Marriott International Inc has signed an agreement with Rackson Hospitality Sdn Bhd to bring the Paris-born Le Méridien brand to Penang, which is the 200-room Le Méridien Penang Airport hotel.

Le Méridien Penang Airport is part of the Penang Gateway development, located by the Penang International Airport, on the main Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah road. It will be part of a mixed-use development that will also comprise an independent residential tower, medical centre, commercial and retail space. Construction is due to commence by mid-2022 and is expected to be completed by end-2026.

Marriott International area vice president for Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives Rivero Delgado said the signing signifies Marriott International's growing footprint across Malaysia.

Le Méridien Penang Airport is designed by SA Architects Malaysia, with a mid-century design inspired by the brand's roots in the glamorous halcyon days of travel. The hotel will feature a sky bridge connecting guests directly to the adjacent shopping mall, and it also offers guests access to Bayan Lepas industrial areas and Georgetown, which are just a respective 15 and 25 minutes' drive away.

The property will also feature the brand's signature Le Méridien Hub, a modern reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby. The hotel is anticipated to offer 186 guestrooms and 14 suites, including a 2,000 sq ft presidential suite. Dining options include an all-day dining restaurant offering a blend of modern European and Asian buffet, a specialty restaurant, a café with fresh bakes and the brand's signature Latitude Bar. Also in the plan are Club Lounge, fitness facilities, a pool area with a sundeck and 7,000 sq ft of meeting and event spaces.