On The Edge of Wildness
I rarely write about a specific
property or experience, trying to focus my thoughts on the business aspects of
hospitality and tourism. From time to time, however, I come across an
experience that I believe is worth bringing to your attention. Recently I have
visited the Island of Sumba – which lies about 400 KM southeast of Bali.
For the past 26 years and perhaps
longer, surfing aficionados from all over the world have been making the
journey to the Indonesian Island of Sumba to experience the left hand wave at Nihiwatu, a
magnificent surfing paradise. It was in 1988 that Claude and Petra Graves first
arrived and painstakingly set about building a small resort with eleven keys.
They continued to attract surfers limiting the number to ten per day giving the
resort almost cult status and building a successful business that has garnered
more than its fair share of awards from leading publications around the world.
Unspoiled Exotic Location
The secluded resort is nestled upon
567 acres of land, only 65 acres of which are developed -- and it is capped at
that. Formerly a Dutch colony, Sumba is home to 650,000 residents and is
categorized as a deciduous forest eco region due to its special flora and
fauna. Nihiwatu features a spectacular 2.5 KM of pristine beachfront.
Authentic Culinary Excellence and
Bespoke Luxury Service
Each suite at Nihiwatu has a
dedicated butler – always at the ready with a smile to cater to guests’ every
need in a charmingly unobtrusive way. They are part of the 300 terrific
Sumbanese staff led by a handpicked group of expats who truly appreciate the
culture and the island.
Nihiwatu’s main restaurant, the
Wavefront, has unparalleled views and a renowned executive chef Bernard who has
a lot of experience in Asia. Guests can also eat at the Nio Beach BBQ or gather
at the iconic Boathouse Bar where the beach fire pit invites inspired nightly
discussions of the day’s activities. Resort rates include breakfast, lunch and
dinner and nonalcoholic beverages.
Active Leisure on Land and Sea
Nihiwatu features every form of
water sport imaginable from surfing and snorkeling to scuba diving, deep sea
fishing and stand up paddle boarding. Active pursuits on land range from
trekking through the natural and unspoiled beauty of the landscape, to
horse-riding on Sumbanese horses (smaller than western horses but sturdy and
ready for a cantor on the beach), to yoga beside an enticing
waterfall, or mountain biking on terrain that ranges from rugged to scenic
trails. Cooking classes are offered in the beach kitchen, perfectly positioned
between the forest and the sea. Your butler will take you to a local village
and introduce you to the villagers and to the antique shops in the town which
will ship home for you. If you buy from the hotel, they will also ship for you.
Sumptuous Spa
The Spa at Nihiwatu features treatment huts at the water’s edge, combining seclusion, inspiring views and the calming sounds of the waves. The skilled local therapists offer a full range of massage and body treatments, including scented foot baths, body scrubs and facials. There will be a purpose built spa in the next phase.
Giving Back to the Community
Perhaps the most significant aspect
of this luxurious getaway is that in 2001 the Graves founded the Sumba
Foundation with Sean Downs, a successful businessman who stayed at
the resort to surf. The foundation is committed to helping “alleviate the
burden of poverty” on the people of this extraordinary island of Sumba by
improving health and education, creating economic opportunities, fighting
malaria, and providing tanks of drinking water throughout the island. As the
business became more successful, more money was directed to the Foundation so
that, to date, 15 primary schools and 48 water wells have been built, five
clinics opened and 172 villages are supplied with clean water. All this has
resulted in reducing malaria in neighboring villages by 85%.
Plans to Grow Responsibly
The next phase of the journey is in
process. Looking to take the resort to the next level in 2013, U.S.
entrepreneur Chris Burch purchased the resort and, together with his Managing
Partner James McBride -- best known for his time at the Ritz Carlton Hotel
Company, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, and most recently as President of
Malaysian hotel conglomerate YTL Hotels -- set about transforming the property.
Adding suites including a five bedroom master suite, four tree house apartments
and additional rooms, the resort will grow to grow to 32 spacious villas and a
tree-house Jungle Spa by Spring 2015.
The deep-rooted commitment to give
back will be maintained and all profits repatriated into the Sumba
Foundation. The result: a unique collaboration between Nihiwatu and the
local community that today co-exists with compelling interdependence: the
resort has become the biggest employer on the island.
In keeping with a philosophy for
environmental responsibility and the desire to reduce carbon emissions, the
resort produces its own fuel through harvested coconut meat; hotel waste water
is treated and recycled to the gardens; and the daily menu is influenced by the
organic garden and local produce from fresh fish caught daily to Nihiwatu’s
very own chicken farm.
Traveling to Sumba
Sumba is an hour and 20 minutes by air from Bali. Guests fly into the new international terminal in Denpasar, Bali and then take one of several daily turbo prop flights to Sumba. People combine a visit to Sumba with a few days in Bali as well. Nihiwatu also organizes charter flights for guests that can be booked via their Bali office. Please contact info@nihiwatu.com for information.
Looking ahead
A steady stream of international
journalists from the most respected lifestyle, design and travel publications
are coming to see what partners Chris and James have in mind as they complete
this development and start on another project just up the coast.
While you no longer have to be a
surfer to enjoy this resort, it certainly enhances the experience. More
important is an appreciation of the Sumba Foundation that exists because of the
generosity of hotel guests past and present who continue to support the vision
-- proving that the hospitality industry as a responsible citizen can have a
lasting effect when it puts its mind to it.
For more information and to make
reservations please let me introduce you to Peter Neto, the General Manager at gm@nihiwatu.com.
