Sunway Hotels & Resorts Achieves “Internationalisation” With GHA, the World’s Largest Alliance of Independent Hotel Brands

Sunway Hotels & Resorts, Malaysia’s leading hospitality company with a diverse portfolio of hotels, resorts and integrated attractions across South East Asia, has taken a big step forward in its strategy to “internationalise” the brand and serve the needs of customers from all around the world, by becoming a member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the largest alliance of like-minded independent hotel brands.

The joy of DISCOVERY

Starting from mid-May 2025, all 11 of Sunway’s hotels and resorts in Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia will become part of GHA DISCOVERY, the global loyalty programme with 30 million members, which has been proven to drive repeat business and increase incremental spending. Reciprocally, GHA DISCOVERY members will be rewarded with instant benefits, unique experiences, and DISCOVERY Dollars (D$) – D$1 equals US$1- when they book and stay with Sunway. This will extend Sunway’s reach significantly beyond Southeast Asia and inspire the world’s discerning global travellers – including corporate guests – to include Sunway’s hotels and resorts on their travel itineraries.

With Sunway DISCOVERY, guests can enjoy rewarding stays at nine hotels and resorts in Malaysia. The newly transformed five-star flagship Sunway Resort Hotel, along with Sunway Pyramid Hotel and Sunway Lagoon Hotel, are all co-located in the spectacular Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, an integrated resort complex along with world-class retail, MICE, entertainment and leisure experiences, while Sunway Putra Hotel and Sunway Velocity Hotel are perfectly positioned for visitors to Kuala Lumpur.

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is an ultra-luxurious villa resort and a haven of wellness, nestled amid the lush rainforests of Ipoh, while Sunway Hotel Georgetown and Sunway Hotel Seberang Jaya are located right in the heart of Penang, with intuitive options for business travellers and cultural explorers in UNESCO World Heritage-listed Georgetown. The group’s latest property in Malaysia, Sunway Hotel Big Box is surrounded by a wealth of attractions in Johor Bahru. Sunway’s world-class hospitality can also be enjoyed in two of South East Asia’s most vibrant and charming capital cities at Sunway Hotel Hanoi in Vietnam and Sunway Hotel Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

More big plans in the works for Sunway Hotels & Resorts

Sunway plans to expand this portfolio in future, with upcoming landmark projects in Ipoh and Penang, as well as a luxury resort nestled amid the mangrove forests of Johor, as it moves into an exciting new era of expansion and internationalisation. GHA, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024, has grown to a collection of more than 45 brands with more than 850 hotels, resorts and palaces in 100 countries. The GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme now generates USD 2.7 billion in revenue and 11 million room nights per year. Importantly, GHA also shares Sunway’s deep commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

“We are delighted to join GHA, the world’s largest alliance of like-minded independent hotel brands,” said Alex Castaldi, CEO, Sunway Hospitality Group. “This marks a major step forward in our growth strategy, as it enables us to bridge the gap between being a strong domestic and regional player to being part of an extensive worldwide network. With Sunway DISCOVERY, our globally-minded corporate and leisure customers now have the opportunity to earn DISCOVERY Dollars when they stay or dine with us, then redeem them all across GHA’s global network. This is a testament to where we want to be, and our ambition to be recognised among the world’s leading hospitality players.”

“We are delighted to welcome Sunway Hotels & Resorts to Global Hotel Alliance, marking an exciting milestone in our journey of connecting independent, world-class hospitality brands. Sunway’s commitment to exceptional guest experiences and sustainability aligns perfectly with our values, and we look forward to offering their guests access to our global loyalty programme, GHA DISCOVERY. This partnership enhances our presence in Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia and strengthens our promise of delivering unique and rewarding stays across the world,” commented GHA CEO Chris Hartley.

A special offer awaits GHA members!

To commemorate the Sunway DISCOVERY launch, all GHA members will earn double D$ when they book their stay at any of the 11 Sunway Hotels & Resorts properties. The booking period is from 12 May 2025 to 30 September 2025, while the stay period is until 30 April 2026. The D$ earned will be valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

To learn more about Sunway Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.sunwayhotels.com, and for more information about GHA, please visit www.globalhotelalliance.com.

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