KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 16): King’s Park, a 150-acre (60.7-hectare) integrated mixed-use development in Genting Highlands, is set to open Asia’s largest Hard Rock hotel called Hard Rock Genting Highlands in 2027.

King’s Park Development Sdn Bhd in a statement on Saturday said the 45-storey Hard Rock Genting Highlands will feature 371 rooms and 630 suites, bringing the total to 1,001 rooms and suites, 200 sq m of retail space called the "Rock Shop", as well as a heated swimming pool, several dining options, spa as well as a lounge and bar. It is part of the third phase of the King’s Park development.

With a gross development value of RM10 billion, King’s Park will be developed in five phases, comprising residential, commercial and entertainment components. King’s Park Development, which is the master developer of the project, is a partnership between Yuk Tung Group and the Association for the Promotion of Higher Education in Malaysia (Aphem).

Meanwhile, the agreement for the Hard Rock Genting Highlands development was signed on Saturday by Hard Rock International senior vice-president and head of global business development Todd Hricko, and HR Resort & Residences Sdn Bhd chairman Lim Kim Chai. HR Resort & Residences is the builder and owner of Hard Rock Genting Highlands, while Hard Rock International is the operator.

Witnesses of the signing ceremony included Hard Rock International senior vice-president and head of Asia-Pacific hotel business development Edward Chan, as well as King’s Park Development group chief executive officer and co-founder Datuk Jayandren Subramaniam, and executive vice-president Sean Chen.

In the statement, Chen said, "This partnership marks a monumental milestone in the world of hospitality. Our focus is on creating an unforgettable adventure that fuses the best of high-end design with the freewheeling energy of rock 'n' roll. Here at King's Park, the soon-to-be-open Hard Rock Genting Highlands in Malaysia will represent the pinnacle of high-energy fun, luxury, and elegance for solo travellers, groups of friends, and families alike.”

Chen also shared that the upcoming Hard Rock Genting Highlands would generate a large number of jobs in fields such as room division, engineering, food and beverages, and other services, thanks to the Hard Rock brand. This course, he added, will spur economic growth, and significantly improve the quality of life in Pahang and the surrounding states.

Representing Hard Rock International, Hricko said, “We take enormous delight in the fact that King's Park will be home to another iconic property for Hard Rock, holding the distinction of the largest in Asia. This strengthens Hard Rock's position and profile in the area. Our essence lies in developing the exact experiences people seek, and I wholeheartedly believe that King's Park, with its abundant options, would irresistibly lure [people]."

Besides the hotel, King’s Park will also see the development of theme parks, residential properties and medical facilities, among others. The entire development is expected to be completed in about 10 years.

GENTING HIGHLANDS (July 23): King’s Park Development Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Highlands Park City Sdn Bhd) has officially launched its latest integrated mixed-use development, named King’s Park in Genting Highlands, via an opening ceremony of its sales gallery on Saturday (July 22).

With a gross development value (GDV) of RM10 billion, King's Park comprises residential, commercial and entertainment components.

Situated next to Awana Genting Highlands Golf & Country Resort in Genting Highlands, the 150-acre King’s Park is a partnership between the developer, Yuk Tung Group and the Association for the Promotion of Higher Education in Malaysia (Aphem), which is also the land owner of the 150-acre parcel.

According to King’s Park Development executive vice president Sean Chen, King’s Park will be developed in five phases. The 21-acre Phase 1 of the development has achieved a take-up rate of 70% prior to its official launch on Saturday. This phase comprises 360 retail units spread across 12 integrated commercial lots.

The size of each unit is 22ft (feet) by 75ft and some units on the ground floor have high ceilings measuring 6.5 metres. These units are priced from RM2.5 million to RM3.2 million.

A few of these commercial lots will house the Salaam Halal Hub, which is poised to become an international retail halal hub and a halal luxury boutique hotel. Phase 1 is expected to be completed by 2026.

In his opening speech, Chen said, “King’s Park will be situated on one of Genting Highland’s most gentle slopes, classied as Class 1 and 2 slopes. The development will be segmented into five phases, offering a one-stop centre for shopping, relaxation, entertainment and more.

“What distinguishes King's Park from the rest of the retail shops available in Genting Highlands is that it is an integrated entertainment hub. There will be a significant presence of internationally acclaimed brands, with new experiences to be introduced into the development, which are not yet available in Malaysia,” Chen shared.

Phases and components

Besides retail lots, Phase 1 will also see the development of two theme parks. These theme parks are slated to be launched in 4Q2023. More details will be announced later.

Phase 2, which is expected to be launched next year, will comprise hotels and serviced apartments. In Phase 3, King’s Park will introduce Swissôtel Genting Highlands, which will be a 30-storey hotel building offering 300 rooms and various facilities. In the same phase, situated adjacent to Swissôtel Genting Highlands will be residential properties consisting of semi-detached villas and bungalows.

Phase 4 will witness the launch of more shoplots, hotels and serviced apartments. The final phase, Phase 5, will feature medical facilities such as a hospital and a wellness centre, among others.

Some hotels that will be part of King’s Park include Hard Rock Genting Highlands, Crown Estate and Novotel Genting Highlands. The whole development will offer 5,000 car park bays, with half of them having electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. King’s Park will also have 200 bus bays and a bus terminal.

Meanwhile, King’s Park Development CEO Jayandren Subramaniam said the overall development is meant to be family-oriented, as it has a wide range of offerings.

“The land belongs to [Aphem], I think they’ve had it for over 40 years and I worked with them for over 20 years. In Genting Highlands, there is generally a low supply of shops, so we thought the place needed more vibrancy, so that local and international tourists can have more options.

“There is also the Highlands International Boarding School here, so we realised that there is a need for residential properties,” Jayandren explained.

Concurring with Jayandren, King’s Park Development director of sales and marketing Steve Chan said there has been a trend of people looking for residential properties that are closer to nature. “After the pandemic, based on my observations, more homebuyers want to have a home that’s around or nearby nature, meaning plenty of trees. Genting Highlands offers just that and its cooling weather is another attraction by itself. Which is why we are looking to make King’s Park a liveable township that offers plenty of entertainment and shops that [are] close to nature.”

The entire 150 acres of King’s Park is expected to be completed in about 10 years from now.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- King’s Park Development Sdn Bhd is on track to develop King’s Park, the first central business district (CBD) in Genting Highlands, in partnership with Yuk Tung Group and the Association for the Promotion of Higher Education in Malaysia.

Leveraging the high tourist arrivals in Genting Highlands, King's Park is a mixed development project with a gross development value (GDV) of RM10 billion.

Spanning over 61 hectares of freehold land, the upcoming development comprises a unique blend of integrated commercial, residential and recreational offerings.

“This development would be poised to benefit greatly from the influx of investment and development opportunities in Genting.

“Genting Highlands is projected to receive 53 million visitors by 2026 with a catchment area of over 700,000 people within a five-kilometre (km) radius,” said King’s Park Development group chief executive officer Jayandren Subramaniam to Bernama.

He added that King’s Park will also feature a significant presence of internationally acclaimed brands, offering new experiences which are not yet available in Malaysia.

“There will be many outdoor activities and attractions, such as eco-sports, mountain biking trails and nature-based theme parks, including the world's largest terrarium which spans over 600 metres in length,” he said.

First phase to open in 2026

Jayandren said that the first phase of the project -- with a GDV of RM1 billion -- entails the development of 12 blocks of shop lots, comprising 360 units, each one measuring 22 feet (ft) by 75ft.

Priced between RM2.8 million and RM3.8 million, some units on the ground floor have high ceilings, measuring 6.5 metres (m).

Scheduled for completion in 2026, the commercial component includes a 2.0km stretch of pedestrian street shops, featuring a blend of colonial and vintage designs.

“The retail area, which includes food and beverages outlets, will also allow patrons to experience alfresco dining with a riverside view that stretches about 500m,” he said.

Additionally, the development ecompasses the construction of three hotels, including the world-class Swissôtel Genting Highlands resort.

Meanwhile, the residential development portion of King’s Park will kick off in phase three, starting from 2026.

“Usually when people go to Genting Highlands, it would be difficult for them to get a room because most units are reserved for members only, so the wider selection available at King’s Park would attract more people to the area,” he said.

The development also aims to attract international Muslim tourists as it includes a halal retail hub and a boutique hotel catering to Muslim patrons, tapping into the growing market for halal travels.

Jayandren also stressed that the development would not only attract tourists and business travellers, but also serve the surrounding community and complement other developments in the area.

“Even if we undergo a similar situation like the pandemic, the development will be able to sustain and business will continue as usual as it will serve the community at large, not just the tourists,” he said.

King's Park to feature nature-based theme parks; largest terrarium in Malaysia

King’s Park Development executive vice-president Sean Chen said one of the unique highlights of King's Park is its nature-based theme parks.

“The two theme parks will complement the theme park in Genting Highlands where we are more nature-focused, while Genting’s is more indoor and studio-focused,” he said.

Spanning 200,000 square ft, the theme parks would offer visitors a unique experience as it would be nestled within Pahang’s forest.

It would also feature the largest terrarium in Malaysia, where visitors would be able to walk through a river-side pathway for ultimate serenity.

Chen said that King’s Park would be developed in five phases, and would take about eight years to be completed.

“What we aim to develop here is more than just hotels and theme parks, but a complete CBD ecosystem which is able to stand on its own and cater to the growing demand in the area,” he added.