IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched its voco brand in Malaysia with the opening of the voco Kuching hotel in Sarawak.

The property is located a short distance from Kuching International Airport and adds 321 rooms and suites to the city’s accommodation stock, aimed at both tourists and business travellers.

Room categories range from standard options to premium balcony units and one- and two-bedroom suites, arranged to provide distinct areas for work and leisure.

The voco Kuching provides more than 2,400m² of space for meetings and events.

This includes the Rainforest Ballroom, which can host up to 1,350 people and is among the largest hotel ballrooms in Kuching.

The hotel’s interiors were created by design practice SL+A Hotels, with references to Sarawak’s cultural heritage and craftsmanship incorporated through a “contemporary lens”.

On the food and beverage side, the hotel houses LUMA, a restaurant serving both regional and international dishes, and AMPM, a café and bar intended to support service throughout the day and into the evening.

The hotel also features an outdoor swimming pool.

voco Kuching general manager Magdalina Chung said: “This marks the beginning of an exciting journey for voco Kuching.

“Our aspiration goes beyond providing a great stay experience. We hope to create a place where travellers and locals alike can connect, slow down, share experiences and leave with stories worth remembering.

“This opening also represents the collective efforts of hundreds of individuals who have worked tirelessly to bring Malaysia’s first voco property to life.”

The Kuching opening forms part of the global rollout of the voco brand, which has now reached 100 operating properties worldwide, including recent additions in Asian cities such as Bangkok and Bandung.

Across Malaysia, IHG currently operates 13 hotels and has eight more in development.