Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu: KK’s Latest Stylish Mix of Nature, Culture, and Modernity

Have you ever lived somewhere close to nature? At the Kengo Kumadesigned Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu, I intriguingly feel very close to nature even as I am in the lap of modernity.

The hotel is located right in the heart of Kota Kinabalu city. But to me, Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu stands in the middle between the sea and the lush rainforest because this hotel offers a mesmerising and opposing views of both the South China Sea and Signal Hill. Even the architecture at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu is inspired from nature, whereby the entire building – from the lobby to the rooftop – is likened to a big tree.

What I love about Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu with its 222 rooms and suites is the fact that it is an ideal hotel for millennials and Gen Z, including those who are young at heart, due to its overall vibrancy and energy attributed from the hotel’s interior design that I find lighthearted, zesty, current, and in tune with the hotel’s surroundings.

Welcoming interiors

As I set foot in the lobby for the first time, I am quickly in awe of its décor, which reminds me of sitting under the shade of a tree surrounded by towering trees and rocks. Apparently, the lobby is the place where guests can sit and relax while enjoying snacks and beverages, including admiring the two large wooden sculptures by internationally renowned Malaysian artist Anniketyni Madian. The hotel adoringly incorporates elements that are indigenous to Sabah, thus possesses a strong sense of place.

I can’t contain my excitement when I enter the hotel’s elevator because I feel like I’m walking into a moving ‘tree trunk’. The elevator walls are delicately carved like pangolin skin along with large mirrors and dim golden lighting that really lifts my mood. This hotel takes security features seriously because guests are required to have access cards to go up to their respective room floors. Otherwise, without the access card, you could only go up directly to the 22nd and 23rd floor.

Once you exit the elevator, you will see a pair of red carved lounge seats and a large sign indicating the floor number you are on made from seashells by local artist Agnes Lau. The hallway of the 20th floor where I stay is embellished by the colours found on the Kadazan Dusun traditional clothes and beaded accessories.

My room category is King Bed with Sea View; the entire set up, especially the romantic view of the ocean stretching into infinity and dotted by fishing boats that I can see from my room leaves me speechless as I enter my room and get me asking myself, “Is this real?”.

My room comes with a king-sized bed, 55” smart highdefinition television set, individual climate control, hooded bathrobes and slippers, hairdryer, BeeKind socially conscious toiletries, Nespresso coffee maker, minibar, electric kettle, iron and ironing board, in-room safe and free high-speed Wi-Fi.

There are many things I love about this room such as the spacious bathroom that segregates the showering area equipped with heater-installed rain shower and the squeakyclean and dry toilet.

The part of the bathroom’s sliding door that faces the balcony sports a contemporary doodle-like illustration representing Mount Kinabalu, which I only realise as I lie on my ultra-comfortable bed and look towards the bathroom. Interestingly, the bathroom door has another slide that faces and moves in perpendicular direction so that guests can enjoy more space when the door is entirely pushed open or more privacy when the moving slides meet at a 90-degree angle and locked.

Next is the private balcony that allows me to sit outside while taking in the scenery discreetly. As part of the hotel’s way to conserve energy, the air conditioner in the room switches off automatically when you open the balcony door.

Apart from that, Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu follows current trends by using up-to-the-minute, advanced technology. For example, when requesting for housekeeping service, guests can simply scan the barcode on the television screen, which will go directly to a chatbox connected to the housekeeping department instead of having to talk on the phone. This is truly convenient, especially in cases where guests have problem communicating due to language barrier or disability.

Guests don’t have to worry about losing their access cards or having to a pay penalty for losing them. This is because guests can install the World of Hyatt application on their smartphones, and simply use their smartphones as their electronic access card.

For those seeking a quiet romantic honeymoon vacation while facing splendid greenery, they should opt for the Hill View Deluxe room that is bedecked with a king-sized bed and modern bathroom with separate toilet and shower. Most importantly, there is a deep bathtub for guests to soak in to relax while taking in the view of Signal Hill. If you were lucky, you could even witness monkeys foraging for food while clinging on the branches during the day, including a variety of birds when staying in this room category.

Those who travel with family are advised to take the King Sea View Suite, which is outfitted with a 13-metre squared balcony, a dedicated living area, dining table for six persons, walk-in wardrobe and bathroom that includes a bathtub. The suite can be combined with a Two Twin Beds Sea View room to become a Two-Bedroom Sea View Suite. The suite’s most eye-catching feature is the painting of a Murut man wearing a traditional top made from the bark of a tree called puputul

Dining and other facilities

Dining at the hotel is an experience of its own. ON22 Restaurant receives its name from its location, which is on the 22nd floor. It is divided into three themes: Sea-Forest Dining, Wood Garden, and Dry Garden. Guests are bound to salivate as they go through the outlet’s long list of menu. While dining at the Sea-Forest Dining section, you can feast your eyes with the beckoning view of the sea and hill side. If you preferred eating in a garden surrounded by wild trees, choose the Wood Garden section.

For something more intimate, try dining at the Dry Garden section, which I find intriguing due to the butterfly artwork. If you were to look at it from a distance, the artwork in overall appears like a butterfly, but as you come closer, you can see that the artwork is actually created from paper cuts and prints on fine art paper that have been framed. What makes it even more unique is the texture of these paper cuts is similar to leaves and live flowers!

The most-top floor at Hyatt Centric is the 23rd and is home to ON23 Sky Bar, which feels like being on top of Mount Kinabalu but with perks like craft cocktails and gourmet bites. To burn off the calories, you can then sweat it out at the fitness centre or dip into the rectangular infinity pool with the outstanding view of the sea at one end and the bucolic vista of the hill at the other.

Business travellers will be pleased to know that they can hold effective meetings at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu as well. Located on the 3rd floor, the hotel offers 3,153 square feet of space that can accommodate up to 170 persons at any one time and can be divided up into seven meeting rooms for various kinds of functions. These meeting rooms come with balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and high-spec audio visuals.

Conclusion

If I were to return to Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu, I will stay longer so that I could absorb more of the hotel and use more of its facilities like dipping in the infinity outdoor pool in the morning for reenergisation and in the evening to catch the sunset. Without doubt, Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu is a much-welcomed addition to the collection of lodgings offered in Kota Kinabalu, helping to make the destination more visible on the international travellers’ maps due to its proximity to many attractions and hidden gems, on top of its sense of style and delectable food and beverages. A definite must-stay for all travellers coming into Kota Kinabalu.

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