I have stayed in, operated and visited many hotels in my career, but every now and then, I come across a hospitality concept that genuinely makes me stop and think, “How did they actually manage to build this?”
That was exactly my reaction when I was invited to experience the newly opened 1975 Avenue & Hotel by Tiong Nam Hospitality in Johor.
Before arriving, I knew the concept involved two Boeing 747 aircraft, which had been converted into a hotel. I had seen some pictures of it, but I had my doubts on how an aircraft could realistically become a comfortable hotel.
Then I saw it.
Two massive Boeing 747s sitting on the property, no longer waiting to take passengers across continents, but rather, beginning an entirely different chapter of their lives.
This is not intended to be a promotional article. I am writing about it because, from a hospitality, architectural and engineering point of view, I think this is a very interesting tourism product for Malaysia.
A hotel normally starts with a building designed around guestrooms. Here, the designers had to do the opposite: They had the fixed shell of a Boeing 747 and somehow had to create hotel rooms inside it.
Aircraft fuselages were never designed to accommodate hotel bedrooms, bathrooms, staircases, furniture, wardrobes, lighting and all the other things we take for granted in a conventional hotel.
That makes the result even more impressive.
The two aircraft, named Bove and Bey, have each been transformed into nine suites, each one given their own character.
Walking inside for the first time was quite an experience for me. I was very conscious that I was inside an aircraft, yet it did not feel like someone had simply put a bed into an old aeroplane.These are proper suites with carefully integrated bathrooms, living areas, lighting, furniture and detailing. There's even a bathtub in every bathroom.
Designing around constraints
What interested me most was how the designers worked around the physical limitations of the aircraft. The curvature of the fuselage, restricted ceiling heights, narrow sections and existing aircraft structure all dictated what could and could not be done.
You cannot simply move a wall because the architect wants another 300mm. Everything has to work within the aircraft. Yet the design team managed to use those constraints to create character rather than allowing them to become disadvantages.
I am about 170cm tall and I found the ceiling height comfortable. Taller guests may naturally be more cautious of certain areas, but that is part of the reality, and perhaps even the charm, of sleeping inside a Boeing 747.
The staircases, upper levels, glass balustrades, lighting and clever use of built-in furniture demonstrate how much thought must have gone into making every centimetre useful.
From a hotel development perspective, I would have loved to be in some of those design meetings.
The 1975 Avenue & Hotel is also not simply two aircraft sitting in an open field.
There is a separate hotel building linking the planes which houses the reception and additional guestrooms, together with dining and recreational facilities. The overall development includes a man-made "beach pool", event spaces and other sections for recreational experiences.
The main lobby is striking. It is contemporary, colourful and almost theatrical in places, but importantly, it complements the aircraft concept without turning the whole property into a theme park.
The restaurant is equally attractive from a design perspective. During my visit, it was still not quite ready as I found the food quality still requiring some improvements. The property had its opening only on Aug 8, so it is understandable that there are still things that need to be ironed out. (Its official opening is scheduled for October.)
More than just another hotel
What I like about this project is that it gives people another reason to travel. Hotels sometimes become too focused on rooms, rates and facilities.
But memorable hospitality products need a story worth telling.
The aircraft itself will undoubtedly become one of the most photographed features of the hotel, but the real appeal goes beyond that. Children will remember the excitement of sleeping inside a Boeing 747, couples may find it an unusual option for a weekend staycation, and companies can use the setting for retreats and gatherings that feel very different from the usual hotel function room.
Most importantly, guests will leave with a story to tell: “I slept in a Boeing 747 last night.”
That kind of memorable experience gives the property something many hotels spend years trying to build, a clear and distinctive identity. For families, staycation travellers and corporate groups, I believe the concept has considerable potential.
More importantly, I see it as another creative addition to Malaysia's tourism landscape, particularly as Johor continues to develop as a destination in its own right.
As a hotelier, I went away impressed not simply by the novelty of sleeping in an aeroplane. I was impressed by the imagination required to look at two retired Boeing 747s and see a hotel.
Someone had to first believe this crazy idea could work. Then architects, engineers, designers and hoteliers had to figure out how to make it work.
And they did.
And sometimes, these are the hospitality projects worth talking about.
Would you spend a night in a Boeing 747 hotel?
The views expressed are entirely the writer's own.
Dr Hanley Chew is a hotelier, entrepreneur and former CEO with over three decades of leadership experience in the hospitality industry across Asia. He has led hotel groups, advised businesses on strategy and transformation, and remains a passionate advocate for innovation, leadership excellence and the future of hospitality. His writing draws on practical experience and explores how emerging trends in technology and customer experience are reshaping the way organisations create value.
