Could you briefly take us through Lexis’ journey and key milestones?
Lexis’ entered the hospitality business in 2006 with Lexis Port Dickson. Then in 2009, the group launched Grand Lexis Port Dickson, expanding its signature private-pool villa concept on a larger scale and strengthening its position in the luxury resort segment. Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson elevated the group’s resort offering with its iconic hibiscus-shaped architecture, overwater villas, private pools and steam rooms, creating a distinctive luxury hospitality experience. In 2016, Lexis expanded its presence beyond Port Dickson with the launch of Lexis Suites Penang. With the launch of Imperial Lexis Kuala Lumpur in 2023, Lexis entered the urban luxury hospitality segment.
How does being homegrown give Lexis an edge over international luxury brands?
From the beginning, our ambition was to build a unique brand that cannot be replicated. Being a homegrown brand, Lexis understands Malaysia better, be it food, culture, preferences and local celebrations. And being independent gives us room to innovate, understand international markets and respond quickly. At Lexis, we combine international standards of service with a genuine Malaysian sense of hospitality, which international hotel chains struggle to match.
What made Lexis Hibiscus famous?
Lexis Hibiscus’ success lies in its distinctive proposition, combining striking hibiscus architecture with private pools and steam rooms, overwater accommodation, family-friendly facilities and privacy. Its Guinness World Record further strengthened global visibility. More importantly, it showed that luxury travellers increasingly value personal, experiential and private stays, proving that a hotel can itself become a destination. We have expanded to Hibiscus 2 which is valued at RM1.6 billion adding about 1710 units, comprising 910 water homes and 800 sky-pool suites. It is envisioned as a broader resort ecosystem, bringing food and beverage, entertainment and MICE offerings under one umbrella.
How is the concept of luxury evolving today?
Luxury is becoming increasingly personal. Travellers research extensively about the overall experience before checking in. More importantly, they seek experiences that are difficult to replicate. This shift toward experiential luxury makes our private pool more than an amenity, offering privacy and control while making our hotel’s value increasingly about what guests feel and remember.
How do you expand Lexis without losing its identity?
Lexis treats core identities and values such as maintaining Malaysian hospitality, service and privacy as fixed principles but allows each property to express them differently based on locations. Tourism demand, infrastructure, connectivity and accessibility are the main factors during an expansion. For example, Port Dickson Resort can be shaped around the sea, nature and families, while Penang can draw on its own cultural and geographical character and Kuala Lumpur can present a more urban interpretation of luxury.
Who are the key travellers driving Lexis’ business?
Families remain key, alongside weddings and MICE business. The Kuala Lumpur properties attract corporate, business, events and international leisure travellers. Major celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya and the year-end holiday period also generate significant demand. With business and leisure interconnected these days, Lexis is focusing on creating year round reasons to visit, including celebrations, business events, wellness breaks and short escapes, reducing reliance on traditional peak seasons alone.
What are some challenges of luxury hospitality?
With the rise in domestic and international demand recovery, Lexis’ future growth will focus on expanding to international markets, increasing inventory and cross-selling across properties. People remain central to this model. Talent also remains one of the critical challenges in the hospitality industry Lexis is prioritising finding the right balance between innovation and operational discipline.
How is sustainability entwined in your operations?
Sustainability plays a crucial role. We focus on waste segregation, recycling and reusable glass alternatives. This initiative has avoided more than 100,000 plastic bottles being disposed of annually. We are also installing solar panels at the Lexis Hibiscus property. Adding to that, some Lexis properties have EV charging facilities and digital, paperless guest journeys, including sustainable key cards.
What is Lexis’ future ambition?
The ambition is to become a globally recognised Malaysian hospitality brand by balancing guest satisfaction, sustainable business and investment in people. For Lexis, expansion is not only about becoming bigger, but it is also about building a brand that gives a unique experience that reflects the Malaysian culture.