The Newest Luxury Hotel In Indonesia To Be The Apurva Kempinski Bali

Geneva - Adding to its growing collection of distinguished properties all around the world, Kempinski gears up to unveil the latest addition to its line of five-star hotels with the opening of The Apurva Kempinski Bali in the fourth quarter of this year. This much anticipated opening marks the first extraordinary resort on the Island and its second hotel in Indonesia. “We are excited to welcome The Apurva Kempinski Bali and add this iconic property to our hotel portfolio. From its unique architecture to artfully curated interior design, The Apurva Kempinski Bali will present itself as a majestic open-air theatre in which the guests will have the opportunity to experience the wonders of this unique island.” says Michael Henssler, Chief Operating Officer Asia, Kempinski Hotels and Member of the Management Board. Set amidst the dramatic cliffs and immaculate beaches of southern Bali, the hotel features 475 well-appointed guest rooms, iconic suites and exclusive villas, five eclectic dining venues, and a Cigar & Shisha Lounge. Facilities include an ocean-facing spa and fitness centre, a 60-metre swimming pool, kids pool, and a family club. For events, business meetings and weddings, The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers a 1,076 sq m pillar-free and ocean-view grand ballroom, meeting rooms, The Apurva beachfront wedding chapels, and 2,200 sq m ocean-front lawn for an exceptional outdoor gatherings and events. Award-winning architect Budiman Hendropurnomo of Denton Corker Marshall and highly -acclaimed interior designer Rudy Dodo of Trivium Design Group worked together in creating a curated design masterpiece. From the unmistakeable characteristic of Balinese architecture, landscape and guiding principle, to the Indonesian-inspired interior design aesthetics, the nation’s heritage and meticulous craftsmanship are thoroughly reflected throughout the hotel. “We are very excited about the upcoming opening of The Apurva Kempinski Bali. We have meticulously researched and worked with artisans to assemble the best of Indonesian craftsmanship, sharing with the traveller the richness of the destination’s cultural heritage. We trust that Kempinski will strengthen our vision in delivering an elevated interpretation through personalised local experiences”, adds William Katuari, President Director of Wings Group and the hotel’s owning company. The Apurva translates as “unique and magnificent” in Sanskrit, embracing Kempinski dedication to bringing unique experiences to life. Honouring the nation’s belief in unity in diversity, the hotel establishes its distinctiveness as a tribute to the richness of Indonesian cultural heritage. The Apurva Kempinski Bali is the quintessence of luxury living in Bali. About The Apurva Kempinski Bali: Standing atop the majestic cliff of Nusa Dua, with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and tropical garden, The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers the epitome of beachfront luxury. This five-star hotel in Bali presents itself as a majestic open-air theatre, an embodiment of Indonesian elegance. A collection of 475 iconic rooms, suites and villas are showcased, with 60% of the accommodation featuring its own private plunge pools. From a unique culinary journey and indigenous spa treatments, to the spacious meeting rooms and alluring chapels, The Apurva Kempinski Bali is a spectacular stage where curated experiences are brought to life. About Kempinski: Created in 1897, Kempinski Hotels is Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group. Kempinski’s rich heritage of impeccable personal service and superb hospitality is complemented by the exclusivity and individuality of its properties. Kempinski now comprises a portfolio of 75 five-star hotels and residences in 33 countries and continues to add new properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Each one reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand without losing sight of its heritage. The portfolio comprises historic landmark properties, award-winning urban lifestyle hotels, outstanding resorts, and prestigious residences. Each one imbues the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location. Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands. www.kempinski.com • www.discoveryloyalty.com

5 Unique, Lesser-Known Destinations

The worst part of being a tourist visiting the worlds most popular attractions is all the other tourists. Long lines, crowded spaces, having to stand on a friend or relative to prevent people from obscuring your photographs. The solution then, is to go somewhere quiet and less travelled, but of course you still want to see something unique and amazing. To help you our, weary traveller, we bring you our top 5 unique lesser known destinations!

Quinta de Regaleira, Portugal

What a destination to start this list on! Just a peek at the photo below should already get your travel bug fluttering! There are some incredible things to see when you visit this estate located near the historic town of Sintra, Portugal. Among attractions are The Regaleira Palace, The Regaleira Chapel, a Roman Catholic Chapel and a park that spans 4 hectares and contains an extensive network of tunnels. But of course, you are still intrigued by the photo, aren’t you? They are known as the Initiation Wells, which were used not for water gathering, but for Tarot initiation rites. The tunnel system connects the two wells and other monuments to each other, and the the larger of the two wells contains a 27-meter spiral staircase with several small landings.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Bali

Located in Bali, which as you already know, is a major tourist destination, this lesser known Shiva and water temple sits on the shores of Lake Bratan in the mountains near Bedugul. Due to the importance of Lake Bratan as a main source of irrigation in central Bali, this temple was built in 1663 and is used for offerings to the Balinese water, lake and river goddess, Dewi Danu. While out of the way of the major tourism areas, this temple is also features on the Indonesian 50,000-rupiah banknote.

Huacachina, Peru

From a water temple near a lake to and oasis in the Peru desert. This town in the Ica region has a population of 115, and just like the temple, is featured on the back of a bank note. Tourists usually visit this town for sandboarding (like snowboarding, but on sand) and to go for rides through the endless dunes on a dune buggy. Legends say that the lagoon got its start from hunter finding a beautiful princess bathing in a pool of water. When she fled, the pool of water became the lagoon, and the folds of her mantle as she ran away, became the surrounding dunes. She is rumoured to still live in the lagoon… as a mermaid.

Marieta Islands, Mexico

This is one for the marine lover. The Marieta Islands in Mexico requires a permit to visit, and the area surrounding the island is teeming with marine life, as it is protected from fishing and hunting by the Mexican government. Marieta Islands are several small uninhabited islands formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago a few miles off the coast of Nayarit, Mexico. The protection of the eco system makes for amazing scuba diving and snorkelling, and is easily reached by an hour long boat ride from the coast of Puerto Vallarta. Visitors often report seeing Octopus, Manta Rays, Sea Turtles, Dolphins and Humpback Whales, and of course, many species of tropical fish.

Hang Son Doong, Vietnam

son Doong Cave is located in the Quang Binh Province in Vietnam and it has the largest known cave passage cross-section in the world. Inside the cave is a large, fast-flowing subterranean river. The cave was discovered by a local man named Hồ-Khanh in 1991, and in August 2013 the first tourist group explored the cave on a guided tour cat the price of US$3,000 each. Like the islands in Mexico, you need a permit in order to visit the cave, and only 500 permits were issued for the 2015 season, which runs from February till August. After August, seasonal rain makes the cave largely unaccessible. The cave also boasts some of the tallest stalagmites in the world, some reaching up to 70m tall.

From Campbell Bevan Founder and Managing Director at Amazing Accom., A Luxury Travel Blog