Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has been appointed as the new operator of the former One&Only Desaru Coast resort in Johor, Malaysia. The existing property, now called The Sireya, will be rebranded as Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast in January 2026.

The announcement was made at a signing ceremony on 5 June, attended by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and senior officials from Destination Resorts & Hotels Sdn Bhd (DRH), a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

Located on a 128-acre site along nearly 17 kilometres of coastline, the resort includes 44 suites and villas, many with private gardens and plunge pools. Facilities include five dining venues, a beach club, a spa with wellness facilities, courts for tennis and padel, and a Kids’ Club. The resort was designed by Kerry Hill Architects and is the final project by the late Kerry Hill.

“We will continue to evolve the property, [and] to propose new experiences in dining, wellness, accommodation, services and entertainment,” said Laurent Kleitman, group chief executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

As part of its expansion, the group also plans to introduce 40 branded residences at Desaru Coast, although details are still being finalised. “We need visiting guests and travellers, but having people who actually live here brings a different atmosphere to the resort,” said Kleitman.

The change in management follows the closure of the One&Only Desaru Coast resort. The new Mandarin Oriental property will become the second in Malaysia under the brand.

The development is part of DRH’s broader strategy to grow Desaru Coast, which currently includes four hotels, a conference centre, ferry terminal, waterpark, and golf courses. The group aims to double the resort’s total key count – currently around 800 – by 2027.

Upcoming projects include the Dash Resort Desaru Coast by Riaz Group and an Ormond-branded hotel by ECM Libra Group, both pending approval.

Desaru Coast has also been designated a flagship area in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). Onn Hafiz stated, “The federal government has allocated RM5 million to ensure that the JS-SEZ areas, including Desaru, are equipped with world-class infrastructure.”

Infrastructure upgrades include widening the North-South Highway, improvements to the Senai-Desaru Expressway, and the expected launch of the Rapid Transit System by early 2027.

Source: https://www.travelweekly-asia.com/Travel-News/Resorts/No-more-One-Only-at-Desaru-Coast?