Anantara has debuted in Malaysia, opening Anantara Desaru Coast and Villas in Johor.

The resort features a signature Anantara Spa with six treatment rooms, which offers 24-carat gold body wraps and facials developed to deliver anti-ageing benefits. The spa also provides massages, scrubs and traditional Thai and Malay wellness treatments.

Surrounded by tropical gardens, the 108-key resort has 90 rooms housed in traditional low-rise Malay-style buildings with ocean-views.

Interiors have been decorated with indigenous materials and fabrics, such as woven textiles, wicker elements and silhouettes of traditional Malay crafts.

Guests can also stay in one of 13 stand-alone villas located around a lagoon inspired by traditional kampong houses, as well as five family residences with individual private infinity pools and full butler and chef service. The mix is completed by 15 private beachfront residences, the first by the company.

Anantara Desaru Coast also offers a health and fitness centre, two swimming pools and individual kids’ and teen activity clubs.

Anantara’s move into Malaysia is a joint venture between the Bangkok-based hotel group and its Malaysian partner, Themed Attractions Resorts and Hotels, a subsidiary of the investment arm of the Malaysian government – called Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

The resort is part of an integrated destination resort on the 17km Desaru Coast, which also includes One&Only Desaru Coast, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast and Westin Desaru Coast. The mixed-development project is managed by Destination Resorts and is part of a wider development project sponsored by the Malaysian government to draw tourism to the country.

The project also includes a retail complex, conference centre, waterpark and two golf courses.

Thomas Meier, Minor Hotels’ senior VP of operations for Asia, said: “The company’s thrilled to be part of one of Malaysia’s most anticipated new tourism developments and to establish itself as an international luxury destination”.