China-based H World Group has signed three new JI Hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, marking its debut in Malaysia and expanding its presence in Cambodia.
JI Hotel Downtown Kuala Lumpur, developed in partnership with Saadiq Tri Venture, is a 101-room property set to open in 4Q2026 in the Dang Wangi district.
JI Hotel Phnom Penh City Center in the central business and government district will offer 130 keys when it opens in 2Q2026.
The 110-key JI Hotel Phnom Penh Mekong Riverside will overlook the Mekong River and offer guests direct access to Phnom Penh’s cultural landmarks. It is scheduled to open in 3Q2026.
Murphy Zhu, president of H World Asia Pacific, said: “This is an exciting step in our Asia-Pacific strategy. By introducing JI Hotel to Malaysia and deepening our presence in Cambodia, we are extending the international reach of one of our flagship brands.
“Beyond introducing a highly recognised Chinese brand, we are also bringing the strength of H World’s supply chain, development expertise, and digital capabilities to our partners across South-east Asia.”
The hotel firm has announced several signings in recent months, including one for Steigenberger Phnom Penh in July, as well as a cluster of four for IntercityHotel, Orange, and JI Hotel brands in Vientiane and Luang Prabang in May.
The new programme was developed following research by Holiday Inn Express, which found that 73 per cent of Asia-Pacific travellers lose part of their morning routine when away from home, often skipping exercise, checking emails, or breakfast. The study also showed that 58 per cent felt a pleasant smell helps them wake up, with coffee or tea, baked goods, and fresh fruit the top choices. These findings shaped the scents featured in the alarm clocks, including coffee, blueberry muffin, and mango, with market variations such as nashi pear in Japan and bacon in Australia and New Zealand.
