Thistle Johor Bahru Hotel closed permanently on 30 September 2025, and the site is now tied to one of Malaysia’s most-watched hotel transitions. This guide explains what happened, who owns the property, the reported RM150 million sale, and the planned reopening as JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru in 2026. We have pulled the timeline from the official Thistle closure notice, CNA Luxury, The Peak, Mothership and The Iskandarian so you can separate confirmed facts from reported plans.
Last checked: 2026-09-27
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Property Name: Thistle Johor Bahru Hotel · Former Star Rating: 5-star · Location: Jalan Sungai Chat, Johor Bahru City Center · Status: Closed as of September 30, 2025 · New Identity: JW Marriott Johor Bahru (opening December 1, 2026) · Owner: YTL Hotels
Thistle Johor Bahru at a Glance
What Happened to Thistle Hotel, Johor Bahru?
The direct answer is simple: Thistle Johor Bahru Hotel closed permanently on 30 September 2025. The hotel’s own closure notice used that exact date, and it told guests the property would cease operations rather than simply rebrand in place. Mothership also covered the closure, confirming the hotel was no longer accepting bookings.
What follows is the more important part for travellers. CNA Luxury later reported that the property is planned to reopen as JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru. If that plan goes ahead, it would become the first JW Marriott in Johor Bahru and the second in Malaysia after JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
Key Dates in the Transition
- Before 2009: The building operated as Hyatt Regency Johor Bahru, according to The Iskandarian.
- 2009: The property was rebranded as Thistle Johor Bahru, adds the same report.
- 30 September 2025: The hotel closed permanently, per the official Thistle notice.
- October 2025: The Peak reported that YTL Hotels had acquired the hotel and planned a revamp.
- 10 December 2025: CNA Luxury reported the JW Marriott plan and carried the reported RM150 million figure.
- 1 December 2026: Reported target opening date for the planned JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru, according to CNA Luxury.
Bottom line: The Thistle brand exited Johor Bahru on 30 September 2025. The reported next chapter is a YTL Hotels-led conversion to JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru.
Why Did Thistle Johor Bahru Close, and Who Owns It Now?
The official closure notice did not blame low occupancy or cite a single operational reason. Instead, it framed the decision as a permanent goodbye. The management notice read:
“After years of memories and meaningful connections, Thistle Johor Bahru will close its doors on 30 September 2025.”
Thistle Johor Bahru management, official closure notice
That same notice added that “the Thistle spirit lives on at Thistle Port Dickson Resort,” which is why the brand remains present in Malaysia even though the Johor Bahru property is closed.
On ownership, the widely cited report from CNA Luxury says YTL Hotels is the owner of the former property and the developer behind the JW Marriott conversion. The same report gives the RM150 million figure as the reported acquisition price. The Peak also described the acquisition as a YTL Hotels deal in October 2025.
Key takeaway: The reported owner today is YTL Hotels, not the Thistle brand. The reported price is RM150 million, but that figure comes from a media report rather than an official company statement.
What Is the New Name of Thistle Hotel Johor Bahru?
The planned new name is JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru. According to CNA Luxury, the property is being developed by YTL Hotels under the JW Marriott brand, with an opening date currently reported as 1 December 2026.
If the plan is completed, the former Thistle Johor Bahru site will become a JW Marriott property in a city that has not had one before. The former Thistle, by comparison, was listed as a 5-star hotel on Hotels.com while it was still operating.
In short: The reported new name is JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru, but the only confirmed fact right now is that the former Thistle property is closed.
Alternatives and Our Pick
For travellers who want to stay on the former Thistle site after it reopens, the planned JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru is the obvious forward-looking option. It is not open yet, so the recommendation is for future booking, not for a trip today.
For a current city stay, one named alternative to verify directly is Renaissance Johor Bahru, which is the existing Marriott-branded hotel most commonly grouped with this comparison. If you specifically want to keep your stay inside the Thistle brand in Malaysia, the official closure notice points to Thistle Port Dickson Resort as the continuing Thistle property.
Our pick: JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru
Choose this if: you want to return to the exact former Thistle site after the conversion is complete. The JW Marriott plan is the clearest path back to the old Thistle location, and the reported 1 December 2026 opening gives you a date to monitor rather than a booking to make today.
The takeaway: The planned JW Marriott is the strongest future choice on this site. For confirmed, bookable stays today, compare current city hotels such as Renaissance Johor Bahru before the conversion opens.
Related reading: Best Hotels in Johor Bahru, Malaysia · Santosa Hotel Closure: Guest Reviews & Full Analysis
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new name of Thistle Hotel in Johor Bahru?
The planned new name is JW Marriott Hotel Johor Bahru, according to CNA Luxury. The hotel is not yet open under that name.
Who is the current owner of Thistle Hotel Johor Bahru?
The reported owner is YTL Hotels, with a reported acquisition price of RM150 million. Those details have been published by CNA Luxury.
What is the Thistle Johor Bahru star rating?
The former hotel was listed as a 5-star property on Hotels.com while it was operating.
Is Thistle Johor Bahru closed permanently?
Yes. The official Thistle closure notice confirmed that the property closed permanently on 30 September 2025.
What was the previous name of Thistle Johor Bahru?
The building operated as Hyatt Regency Johor Bahru before the Thistle rebranding, according to The Iskandarian.
What is the address of Thistle Johor Bahru?
The hotel is located on Jalan Sungai Chat in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia, according to its former Hotels.com listing.
Remember: The JW Marriott name, the YTL ownership and the 2026 date are all reported details. Check the operator before making any booking.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on published sources directly relating to the former Thistle Johor Bahru property. All citations appear inline in the text above. The closure date comes from the hotel’s official notice. The JW Marriott details come from CNA Luxury, which specifically reported on the YTL Hotels plan. We have labelled ownership, price and opening date as “reported” because the hotel operator has not yet published a separate confirmation.
Data was current as of December 2025. No on-site visit or staff interview was conducted. No independent verification of the future opening date was performed.