Hotel and hospitality company IGB Corp Bhd is expanding its operations east with its Cititel Express Hotel, the seventh property under its management in Malaysia.

In partnership with the Sabah Economic Developtment Corporation, IGB executive director Tan Boon Lee said the RM27 million 275-room hotel will come up in the Asia City area.

Kota Kinabalu Cititel Express will be the second such project for the Cititel Hotel Management Group, the first being a 240-room hotel along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur, which will be officially opened next week.

Tan said the third project located in Penang will be announced shortly.

"As soon as Kota Kinabalu City Hall approves the plan, we will start work. Hopefully, the approval will be in three to four months and it may take 14 to 18 months for the project to be completed," he added.