World’s biggest hotel: Inside First World Hotel & Plaza and why it's always full
What impresses tourists about the world’s largest hotel (photo: Getty Images)
A city in one building and 7,351 rooms — what the world’s largest hotel looks like, why it resembles a child’s construction set, and how the Malaysian giant stays fully booked even without five stars on its facade.
RBC-Ukraine tells the story of First World Hotel & Plaza — a place where the number of rooms exceeds the population of many small towns, and the walk to breakfast can turn into a real journey.
When we imagine the world’s largest hotel, we usually picture Dubai skyscrapers or the golden corridors of Las Vegas. But the true titan of the hotel industry is hidden high in the mountains of Malaysia.
There, among the misty jungles of Genting Highlands, stands a complex that looks less like a hotel and more like a full-scale metropolis under one roof.
Battle for the crown: Malaysia vs Las Vegas
First World Hotel & Plaza is not just a hotel — it is a Guinness World Records holder. Its history is a constant race to be called the biggest.
When it opened in 2006 with a “modest” 6,118 rooms, it lost the title to the famous Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, which had 7,128 rooms.
But Malaysians are not used to giving up. The construction of a second giant tower in 2015 expanded the property to an incredible 7,351 rooms. Since then, the crown has remained firmly in the hands of Genting Group.
The world’s largest hotel, First World Hotel & Plaza (photo: Getty Images)
Why is it always packed? (The secret behind 90% occupancy)
First World Hotel does not impress with refined architecture — from the outside it looks like a bright children’s construction set, and inside it has only three stars. You will not find gold faucets here, but you will find what makes millions of tourists book rooms months in advance:
A casino in the middle of an Islamic country
This is the only place in Malaysia where gambling is legally allowed. Since most of the country’s population is Muslim, Genting Highlands has become a true “Las Vegas of Southeast Asia.”
Strategic location
The hotel is located 50 km from Kuala Lumpur and is connected by direct walkways to giant theme parks, shopping malls, and entertainment complexes.
Affordable for everyone
Unlike many competitors, First World is aimed at the mass tourist market. It offers everything from 3,164 budget standard rooms to exclusive World Club suites.
Technology
To avoid endless lines, the hotel introduced one of the world’s fastest automated check-in systems.
The giant in numbers:
- 7,351 rooms in two towers
- 90% average occupancy even during the pandemic — an almost impossible figure for a property of this scale
- 50 km from the capital at an altitude of more than 1,700 meters above sea level
This place proves that to be number one in the world, you do not have to be the most expensive. It is enough to offer people scale, affordability, and the chance to win a jackpot in the clouds.
