The first internationally-branded hotel to open in Torok Bay, 30 minutes from Mandalika, an emerging economic zone and home to the Indonesian MotoGP
(Singapore 24 May 2022): Invest Islands, the leading Lombok real estate investment company, is partnering with renowned Spanish hotel brand Meliá Hotels International to launch Gran Meliá Lombok, a breath-taking new beachfront and hillside resort that is set to elevate the island’s travel and hospitality industry to spectacular new heights when it opens in 2025.
Conceived by Invest Islands and Bali-based Inspiral Architecture & Design Studios, and managed by Meliá Hotels International, Gran Meliá Lombok is a masterpiece of high-style, low-impact design. It is located at Torok Bay, a sheltered crescent-shaped stretch of sand on Lombok’s secluded south coast, overlooking the Indian Ocean and framed by emerald headlands and rippling rice fields.
Guests and investors can choose from a collection of beautiful hillside duplexes and one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, all fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology, luxurious interiors, private pools, panoramic windows and ocean views. Distinctive concepts include KAYMA Moroccan tented suites, AURORA minimalist villas, INSPIRAL eco-luxury villas and LA RESIDENZA Bauhaus-style residences. Nestled among swaying palm trees, the resort will also house world-class facilities, including a clubhouse and restaurants. The total value of the project is over US$80 million.
In line with the evocative spirit of Gran Meliá, the most refined brand from Meliá Hotels International, this extraordinary, eco-sensitive five-star retreat will highlight the rich cultural heritage of Lombok and Indonesia infused with a Spanish touch.
Sustainability is woven into every aspect of the property, from the use of organic, locally-sourced materials to energy-saving fixtures, rainwater storage and solar panels. Meliá Hotels International’s commitment to responsible tourism has led it to be recognized as the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe, according to S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2022 (Silver Class distinction), and to be ranked seventh in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the 100 Most Sustainably Managed Companies in the World (and the leading travel company). Under the Invest Islands Foundation, the company is involved in a wide range of projects to improve the lives of local people and the environment, such as waste management, education, organic farming and more.
Overlooking the Indian Ocean, just 25km from Lombok International Airport, Gran Meliá Lombok is the first internationally-branded hotel to open close to Mandalika, an emerging economic zone that is also home to the Indonesian MotoGP. Currently under construction, the resort is scheduled to open its doors in early 2025.
“At Invest Islands," said Kevin Deisser, (above) Co-Founder, Invest Islands, "our vision is to showcase the breath-taking beauty of the Indonesian archipelago and deliver exceptional developments that raise the profile of their destination. We want to open up unexplored islands and drive benefits to every stakeholder, from indigenous communities to international investors. Gran Meliá Lombok is a great example of this strategy in action. We are excited to work with all our partners to bring this prestigious project to life and to boost investment in Lombok’s stunning south coast.”
PTI Architects has crafted luxury resorts all around the world, from Bali to the Maldives, but Gran Meliá Lombok is one of our most exciting projects to-date,” stated Doddy Tjahjadi, PTI Architects.
When Invest Islands started planning Gran Meliá Lombok it set out to create a resort so extraordinary that it would elevate Lombok’s travel and hospitality industry to new heights. Deisser and Brown, discovered a breathtaking plot of beachfront and hillside land at Torok Bay. This stunning setting provided a beautiful blank canvas on which to produce an architectural work of art. For the project’s lead architect, Charlie Hearn, director of Bali-based Inspiral Architecture & Design Studios, the impact of Gran Meliá Lombok’s location was instant. Gazing out across this coastal scene for the first time, he was instantly struck by the area’s blissful serenity and endless vistas. “The first thing I felt was that it was a “millionaire’s view”’. It was absolutely spectacular with layers of different colors disappearing into the distance. It felt very special,” Hearn revealed.
This exquisite natural scenery provided the inspiration for the design of Gran Meliá Lombok. Hearn and his team at Inspiral felt a responsibility to create a resort that blended seamlessly into the environment. The lines of the landscape are reflected in the flowing form of the villas and resort buildings, which roll and curve with the contours of the hills. Natural materials such as bamboo, reclaimed timber and different types of stone have been embraced throughout, with 75 percent of the building materials sourced from within Lombok and nothing imported from outside Indonesia.
“The masterplan was to create a series of individual villages, rather than buildings being carbon copies of each other. Different parts of Indonesia have their own unique architectural styles so we tried to incorporate elements of those. Not so much in terms of the look of the buildings themselves – we didn’t want to create a pastiche – but more in terms of the craftsmanship techniques, details and finishes,” Hearn explained.
As a result, guests and investors can choose from a collection of beautiful hillside duplexes and one, two and three-bedroom residences, all fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology, luxurious interiors and private pools. Distinctive concepts of the villas, all of which are nestled among swaying palm trees and frame “millionaire’s views” from panoramic windows and alfresco living areas.
As well as using sustainable building materials, the design will harness sunlight and sea breezes to help heat and cool the property, and rainwater will be harvested throughout the resort. Using this approach, Hearn says he wants to “set a benchmark” for development on Lombok.
“We want to set the standard and help to raise the quality of development on the island. Lombok will have more tourism and development in the coming years, so it’s important to do it in a way that is sustainable and respectful of the local culture and environment. This is one of the reasons I love working with Invest Islands; they set up foundations, build schools, do a lot of environmental projects and reinvest a lot back into their communities. I think that is fantastic,” Hearn concluded.
Gran Meliá Lombok has already been named as the “Best Upcoming Hotel Development” in Indonesia and “Best Hospitality Development” in Asia at the PropertyGuru PropertyAwards in 2020.
To learn more about Invest Islands, please visit invest-islands.com and for more information about Meliá Hotels International, please visit www.meliahotelsinternational.com.