Amy Yip Invests in New Durian-Themed Hotel in Penang; Jack Neo Serves as Creative Director

It’s no secret that durians are controversial fruits. Some enjoy the fruit, and some can’t even stand the smell of it. Others love the fruit so much that they’re willing to invest in and open a hotel inspired by the fruit.

Yes, you read that right. A durian-inspired, durian-themed hotel — that’s exactly what Hong Kong former actress Amy Yip and local filmmaker Jack Neo are working on right now.

Amy Yip Invests in New Durian-Themed Hotel in Penang; Jack Neo Serves as Creative Director

According to Shin Min Daily News, 58-year-old Amy Yip is investing in a new durian-themed hotel set to be open in Penang, Malaysia — the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. The site of the durian-themed hotel has been selected, and construction is slated to begin soon.

Yip will also serve as the non-executive director of the hotel.

However, Yip isn’t the only one involved in this exciting new project. Your favourite Liang Po Po is also hopping on board — 64-year-old Jack Neo will be serving as the creative director of the durian-themed hotel.

I mean, after all, he directed the 2023 comedy film “The King of Musang King” lah — if there’s anyone who knows durians, it’s Jack Neo.

Neo shared that while the first durian-themed hotel will be built in Penang, there are plans for one to be built in Pahang, Malaysia as well. The filmmaker added that if there’s a suitable location in Singapore, one could possibly be opened on our side of the causeway too.

Plans for Durian-Themed Decorations and Furnishings

So, what can you look forward to in the durian-themed hotel? A lot.

Both the interior and exterior of the hotel will be designed with the durian theme in mind. You can look forward to pastel themes and wide varieties of durian-shaped decorations.

We just hope that any durian-shaped seats the hotel might have aren’t going to land guests in the hospital with its spikes. And for the sake of all the durian haters, that the hotel doesn’t smell like durians either.

There are also plans for delicacies such as durian hot pot, durian ice cream and durian coffee to be offered at the hotel’s durian restaurant.

Hotel guests will also have the opportunity to visit the durian farm which the restaurant gets its durians from, as well as to participate in other food-related activites.

Amy Yip and Jack Neo: Why a Durian-Themed Hotel?

But why a durian-themed hotel in the first place? What’s so special about durians?

Well, Yip believes that durians are a unique specialty in Southeast Asian food culture. She hopes that a durian-themed hotel would deliver a hotel experience that’s just as unique as well.

On the other hand, Jack Neo believes that durians aren’t just the king of fruits, but something much more profound — he believes that durians are a symbol of the shared memories and emotions for people across Malaysia and Singapore.

With the durian-themed hotel, he hopes to convey this sentiment to visitors from across the globe.

Neo also added that he had stumbled upon the opportunity to work on the durian-themed hotel while promoting “Money No Enough 3” in Malaysia.

According to Neo, the owner of the accommodation where the crew stayed at while promoting “Money No Enough 3” had shared that she wanted to build a series of themed hotels. One of the ideas for these themed hotels was a durian-themed hotel.

Since Neo had amassed a wealth of knowledge on durians after filming “The King of Musang King”, he decided to work together with her to make the durian-themed hotel a reality.

So, what do you think? Would you visit the new durian-themed hotel when it opens?