Kempinski Hotels has been selected to become one of the first international hotel groups to operate a luxury resort on the island of Lombok in Indonesia.

The brand has signed a management agreement with Indonesian developer PT. Teluk Agung Alami to operate The Apurva Kempinski Lombok, which is scheduled to open in 2027.

The signing follows more than three years’ collaboration with the company at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, which opened in February 2019. 

The new property in Lombok is set on 14.3 hectares of beachfront in a secluded bay on Mekaki Beach on the southwestern coast of the island. 

It will feature 200 suites and villas, an integrated spa and wellness facility and five dining venues celebrating the destination’s rich culinary traditions. An outdoor party lawn and extensive meeting facilities will also be on offer for weddings and events. 

The Apurva Kempinski Lombok will form part of a wider development that will ultimately be home to up to 10 hotels and resorts, as well as an organic farm, a ranch and an equestrian centre. 

The mixed-use development spans 157 hectares and stretches across 3.6km of Mekaki Beach. The Apurva Kempinski Lombok will reportedly occupy one of the largest plots at the heart of the development. 

The project has aims to become an integrated luxury resort destination similar in scope to Nusa Dua in Bali and is part of the Indonesian government’s bid to drive tourism growth in four designated areas across the destination, including Lombok.

The government has plans to extend the runway at Lombok International Airport, upgrade Port Lembar on the west of the island to accommodate luxury yachts and cruise liners, and build a new international hospital. 

“The southern coast of Lombok is an unspoiled paradise, a land before time where lush hillsides and awe-inspiring bays are surrounded by some of the clearest tropical waters in Southeast Asia,” said Bernold Schroeder, chief executive of Kempinski Group and chairman of the management board of Kempinski AG.

“We are thrilled to be partnering again with PT. Teluk Agung Alami to open The Apurva Kempinski Lombok, which promises to be one of the most outstanding resorts in Indonesia.

“The resort will complement the already successful The Apurva Kempinski Bali, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable island-hopping adventure across two spectacular destinations. This new signing reinforces our position as a steadily expanding hotel management group with outstanding properties and reflects our grand ambitions for the region.”

William Katuari, owner of PT Teluk Agung Alami, added: “We are very excited about our new project in Lombok, and together with Kempinski, we will put this island on the map for luxury travellers around the globe.”

Lombok is accessible from Bali via a 30-minute flight or a one-and-a-half-hour ferry crossing, while the flight from Jakarta takes two hours.

Image credit: Kempinski Hotels