Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City Centre has officially relaunched on 16 Jan 2026 following a comprehensive year-long refurbishment, marking a new chapter for the iconic city-centre hotel under the globally recognised Wyndham Hotels & Resorts brand.
The refurbishment has introduced refreshed interiors, upgraded guest rooms and enhanced public spaces, aimed at offering modern comfort while retaining a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
As part of the relaunch, the hotel has unveiled two new rooftop facilities — a Rooftop Gym and Roofyard (Sunset Garden), an open-air rooftop dining venue offering panoramic views of the city skyline and sunset vistas.
Strategically located in Kota Kinabalu’s business district, the hotel is approximately eight kilometres from Kota Kinabalu International Airport and just minutes from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, the main gateway to the islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
Popular attractions including Gaya Street Market, Suria Sabah, Imago Shopping Mall and several city landmarks are also within close proximity.
The hotel offers guest rooms measuring 252 square feet, each equipped with modern amenities such as bathtubs with attached showers, work desks, complimentary high-speed WiFi and upgraded in-room facilities.
Guests may choose between City View and Hill View accommodations, catering to both business and leisure travellers.
Dining options include Tivoli Café, the hotel’s all-day dining outlet serving Malaysian and Western favourites, as well as Roofyard (Sunset Garden), which is open daily from 4pm to 10pm and provides a relaxed rooftop setting for dining and social gatherings.
In addition, the hotel features five flexible meeting and event venues, free parking, a 24-hour front desk, concierge services and facilities designed to accommodate business travellers, families and group events.
The relaunch ceremony was attended by a number of tourism industry leaders and stakeholders.
Among those present were Sabah Convention Bureau chief executive officer Noredah Othman and senior sales executive Jeremy Yapp; Sabah Tourism Board deputy chief executive officers Humphrey Ginibun and Josephine Chai; and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Sabah deputy director Mohd Noh Haffie Mapatoba.
Also in attendance were Malaysian Association of Hotels president Suresh Ramasamy, who is also the general manager of Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu, Grandis Hotel general manager Michael Tan, ibis Kota Kinabalu City Centre general manager Natalia Saiman, Borneo Trail chief executive officer Datuk KL Tan, and Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City Centre owner Datuk Aruldas Arulandu.
