PORT DICKSON: Kuala Lumpur Metro Group is building a five-star luxury resort adjacent to its popular Lexis Hibiscus here, with an estimated gross development value of RM500 million.
The new resort called Lexis Hibiscus 2 will boast more water and sky pool villas than those at Lexis Hibiscus, which currently owns two Guiness World Records for having the most swimming pools and most overwater villas in a resort.
"We believe Lexis Hibiscus 2 will emulate the success of Lexis Hibiscus, and is set to surpass Lexis Hibiscus' current position as the largest water homes development in the world," KL Metro chairman Mat Hassan Esa said.
KL Metro will undertake the project with Negri Sembilan government investment arm Menteri Besar Inc on an 80-acre site.
Construction was expected to kick off next year and was expected to be completed in 2024, Mat Hassan said at the signing of the joint venture for the project here on Saturday.
It was witnessed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is Member of Parliament of Port Dickson.
Lexis Hibiscus will feature 760 rooms comprising 582 water villas and 178 sky pool villas. In comparison, Lexis Hibiscus, which was opened in 2015, boasts 522 water villas and 117 sky pool villas.
Just like Lexis Hibiscus, each villa at the new resort will have its own private dip pool.
It will also come with a sunken aquarium with built-in restaurant ( the first of its kind in Malaysia) and the largest ballroom in the state, accomodating 2,000 people.
Mat Hassan said Lexis Hibiscus 2 would bolster the Lexis brand's footprint in Port Dickson.
The new resort is expected to bring in about 400,000 tourists annually to the seaside town.
"If each tourist spends an average one night stay of RM600, this will generate RM240 million per annum."
Todate, KL Metro and its successful properties - Lexis Port Dickson, Grand Lexis Port Dickson and Lexis Hibiscus - have brought in 5.2 million tourists.
Mat Hassan said half of them were foreign tourists from 156 countries.
The group aims to attract more local and international guests particularly from Asia Pacific and the Middle East, with Lexis Hibiscus 2.
Meanwhile, KL Metro group managing director Datuk Low Tak Fatt said the real estate market in the state was gradually catching up that in KL, Selangor, Penang and Johor.
"The market in Port Dickson particularly was not that strong as it was associated with abandoned developments. But after we have completed our properties, banks are more receptive to the proposed projects here," Low added.
Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said MBI was given a 20 per cent stake in the Lexis Hibiscus 2 development, in return for the 80 acres.
The state government also gains from the land premium paid by KL Metro, which will also pay RM12 million to 42 fishermen there who are affected by the project.
Aminuddin said each fisherman would receive RM1,000 a month over five years from the RM12 million fund.