First look: The US$60m refurbishment of Malaysia's iconic Datai Langkawi jungle resort
By Kim Megson 09 Mar 2018
The resort reopens in July 2018, following a substantial 10-month renovation Credit: Datai Langkawi
Datai Hotels and Resorts has unveiled images of the refurbished interiors and exteriors of The Datai Langkawi resort, following a US$60m (€48.7m, £43.4m) overhaul.
The images give a first look at how the independelty-owned property will look once it reopens in July 2018, following a substantial 10-month renovation, which has included a remodelling of the interiors of the guestrooms, suites, villas and public areas.
The project, situated next to a 10 million-year-old rainforest on Datai Bay, has been led by Didier Lefort from Paris studio DL2A, who designed the original resort alongside Australian architect Kerry Hill in 1993.
The pair won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001 for their efforts – which included setting the main building back on a forest ridge 40m (131.2ft) above the sea level and 300m (984.2ft) back from the ocean in order to preserve the beauty of the coastline.
In a statement, Lefort said the approach to the revamp of the resort again “marries simplicity, modernity and creativity with inspirations from the local environment, culture and materials.”
As with the original design – inspired by Malay, Chinese and Indian cultural heritage – the latest interjections using predominantly natural local materials in order to give the resort a primary sense of belonging to the jungle.
The accommodation has been refreshed with lighting enhancements, new technology and a warm colour palette, with several new rooms and suites also added to the resort. Three rainforest Pool Villas have been added to the existing five, all located along the Datai River which runs through the 750-hectare rainforest. They are joined by a new 3,500sq m (37,600sq ft), five-bedroom villa, called The Datai Estate, which is one of the largest of its kind in Asia.
Other new amenities include a dedicated Nature Centre, inspired by tribal bamboo longhouses, which will house a library and a tea corner offering a range of wild traditional Malay tisanes beneficial to health. Mini laboratories will enable guests to discover more about the marine and rainforest environment that surrounds them.
The resort’s Datai Spa is also being expanded, with a new air-conditioned treatment room supplementing the existing four open-air spa villas and a dedicated Bastien Gonzalez manicure and pedicure studio.
According to Datai Hotels and Resorts, “the spa draws heavily on local traditions and includes a treatment list based on the Malay concept of ramuan or ‘potions’, made by infusing oils with hand-picked medicinal foliage from the herb garden and surrounding rainforest.”
The list of treatments includes The Ramuan Ritual and Ramuan Massage as well as Tungku Batu, performed by highly trained and skilled therapists.
The extension of The Pavilion and The Dining Room restaurants, along with the rebuilding and relocation of the Fitness Centre to the beachfront, complete the refurbishment.
“We have a duty to preserve the legacy of this extraordinary resort and the time was right for a major refurbishment, over two decades since it was built,” said Arnaud Girodon, The Datai Langkawi's general manager.
“We are confident the new incarnation of The Datai Langkawi will broaden its appeal across continents and generations whilst delighting our loyal repeat guests, many of whom see this as a second home. We are now ready to embark on a new chapter for The Datai Langkawi and are looking forward to the journey.”
Hotels incorporating wellness amenities experienced a significant boost in Total Revenue per Available Room (TRevPAR) in 2023, according to the latest Wellness Real Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P&L benchmarking firm ...More
The 2024 G7 Summit is now underway at a destination spa resort in Puglia, Italy, with leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US convening to address some of the world’s ...More
Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier has unveiled plans to introduce an innovative medi-wellness concept to the group's Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas brand, with ambitions to expand the concept to additional resorts in the future. ...More
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 13th anniversary on Saturday, 8 June and was reportedly celebrated by a record-breaking 1 billion people worldwide, making it the most successful year yet. Founded in 2012 by Belgin ...More
Wellness industry figure Deepak Chopra is co-developing a new wellness community and resort focused on wellbeing and longevity in Utah’s Heber Valley, centred around natural geothermal springs. Named Ameyalli – an Aztec term meaning "a ...More
European health spa operator Ensana has announced the strategic appointment of Dr László Puczkó as senior health spa advisor. Established in 2019, Ensana manages 28 hotels across the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and ...More
The Great Spa Towns of Europe (GSTE) has announced the successful approval of its funding application under the European Town Twinning Programme. This funding will support a year-long project named INTERSPACE, aimed at fostering intercultural ...More
According to new research from Ernst & Young, the gap between female and male engagement in sport and physical activity is narrowing, with Gen Z adult female engagement figures on the rise. The EY Sports ...More
North Wales’ four-star The Quay Hotel & Spa in the Deganwy Marina in Conwy has invested £1 million (€1.2 million, US$1.3 million) refreshing its 580sq m destination spa with new wellness facilities. Inspired by its ...More
Marriott is set to bolster its exclusive Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio with a brand new property in South America in Costa do Sol, Rio de Janeiro. The eco-luxury resort will open as part of the ambitious ...More
Developer Rockwell Island Development Group (RIDGE) has appointed five-star, global hospitality brand Banyan Tree to manage its new luxury island retreat in Bimini in the Bahamas. Immersed in nature and surrounded by pristine beaches, Banyan ...More
Reservations are now open for Mandarin Oriental’s second London hotel, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, set to open on 3 June. The luxury establishment will feature 50 guestrooms, 77 private residences and a luxury underground spa retreat. ...More
First look: The US$60m refurbishment of Malaysia's iconic Datai Langkawi jungle resort
POSTED 09 Mar 2018 . BY Kim Megson
The resort reopens in July 2018, following a substantial 10-month renovation Credit: Datai Langkawi
Datai Hotels and Resorts has unveiled images of the refurbished interiors and exteriors of The Datai Langkawi resort, following a US$60m (€48.7m, £43.4m) overhaul.
The images give a first look at how the independelty-owned property will look once it reopens in July 2018, following a substantial 10-month renovation, which has included a remodelling of the interiors of the guestrooms, suites, villas and public areas.
The project, situated next to a 10 million-year-old rainforest on Datai Bay, has been led by Didier Lefort from Paris studio DL2A, who designed the original resort alongside Australian architect Kerry Hill in 1993.
The pair won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001 for their efforts – which included setting the main building back on a forest ridge 40m (131.2ft) above the sea level and 300m (984.2ft) back from the ocean in order to preserve the beauty of the coastline.
In a statement, Lefort said the approach to the revamp of the resort again “marries simplicity, modernity and creativity with inspirations from the local environment, culture and materials.”
As with the original design – inspired by Malay, Chinese and Indian cultural heritage – the latest interjections using predominantly natural local materials in order to give the resort a primary sense of belonging to the jungle.
The accommodation has been refreshed with lighting enhancements, new technology and a warm colour palette, with several new rooms and suites also added to the resort. Three rainforest Pool Villas have been added to the existing five, all located along the Datai River which runs through the 750-hectare rainforest. They are joined by a new 3,500sq m (37,600sq ft), five-bedroom villa, called The Datai Estate, which is one of the largest of its kind in Asia.
Other new amenities include a dedicated Nature Centre, inspired by tribal bamboo longhouses, which will house a library and a tea corner offering a range of wild traditional Malay tisanes beneficial to health. Mini laboratories will enable guests to discover more about the marine and rainforest environment that surrounds them.
The resort’s Datai Spa is also being expanded, with a new air-conditioned treatment room supplementing the existing four open-air spa villas and a dedicated Bastien Gonzalez manicure and pedicure studio.
According to Datai Hotels and Resorts, “the spa draws heavily on local traditions and includes a treatment list based on the Malay concept of ramuan or ‘potions’, made by infusing oils with hand-picked medicinal foliage from the herb garden and surrounding rainforest.”
The list of treatments includes The Ramuan Ritual and Ramuan Massage as well as Tungku Batu, performed by highly trained and skilled therapists.
The extension of The Pavilion and The Dining Room restaurants, along with the rebuilding and relocation of the Fitness Centre to the beachfront, complete the refurbishment.
“We have a duty to preserve the legacy of this extraordinary resort and the time was right for a major refurbishment, over two decades since it was built,” said Arnaud Girodon, The Datai Langkawi's general manager.
“We are confident the new incarnation of The Datai Langkawi will broaden its appeal across continents and generations whilst delighting our loyal repeat guests, many of whom see this as a second home. We are now ready to embark on a new chapter for The Datai Langkawi and are looking forward to the journey.”
The refurb includes a remodelling of the interiors of the guestrooms, suites, villas and public areas, and brand new amenities Credit: Datai Langkawi
The project, situated next to a 10 million-year-old rainforest on Datai Bay, has been led by Didier Lefort from Paris studio DL2A Credit: Datai Langkawi
As with the original design, the latest interjections using predominantly natural local materials in order to give the resort a primary sense of belonging to the jungle Credit: Datai Langkawi
Lefort said the approach to the revamp of the resort 'marries simplicity, modernity and creativity' Credit: Datai Langkawi
The spa and wellness facilities have been expanded Credit: Datai Langkawi
The cost of the revamp has been revealed as US$60m Credit: Datai Langkawi
Malaysian luxury resort The Datai Langkawi will embark on an extensive renovation from 4
September 2017, its most substantial enhancement since it opened 23 years ago.
Hotels incorporating wellness amenities experienced a significant boost in Total Revenue per
Available Room (TRevPAR) in 2023, according to the latest Wellness Real Estate Report
by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P&L benchmarking firm HotStats.
The 2024 G7 Summit is now underway at a destination spa resort in Puglia, Italy, with leaders
from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US convening to address some of
the world’s most urgent issues.
Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier has unveiled plans to introduce an innovative medi-wellness concept to
the group's Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas brand, with ambitions to expand the concept to additional
resorts in the future.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 13th anniversary on Saturday, 8 June and was reportedly celebrated
by a record-breaking 1 billion people worldwide, making it the most successful year yet.
Wellness industry figure Deepak Chopra is co-developing a new wellness community and resort
focused on wellbeing and longevity in Utah’s Heber Valley, centred around natural geothermal
springs.