to make travel possible for all. But what makes that mission real is momentum— it is built through partnerships, performance, and a shared belief in what Wyndham can create together with our partners.” he added.
Yeoh commended GIC Group for expanding beyond property marketing into hospitality and entertainment development.
“I welcome Wyndham Hotels & Resorts* decision to deepen its footprint in Malaysia, bringing with it global expertise, strong brand standards, and an extensive international network. As we look ahead to Visit Malaysia campaigns and the continued recovery of global travel, quality developments such as this will play a crucial role in attracting higher-value visitors and supporting sustainable tourism growth,” added Yeoh.
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