Planning a trip around record-breaking scale? The search for the largest hotel in the world leads straight to the highlands of Malaysia, where the First World Hotel holds the official title with 7,351 operational rooms, a record verified by Guinness World Records and widely reported by Forbes. This guide breaks down exactly what that number means, how the top competitors stack up, and what travelers actually experience at these mega-properties.

Last checked: 2026-09-28

World’s largest hotel: First World Hotel, Genting Highlands, Malaysia · Room count: 7,351 operational rooms · Buildings: Three interconnected towers · Record recognition: Officially recognized by Guinness World Records

The Largest Hotel in the World: Size, Scale, and What You Need to Know

By Hotelhunt Editorial Team | February 2026

How We Researched This

Last checked: 2026-09-28.

Sources reviewed: Official property site (Resorts World Genting), Guinness World Records, Wikipedia, travel industry publications.

We did not conduct on-site inspections or staff interviews. Room counts are based on the operational inventory figures recorded by Guinness World Records and corroborated by secondary editorial sources.

Snapshot: The World’s Largest Hotel

1 World’s largest hotel

First World Hotel, Genting Highlands, Malaysia (Guinness World Records)

2 Room count

7,351 operational rooms (Glion Institute)

3 Buildings

Three interconnected towers (Fox News)

4 Record recognition

Officially recognized by Guinness World Records (Global Gaming Business)

Key Facts: First World Hotel

World’s largest hotel	First World Hotel, Genting Highlands, Malaysia
Room count	7,351 operational rooms
Buildings	Three interconnected towers
Record recognition	Officially recognized by Guinness World Records
Global ranking by room count	#1 with 7,351 operational rooms
Record duration	Holds the title since the 2015 expansion, per Guinness World Records
Scale comparison	~234 rooms ahead of The Venetian/Palazzo combined ranking; more than 2,000 ahead of Izmailovo Hotel

Global ranking by room count: #1 with 7,351 operational rooms (First World Hotel)
Record duration: Holds the title since June 2015, per Guinness World Records
Building composition: 7,351 rooms spread across three interconnected buildings
Scale comparison: ~234 rooms ahead of The Venetian/Palazzo combined ranking; more than 2,000 ahead of Izmailovo Hotel

Which Hotel Has 10,000 Rooms?

A common myth in the travel industry is that a hotel with 10,000 guest rooms exists somewhere in the world. This rumor circulates on travel forums and comparison sites. The precise answer is that no single hotel currently meets that threshold. The largest hotel in the world is the First World Hotel in Malaysia, with 7,351 operational rooms, a record confirmed by Guinness World Records.

The myth of a 10,000-room hotel likely stems from combined room counts of massive integrated resorts. For example, the Resorts World Genting complex encompasses several thousand rooms across multiple hotel brands. However, the Guinness record specifically applies to a single operational hotel property, which helps clarify why the total falls short of the five-figure mark.

The implication: If you encounter a claim of a 10,000-room hotel, it almost certainly refers to an entire resort complex rather than a single hotel. The current verified maximum for a single property is the 7,351 rooms at First World Hotel.

What Are the Top 5 Largest Hotels in the World?

Room-count rankings shift slightly depending on whether you count combined resort inventories or single properties. Here is how the top five generally rank, based on the most cited industry data.

First World Hotel: The Undisputed Leader

The Guinness World Records holder, First World Hotel, is the definitive answer to the search for the largest hotel in the world. With 7,351 rooms, it outpaces the rest of the field. The property operates from three interconnected towers within the Resorts World Genting complex. The room count jumped from 6,118 to 7,351 after the completion of a second tower annex.

Specifications: First World Hotel
Name	First World Hotel
Parent Resort	Resorts World Genting
Room Count	7,351 operational
Number of Towers	3 interconnected
Location	Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia
Record	Guinness World Records (largest hotel by room count)
Previous Record	6,118 rooms (before Tower 2 expansion)

The Contenders for the Remaining Top Slots

Here is how the other largest hotels compare, from WorldAtlas and travel industry databases.

Hotel Name	Location	Room Count	Building Count	Key Metric / Year
First World Hotel	Genting Highlands, Malaysia	7,351	3 towers	Guinness record holder since 2015
The Venetian Resort / The Palazzo	Las Vegas, USA	~7,117	2 towers (combined)	Combined inventory ranking
MGM Grand Las Vegas	Las Vegas, USA	6,852	Main tower plus additional suites	Older total-inventory ranking
Izmailovo Hotel	Moscow, Russia	~5,000	4 buildings	Largest hotel complex in Europe
Ambassador City Jomtien	Jomtien Beach, Thailand	~4,219	1 complex	Top SE Asian competitor

Warning on definitions: The term “largest hotel” can be misleading. Always check if a ranking refers to a single building, a branded complex, or a combined resort inventory. The Guinness record belongs to a single operational hotel property.

Pros and Cons of Staying at a Mega-Hotel

Pros

Massive scale means endless amenities (shopping, shows, dining) on-site.
High volume often means competitive pricing on base rooms.
Iconic, bucket-list accommodation for hotel enthusiasts.
Multiple room categories to choose from.

Cons

Long distances between room, lobby, and amenities.
Crowds can be overwhelming during peak times.
Service can feel transactional rather than personalized.
Location often remote (e.g., mountaintop resort) or in busy tourist zones.

The bottom line: The top five largest hotels are dominated by properties in Asia and the United States. The First World Hotel leads by roughly 234 rooms over the closest combined-competitor ranking, while remaining more than 2,000 rooms ahead of the largest single hotel complex cited in European rankings.

What Is the Largest Hotel in the World by Size?

When searching for the largest hotel in the world, a key distinction lies in what “size” means. The most universally accepted metric is room count, which is how the Guinness World Records title is awarded. By this measure, the First World Hotel is the winner.

However, if “size” is measured by floor area, the rankings change. Massive Las Vegas properties like the MGM Grand (6,852 rooms in older inventory rankings) or The Venetian Resort, with its extensive suites and public spaces, take up considerable square footage. Press reports on the First World Hotel note its significant footprint, but comprehensive floor-area data for all competitors is not consistently standardized.

The pattern: Room count remains the industry standard for ranking “largest hotels” because it is a clear, quantifiable metric. Area-based rankings are often disputed because they measure different things (total floor area, site lot, building volume).

What Is the 2nd Largest Hotel in the World?

The answer depends on how strictly you define a single hotel. In older rankings that count combined branded properties, The Venetian Resort and The Palazzo in Las Vegas are the closest runner-up, with roughly 7,117 rooms together. If the comparison is limited to a single hotel complex, the Izmailovo Hotel in Moscow, Russia, is widely cited as the largest hotel complex in Europe, with approximately 5,000 rooms.

Built for the 1980 Summer Olympics, this four-building complex is often used as the second-place example in lists that exclude combined resort inventories. Other contenders include the MGM Grand Las Vegas, which reports 6,852 rooms in older total-inventory rankings; however, industry rankings often separate the main hotel from adjoining suite and tower inventories.

The catch: The definition of a “single hotel” versus a “resort complex” directly influences the ranking. If combined branded properties are counted, The Venetian/Palazzo sits closer to First World; if a single complex is required, Izmailovo is the largest in Europe.

What Is the Largest Hotel in the UK?

The United Kingdom does not have a hotel that competes with the global scale of the First World Hotel or the Las Vegas mega-resorts. The largest hotel in the UK by room count is typically less than 1,000 rooms, placing it far down the global ranking.

This regional variation highlights how context-dependent the term “largest” is. In the UK, a hotel with 1,000 rooms is considered massive. In Malaysia or Thailand, that scale is standard for a mid-sized resort wing.

Why this matters: Travelers searching for the “largest hotel in the UK” will find very different answers than those looking for the global record. The UK’s largest hotels are concentrated in London and serve the business and conference market, rather than the integrated resort model common in Asia and the US.

Where Is the First World Hotel and How to Get There

The First World Hotel is located at Resorts World Genting, a hill resort development perched on Mount Genting in the state of Pahang, Malaysia. The resort is a major destination for regional tourists, offering a cool climate and extensive entertainment options.

Getting there is an experience in itself. Most international visitors arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). From the airport, a car or shuttle transfer takes approximately one hour to the Genting Skyway cable car terminal at Awana Station. The cable car then rises directly to the resort complex, offering panoramic views of the rainforest. For those who prefer driving, a direct road provides access to the summit.

Travel note: The Resorts World Genting complex includes multiple hotels. The First World Hotel is the largest, but it operates alongside other brands within the same resort, making it a true one-stop destination.

Alternatives to First World Hotel

While the First World Hotel holds the record, several other hotels offer a comparably massive scale for travelers who want the experience of a giant resort without traveling to Southeast Asia.

The Venetian Resort Las Vegas (USA): Offers over 7,000 rooms when combined with The Palazzo. Ideal for travelers focused on the US market and Las Vegas entertainment.
MGM Grand Las Vegas (USA): A Las Vegas mega-casino with over 6,800 rooms in its older total-inventory ranking. A top choice for groups attending conferences or large events.
Izmailovo Hotel (Moscow, Russia): The largest hotel complex in Europe with roughly 5,000 rooms. Provides a unique architectural experience dating back to the 1980 Olympics.
Ambassador City Jomtien (Thailand): A beachfront behemoth with over 4,000 rooms, providing a direct ocean alternative to the mountain setting of First World.

Traveler takeaway: Each of these alternatives offers a different take on the mega-hotel experience, so the best match depends on whether you prefer a Las Vegas entertainment hub, a European conference-scale complex, or a beachfront Southeast Asian resort.

Our Pick: The Best Choice for Hotel Enthusiasts

For record seekers and hotel enthusiasts, the First World Hotel is the obvious pick. It holds the official Guinness World Records title for the largest hotel by number of rooms (7,351). Its location in the Genting Highlands provides a unique, cool-weather escape from tropical Malaysia, and its scale within the Resorts World Genting complex offers a complete destination experience.

For travelers in North America seeking a comparable mega-hotel experience, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas is the closest rival. Its combined room count approaches the First World Hotel, and its location on the Las Vegas Strip makes it a premier entertainment destination.

For group travelers and those exploring Europe, the Izmailovo Hotel in Moscow offers a distinct cultural experience with its Soviet-era architecture and massive conference facilities. In Thailand, the Ambassador City Jomtien provides a beachfront setting with a similarly vast inventory of rooms.

For a deeper look at how unique properties compare globally, you might find our analysis of the Buxton Crescent Hotel & Spa: Reviews, History & Comparisons useful for understanding how scale impacts the guest experience in a historic context.

For another example of a thoroughly fact-checked hotel profile, read our breakdown of the City Seasons Al Hamra Hotel: Full Fact-Checked Profile.

“The largest hotel (number of rooms) is the First World Hotel (Malaysia) with 7,351 operational rooms.”
– Guinness World Records, Official record authority

“The hotel increased its size from 6,118 rooms to 7,351, with the construction of a Tower 2 Annex.”
– Guinness World Records, Official record authority

Additional sources

oe24.at, vice.com, the-sun.com, en.wikipedia.org, oyster.com, en.wikipedia.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the largest hotel in the US?

In older total-inventory rankings, the MGM Grand Las Vegas is listed with 6,852 rooms. When combined branded properties are counted, The Venetian Resort and The Palazzo together exceed 7,000 rooms. Both are on the Las Vegas Strip and rank among the largest hotel complexes in the world.

Is First World Hotel part of a larger resort complex?

Yes, it is the flagship accommodation of Resorts World Genting, a large integrated hill resort in Pahang, Malaysia. The resort includes casinos, shopping centers, theme parks, and multiple other hotels.

How many buildings does the First World Hotel have?

The hotel’s room inventory spans three interconnected tower sections in current operator and press descriptions. Earlier descriptions commonly referred to two principal towers before the later Tower 2 annex expanded the property.

What is the largest hotel in Europe?

The largest hotel complex in Europe is the Izmailovo Hotel in Moscow, Russia. It comprises four buildings with approximately 5,000 rooms and was originally built to house athletes for the 1980 Summer Olympics.

What is the largest hotel in Asia?

The largest hotel in Asia by room count is the First World Hotel in Genting Highlands, Malaysia, with 7,351 operational rooms. It holds the Guinness World Records title for the largest hotel by number of rooms.

Sources and Methodology

Data current as of February 2026. Room counts are based on operational inventories recorded by official property sites and confirmed by neutral record-keeping bodies.

The bottom line: Data current as of February 2026. Room counts are based on operational inventories recorded by official property sites and confirmed by neutral record-keeping bodies.