New Chapter for Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City Centre Following Major Upgrade

18 January 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City Centre officially reopened on 16 January 2026 following a comprehensive year-long refurbishment, ushering in a new chapter for the iconic city-centre hotel under the globally recognised Wyndham Hotels & Resorts brand.

The extensive refurbishment features refreshed interiors, upgraded guest rooms and enhanced public spaces, designed to deliver modern comfort while preserving a warm and welcoming ambience for guests.

As part of the relaunch, the hotel introduced two new rooftop facilities, a Rooftop Gym and Roofyard (Sunset Garden), an open-air rooftop dining venue offering panoramic views of the city skyline and picturesque sunset vistas.

Strategically located in Kota Kinabalu’s central business district, the hotel is approximately eight kilometres from Kota Kinabalu International Airport and just minutes away from the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, the main gateway to the islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Popular attractions such as Gaya Street Market, Suria Sabah, Imago Shopping Mall and several key city landmarks are also within close proximity.

The hotel offers guest rooms measuring 252 square feet, each equipped with modern amenities including bathtubs with integrated showers, work desks, complimentary high-speed WiFi and upgraded in-room facilities. Guests may choose between City View and Hill View rooms, catering to both business and leisure travellers.

Dining options include Tivoli Café, the hotel’s all-day dining outlet serving a selection of Malaysian and Western favourites, as well as Roofyard (Sunset Garden), which operates daily from 4pm to 10pm and provides a relaxed rooftop setting for dining and social gatherings.

In addition, the hotel features five flexible meeting and event venues, complimentary parking, a 24-hour front desk, concierge services and facilities tailored to business travellers, families and group events.

The relaunch ceremony was attended by tourism industry leaders and key stakeholders. Among those present were Sabah Convention Bureau chief executive officer Noredah Othman and senior sales executive Jeremy Yapp; Sabah Tourism Board deputy chief executive officers Humphrey Ginibun and Josephine Chai; and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Kota Kinabalu deputy director Mohd Noh Haffie Mapatoba.

Also in attendance were Malaysian Association of Hotels president Suresh Ramasamy, who is also general manager of Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu; Grandis Hotel general manager Michael Tan; ibis Kota Kinabalu City Centre general manager Natalia Saiman; Borneo Trail chief executive officer Datuk KL Tan; and hotel owner Datuk Aruldas Arulandu.

The reopening reinforces Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ growing presence in Sabah and signals renewed confidence in Kota Kinabalu’s tourism and hospitality sector.