Destination Resorts and Hotels

What Destination Resorts and Hotels does

Destination Resorts and Hotels Sdn. Bhd. (DRH), formerly Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels, is a Malaysian hospitality investment, development, and operating company wholly owned by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the country's sovereign wealth fund. The group operates across two business segments: Resort Management (through its subsidiary Datai Hotels and Resorts, which owns and operates the award-winning The Datai Langkawi and provides luxury hospitality consulting and management services) and Destination Resorts (which develops and curates master-planned integrated destinations including Desaru Coast, LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, and Datai Bay).

Its core asset base comprises a 4,000-acre, 17km beachfront destination at Desaru Coast anchored by approximately 800 hotel keys operated under international flags (Anantara, Westin, Hard Rock, Mandarin Oriental, with ECM Libra's Ormond and RIYAZ's Dash opening 2026), a 45-hole championship golf facility (Els/Vijay Singh-designed), the region's first water coaster, a 1,400-guest conference centre, a cross-border ferry terminal to Singapore, and Malaysia's first international theme park (LEGOLAND). The Datai Langkawi — set within a 10-million-year-old rainforest with a 1.5km private beach — has accumulated 202 international awards since 1993.

DRH generates revenue through management fees and consulting services from operated and advised properties, equity participation in branded real estate (e.g., Anantara Residences, Ormond Residences, Dash Residences), and direct operations at The Datai Langkawi. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting institutional investors and global hospitality brands, combined with channel-partner models where global operators (Marriott, Hard Rock, Mandarin Oriental, Minor Group, Merlin Entertainments) run hotels and attractions inside DRH-developed destinations. End customers span discerning luxury travelers, families and leisure guests, golf enthusiasts, and corporate event organizers, served via direct bookings, memberships, and brand-distributed channels.

Name

Destination Resorts and Hotels

Legal name

Destination Resorts and Hotels Sdn. Bhd.

Website

https://drh.com.my

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Destination Resorts and Hotels is a Khazanah Nasional-owned Malaysian hospitality investor, developer, and operator running luxury resorts (The Datai Langkawi) and master-planned integrated destinations (Desaru Coast, LEGOLAND Malaysia, Datai Bay) in partnership with global brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Integrated Destination Resorts and Hospitality

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Traveler Accommodation (7211)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Beachfront & Island Luxury Resorts (THAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Eco-Resorts (THAGACAK), Resort & Branded Residence Vacation Rental Management (BPAJAIAE), Luxury & VIP Destination Services (Concierge/Chauffeur) (THAKAEAG)

Keywords

• Destination resort development
• Luxury hospitality management
• Integrated tourism destinations
• Resort investment partnerships
• Hotel management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Petaling Jaya

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Resort Management: Managing the homegrown, award-winning luxury resort brand The Datai and providing hospitality consulting and hotel management services
2. Destination Resorts Development: Developing multifaceted destinations (Desaru Coast, LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, Datai Bay) that draw domestic and international audiences through world-class hospitality and attractions
3. Hospitality Consulting Services: Datai Hotels and Resorts offers full suite of luxury hospitality consulting and hotel management services for partners

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH) is a Malaysian hospitality investor, developer, and operator that creates and manages integrated destination resorts. It operates across two business fields: Resort Management (Datai Hotels and Resorts, managing The Datai luxury brand and offering hospitality consulting and hotel management services) and Destination Resorts (Desaru Coast, LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, and Datai Bay). The company develops master-planned multi-attractor destinations in partnership with global hospitality brands, while also operating luxury resorts, golf courses, a waterpark, a conference centre, and a ferry terminal.

Product overview

Destination Resorts and Hotels operates across two main business segments: Resort Management and Destination Resorts. Resort Management encompasses Datai Hotels and Resorts, which owns and manages The Datai luxury resort brand (The Datai Langkawi) and offers hospitality consulting and hotel management services. Destination Resorts develops multifaceted destinations including Desaru Coast (4,000-acre beachfront resort destination in Johor with internationally-branded resorts, golf courses, waterpark, and ferry terminal), LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort (international theme park), and Datai Bay (Langkawi destination with The Datai Langkawi and golf facilities). The portfolio includes approximately 800 keys across 4 internationally-renowned resorts, a 45-hole golfing paradise, waterpark, conference centre, and ferry terminal infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Datai Hotels and Resorts: The Group's Resort Management arm that owns and operates The Datai luxury hospitality brand, providing luxury hospitality consulting and hotel management services.
• The Datai Collection
• The Datai Pledge

Products and services

• Desaru Coast Flagship 4,000-acre destination resort spanning 17km of pristine beachfront in southeastern Johor, comprising internationally-branded resorts (Anantara, Westin, Hard Rock, Mandarin Oriental opening 2026), the Els Club golf courses, Adventure Waterpark, the Desaru Coast Conference Centre and the Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal with direct 1.5-hour service from Singapore's Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
• LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Malaysia's first international theme park, spanning over 50 football pitches, featuring LEGOLAND Park, LEGOLAND Water Park and SEA LIFE, with over 15,000 LEGO models and more than 60 million LEGO bricks.
• Datai Bay Northern destination resort location in Langkawi situated between the Andaman Sea and ancient virgin rainforest, home to The Datai Langkawi and The Els Club Malaysia Teluk Datai.
• Datai Hotels and Resorts The Group's Resort Management arm that owns and operates The Datai luxury hospitality brand, providing a full suite of luxury hospitality consulting and hotel management services for partners.
• The Datai Langkawi Award-winning luxury resort opened in 1993 set within a 10-million-year-old rainforest with a 1.5km private beach, having received 202 international awards since inception across Condé Nast Traveler, TIME Magazine and National Geographic recognitions.
• Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas Luxury resort opened in 2019, the first Anantara property in Malaysia, featuring well-appointed rooms, private villas and residences with Malaysian and Thai architectural design elements.
• Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast Music-themed hotel opened 2018 featuring The Sound of Your Stay programme with in-room Crosley turntables, Fender guitars, and personalized playlists.
• The Westin Desaru Coast Resort Wellness-focused resort along the South China Sea featuring spacious rooms and suites with holistic wellness experiences unique to The Westin brand, also operating the Desaru Coast Conference Centre.
• Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast Secluded retreat within 128 acres of ancient rainforest opening onto South China Sea beach, with 44 suites and an exclusive four-bedroom pool villa, opening 2026.
• The Els Club Malaysia Desaru Coast Award-winning 45-hole golf club at Desaru Coast comprising the 27-hole Ocean Course by Ernie Els and 18-hole Valley Course by Vijay Singh, home to the Els Performance Golf Academy (EPGA).
• Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Waterpark featuring the first water coaster in the region and one of the biggest wave pools in the world, with rides suitable for all ages.
• Desaru Coast Conference Centre Fully-equipped conference facility operated by The Westin Desaru Coast Resort with landscaped courtyard, accommodating up to 1,400 guests for meetings, exhibitions and banquets.
• Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal International connectivity infrastructure providing direct ferry services from Singapore's Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, equipped with bunkers, fresh water facilities, and sea sport activity departures.
• The Els Club Malaysia Teluk Datai 18-hole, 47-hectare golf course redesigned and opened by Ernie Els in 2014, set against the Machincang mountain range with natural surroundings.
• Anantara Desaru Coast Residences Luxury beachfront and family-friendly residential villas offering owners access to Desaru Coast attractions and five-star facilities at the Anantara resort.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77% resort waste processed monthly
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Minor GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinor Group is the lead equity and operating partner for Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas. They are exploring new investment opportunities including potential launch of a beach club to further enrich the destination's lifestyle offering.
• ECM Libra GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECM Libra Group has invested in 20 acres of land at Desaru Coast and plans to develop an Ormond-branded 450-room hotel and 56-unit branded managed residences set to open in 2026, bringing modern luxury and Asian hospitality.
• RIYAZ GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIYAZ Group is introducing two new hospitality assets at Desaru Coast - the 135-room Dash Resort Desaru Coast and 139-unit Dash Residences spanning eight acres acquired in 2022 and 2023, targeted for completion in 2026.
• Mandarin Oriental InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMandarin Oriental will operate Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast - a secluded retreat set within 128 acres of ancient rainforest opening onto South China Sea beach with 44 suites and exclusive four-bedroom pool villa, opening 2026.
• Minor International (Anantara)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, opened in 2019, is the brand's first property in Malaysia featuring luxury-class stays with Malaysian and Thai architectural design elements.
• Marriott International (Westin)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Westin Desaru Coast Resort operates along South China Sea shores as a wellness and relaxation haven with spacious rooms, suites, and holistic wellness experiences unique to The Westin brand.
• Hard Rock InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast opened 2018 offers music-themed hospitality with The Sound of Your Stay program featuring in-room Crosley turntables, Fender guitars, and personalized playlists.
• Merlin Entertainments (LEGOLAND)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMerlin Entertainments operates LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort as the country's first international theme park opened in 2012, including LEGOLAND Park, Water Park, Hotel, and SEA LIFE attractions.
• Ernie Els (The Els Club)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorErnie Els, four-time major golf champion, designed the Ocean Course (27 holes) at The Els Club Malaysia Desaru Coast. Vijay Singh co-designed the Valley Course (18 holes). The club opened 2016.
• Ernie Els (Teluk Datai)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorErnie Els redesigned and opened The Els Club Malaysia Teluk Datai in 2014 - an 18-hole, 47-hectare course set against Machincang mountain range, developed to honor natural surroundings.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Minor International: Thai-listed hospitality, lifestyle, and restaurant conglomerate that operates Anantara, AVANI, Oaks, and NH Collection hotel brands. Minor is both DRH's lead equity/operating partner at Desaru Coast (Anantara) and a comparable Asian luxury resort owner-operator, sharing customer base, geographic exposure, and integrated resort strategy.
• YTL Hotels & Properties: Malaysian hospitality and property arm of YTL Corporation, operating luxury resorts (Tanjong Jara, Pangkor Laut, Gaya Island), hotels, and integrated developments across Malaysia and Asia. YTL competes directly with DRH in Malaysian luxury resort space and shares the integrated-destination playbook.
• Mandarin Oriental International: Hong Kong-headquartered luxury hotel group operating 40+ flagship hotels globally. Mandarin Oriental is both a DRH operating partner (Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast opening 2026) and a comparable luxury hotel brand serving the same affluent traveler segment that The Datai Langkawi targets.
• Sunway Group / Sunway REIT: Malaysian integrated property and hospitality developer operating Sunway Resort, Sunway Lagoon theme park, and large-scale mixed-use developments. Sunway is highly comparable as a Malaysian sovereign-affiliated integrated resort developer combining hotels, theme parks, and destination infrastructure.
• Banyan Tree Holdings: Singapore-headquartered luxury resort developer and operator with iconic Asian beach/island properties (Banyan Tree Phuket, Laguna Langkawi). Highly comparable to DRH on luxury eco-resort positioning, branded residences, and Southeast Asian destination strategy.
• Mulia Group: Indonesian-owned integrated resort and hotel group operating Mulia Resort Nusa Dua Bali, Mulia Bali, and beachfront destinations with villas, branded residences, and event facilities. Comparable to DRH on luxury beachfront integrated resort model with Asian ownership.
• Laguna Phuket / Banyan Tree's integrated resort platform: Integrated resort destination in Phuket combining multiple hotels (Banyan Tree, Angsana, Cassia), branded residences, golf, and recreation. A direct structural comparable to Desaru Coast in scale and integrated-destination design.

Others

• Khazanah Nasional (parent-level peer reference): Parent sovereign wealth fund — included only to contextualize DRH's capital structure and strategic mandate. Khazanah also invests in adjacent tourism/real estate assets that may compete with or complement DRH's portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• CapitaLand Investment / Ascott: Singapore-listed real estate investment company with lodging and serviced residence operations across Asia, including Malaysia. Comparable as a regional hospitality investor/operator with institutional scale, though more diversified across asset classes than DRH's destination resort focus.
• Genting Group / Genting Malaysia: Malaysian integrated resort and leisure conglomerate operating Resorts World Genting and Genting Highlands, with theme parks, hotels, and casinos. Genting is the most direct Malaysian integrated-resort peer to DRH, though DRH's portfolio is non-gaming and focused on luxury beach destinations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/destination-resorts-and-hotels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Destination Resorts and Hotels