Yap (left) and Canals (right) sealing the partnership with a handshake after the Hotel Management Agreement signing between Richmond Asia Group and Barcelo Hotel Group in Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR: Richmond Asia Group announced the signing of a Hotel Management Agreement (HMA) with Barcelo Hotel Group on oct 1, to operate a landmark hospitality-led development named Richmond Estelar, situated in Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle.
Richmond Estelar is envisioned as a new benchmark in urban luxury with its setting against the city’s most iconic backdrop. It comprises 199 exclusive hotel suites, carefully designed to blend the prestige of international hospitality with the resilience of income-generating real estate. The project is slated for completion in Q4 2028.
With its limited collection of suites in Kuala Lumpur’s most coveted district, where prime land is scarce, Richmond Estelar offers a truly rare ownership opportunity.
This milestone development is set to drive stronger accommodation demand and higher spending. The area’s colonial-era shophouses have been reimagined into themed bars, fine dining restaurants and concept stores, cementing its status as both a food haven and a lifestyle destination.
Complementing the development will be a Michelin-starred sky dining experience, supported by world-class concierge services and refined architectural details. This integration of lifestyle and investment reflects Richmond Asia Group’s philosophy of creating premium, resilient assets that combine lifestyle and investment value.
The group's partnership with Barcelo Hotel Group was driven by the brand’s track record of excellence, international prestige and operational expertise.
Founded in 1931, Barcelo Hotel Group has a legacy spanning nearly a century, operating over 300 hotels in 30 countries across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Known for its high-quality service and adaptability across luxury properties, Barcelo is widely recognised as a brand that delivers consistency and global appeal.
The collaboration also opens opportunities to leverage Barcelo’s global platforms, including its My Barcelo loyalty programme, which boasts over four million members worldwide and accounts for 90% of direct bookings.
This provides Richmond Estelar with direct access to a high-value customer base, enabling targeted marketing campaigns to loyal international travellers, particularly from regions such as Eastern Europe, South Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
In addition, Barcelo Hotel Group's Avoris, which is its travel division that operates in 23 countries includes well-known travel arms such as B Travel, Halcon Viajes, B Travel & Catai, RACC Travel, Endeavor and Atlantida Travel.
With such deep connections in global travel agencies and international platforms, Richmond Estelar’s reach and visibility will expand far beyond Malaysia.
"This partnership with Barcelo Hotel Group marks a new chapter for Richmond Asia Group,” said Richmond Asia Group chief executive officer and executive director Aaron Yap.
“By combining Barcelo Hotel Group’s global standards with our investment-led strategy, we deliver world-class service and sustainable returns.”
“At Barcelo Hotel Group, we bring decades of hospitality experience to this partnership to create a hotel that delights guests, adds value for investors and strengthens local communities”, affirmed Barcelo Hotel Group Mediterranean–Middle & Asia chief operations officer Jose Canals.
The agreement reflects Richmond Asia Group’s commitment to pioneering hospitality-driven investments that redefine Malaysia’s property landscape with lasting value and impact.
Richmond Estelar also intends to introduce Barcelo’s renowned culinary excellence to Kuala Lumpur. Recognised as the hotel group with the most Michelin stars, Barcelo curates dining experiences that marry innovation with authenticity, adding prestige and depth to the development’s lifestyle offering while reinforcing its identity as a hospitality-led destination.
By 2024, Richmond Asia Group had already secured partnerships with two international hotel brands. This year, the milestone expanded to include five global collaborations, strengthening the group’s ambition to unlock new segments of property investment and position Malaysia as a destination for globally benchmarked developments.
With its limited edition hotel suites in exceptional locations, and Barcelo Hotel Group’s world-class management, Richmond Estelar is poised to become an enduring symbol of international prestige in Malaysia.
