The design of a hotel is the first thing that speaks to guests – it makes the first impression and is a longstanding representative of the surrounding local culture, history, and community. From silks woven in the window shutters to 18th century monkey paintings, YTL Hotels boast some of the most impressive and historically significant design choices across the globe. Here are three of their properties for the history and design enthusiast planning an upcoming trip:
Monkey Island Estate (pictured)
Situated on a private island in the River Thames at Bray, Monkey Island Estate is a centuries-old retreat. With picturesque views and beautifully manicured gardens, visitors can find their own private countryside escape to relish in, and immerse themselves in a rich history of dukes, monks, and monarchs. Monkey Island’s remarkable and intriguing history dates back to 1197, when monks attached to the Merton Priory settled nearby.
After living many lives, the island was sold in the 1980s and shuttered its doors until 2019, reopening boasting interior restorations by Alexandra Champalimaud’s New York-based Champalimaud Design. The design celebrates the lore and anecdotal history of Monkey Island, including the early-18th century monkey paintings by the famed Andieu de Clermont, which are the centerpieces of the property.
The island has hosted showbiz royalty, famous literary visitors, and now, visitors from all over the world who seek out the hotel’s Floating Spa, Whisky Snug or delectable modern takes on British classics at The Monkey Island Brasserie, which offers a seasonal menu with produce freshly sourced from the gardens and surrounding countryside, a quintessentially English Afternoon Tea and Sunday Roast.
Cameron Highlands Resort
Tea plantations, strawberry farms, and glowing evening sunsets serve as the backdrop for the luxurious Cameron Highlands Resort. The property is a haven for travelers who adore romance, seclusion, and nostalgia from a grand colonial past. The boutique hotel rests on the largest hill retreat in Malaysia and is surrounded by lush greenery, providing amazing views of the rolling hills.
Promising splendor, romance and nostalgia, the interiors hark back to its grand colonial heritage with tall French doors, timber-beamed ceilings and plantation shutters combined with the colors and textures of Jim Thompson’s famed Asian silks. The Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company survives and thrives to this day but as legend has it, Jim Thompson had been staying at a nearby resort with his friends. They all went to church, but Jim never returned to the bungalow for tea – his disappearance has become one of the greater unsolved mysteries of Southeast Asia, but his legacy endures through his famous silks that remain an integral piece of the hotel’s design.
The Hotel Majestic Kuala Lumpur
Considered the height of luxury at the time, The Hotel Majestic in Kuala Lumpur was originally designed by the Dutch architectural firm, Keyes and Dowdeswell. In 1932, The Hotel Majestic was the largest and grandest hotel in Kuala Lumpur, embracing modern sanitation for the first time in Malayan history. A historical landmark throughout the 20th century, the hotel shuttered its doors and reopened in 2012 after a full restoration.
Now considered a national heritage site, the hotel is a glamorous reminder of the city’s distinctive past but meets all of today’s modern luxuries and innovations. The Majestic Wing is the original historic hotel building, featuring 47 opulent suites, each exuding old world elegance and a sense of history. The vintage charm rings through and is contrasted with tastefully modern furnishings. The Tower Wing features 253 guestrooms and suites, and compliments its predecessor with its contemporary, polished, and sophisticated furnishings.
