M Social in Penang blends coastal and cultural charm

Millennium Hotels & Resorts' first M Social property in Malaysia is its seventh globally

- Venessa Lee

PENANG - M Social Resort Penang has opened on the coast of the Malaysian state, with dreamy sea views, an artificial intelligence (AI) voice butler and local fare as delicious as the island's famed street food.

The official launch of the property on July 9, the chain's debut in Malaysia, marks an expansion of Singapore hospitality brand Millennium Hotels & Resorts (MHR) during a landmark year in which the brand turns 30.

"As the first M Social property in Malaysia and the seventh globally, its opening underscores our ongoing focus on lifestyle innovation and regional expansion," says Mr Saurabh Prakash, MHR's interim chief operating officer and chief commercial officer.

MHR, a subsidiary of Singapore property giant City Developments Limited (CDL) that was established in 1995, operates over 145 properties across four continents in cities like New York, Paris, London, Beijing, Dubai and Singapore. Its portfolio includes the M Social and Copthorne brands.

The first M Social hotel, designed by iconic French designer and architect Philippe Starck, opened in Robertson Quay in Singapore in 2016.

Here are four reasons to check into its latest property.

1. STAY BETWEEN THE BEACHES AND THE CITY Penang culture is baked into the design of this 318-room hotel.

Peranakan tiles are a key motif, from the hotel rooms to the lift floors. Feature walls have large murals with local symbols, from the anime-eyed, dusky leaf monkey to the Penang Bridge that links to the mainland.