Commonly referred to as the “New Bali”, Lombok is an unspoiled paradise with beautiful views and stunning beaches, just a short boat ride or flight from Bali, Indonesia.

Kempinski Hotels has been selected to become one of the first international hotel groups to operate a luxury resort on the island. A management agreement was signed with the 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’ of a successful collaboration with the company at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, which opened in February 2019.

This stunning new property will be set on 14.3 hectares of beachfront in a secluded bay on Mekaki Beach, on the southwestern coast of the island. The Apurva Kempinski Lombok will be home to 200 suites and villas starting with a generous 65m2, placing them among the largest entry-level rooms in Indonesia.

A world-class integrated spa and wellness facility will tap into Indonesia’s deep connections with health and healing, while five dining venues will celebrate the archipelago’s rich culinary traditions. An outdoor party lawn and extensive meeting facilities will also make the resort a popular destination for island 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 center: a mixed-use development that will create an integrated luxury resort destination similar in scope to Nusa Dua in Bali. The project will span across 157 hectares and 3.6km of Mekaki Beach. The Apurva Kempinski Lombok will reportedly occupy one of the largest plots at the heart of the development.

This development is part of the Indonesian government’s bid to drive tourism growth in four designated locations across Indonesia. Lombok is one of the primary locations where the government’s efforts will be focused, with plans afoot 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 to build a new international hospital.

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March sees the launch of the inaugural MotoGP Indonesia at the recently completed Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, one of several international events that local authorities hope will attract tourists to the island in the coming years.

“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.” - Bernold Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer of Kempinski Group and Chairman of the Management Board of Kempinski AG.

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

Free from crowds and traffic, Lombok is dotted with traditional villages, local markets, and emerald rice paddies. The white-sand beaches and turquoise waters that surround the island are a haven for surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, and diving, while the verdant interior is crisscrossed with cycling routes and hiking trails.

Intrepid visitors might attempt the trek up Mount Rinjani, the highest mountain on Lombok, which passes picturesque waterfalls, rejuvenating hot springs, and quiet villages. The island also serves as the stop-off point for the Gili Islands, home to some of the best snorkeling and diving spots in the world, and for trips to Komodo National Park, the island habitat of endangered Komodo Dragons.

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

Last month, the company announced that the luxury five-star Kempinski Hotel & Resort Yanbu in western Saudi Arabia will open later this year.