Former Hong Kong actress Amy Yip to open a ‘durian hotel’ in Penang with Jack Neo as creative director

Neo has also been invited to serve as the hotel’s creative director. He will draw on his creative expertise from his film career to incorporate artistic aesthetics into the hotel’s design and create a one-of-a-kind accommodation experience.

While Neo admits conceptualising the “Durian Hotel” will be challenging, it is “not too difficult”.

When shooting 2023 film The King Of Musang King, he realised durians as a theme “offer endless creative possibilities”.

He said that durians symbolise abundance, beauty, and fragrance, and believes the fruit deserves a higher artistic status beyond being viewed merely as food: “I envision giving durians a more elevated status. I’ve gathered a lot of material to show how durians can transcend into abstract art.”

While the “Durian Hotel” is still in the planning stage, Neo revealed that interested parties have already approached him to expand the concept to Pahang.

He also did not rule out bringing the idea back to Singapore, though he noted the high cost of land here.