YTL Hotels has highlighted its conservation focus as it urged Aussie travellers to look beyond Asia mainstays Bali and the Maldives.
In a conversation with LATTE during a recent visit to Sydney, Director of Marketing and Communications Samantha Yong showcased YTL’s branded properties in Malaysia, explaining their appeal for the Australian market.
“All our resorts have a conservation focus — no single-use plastic and not greenwashing,” Yong said, describing the hotels’ pristine settings which range from dense jungle to protected marine zones. At Pangkor Laut Resort, accessible only by boat, guests begin each day with a guided nature walk led by onsite experts. A “community of hornbills” has become a highlight, especially the flock that gathers on “one particular big tree” near the beach.
Meanwhile, Gaya Island Resort’s marine conservation centre is home to a full-time marine biologist who rescues injured sea creatures, often in collaboration with the national wildlife body. “Everyone can come and witness it,” Yong explained.
Among its best-known rescues is a 100-kilogram adult sea turtle found during the pandemic with “a huge hole” in its shell after a boat strike. Nicknamed Covid, the turtle was rehabilitated, tagged with a tracker and released – though it famously kept circling the resort while devouring the local jellyfish. After six months it was re-released in October 2024. Two more green turtles were released just last week, Yong shared.
On the east coast of West Malaysia, the wellness-inspired Tanjong Jara Resort – modelled after “a 17th-century Malaysian palace” – offers tranquillity as well as a turtle hatchery that has rescued 110,000 eggs and released about 80,000 hatchlings over ten years. Rangers patrol nightly during nesting season using red lights so as “not to scare the turtles,” before relocating eggs to a secure hatchery. When movement begins, guests are invited to be part of the hatching spectacle.
Beyond conservation, YTL leans heavily into heritage experiences: village-style weekend games, chef-led island foraging trips, and spa rituals infused with local flavours — from flower baths at Tanjong Jara Resort to tea or strawberry baths at its Cameron Highlands Resort.
The company has also recently accelerated its regional expansion with a string of signings — including a new Marriott in Melbourne and another in Sydney — and the acquisition of Hotel Indigo in Auburn under the IHG umbrella. A series of new openings are also on the cards at its Niseko Village development in Japan, catering to “different socio-economic backgrounds,” according to Yong.
She highlighted one constant across its portfolio as its people. “We call them our stars,” she said. “Regardless of which resort, YTL hospitality doesn’t change – its the best of Asian service.”
