Land of Dragons – Flores, Indonesia Gears up for First Five-Star Resort

Date: September 2018

Location: The island of Labuan Bajo, Flores, Indonesia.

Name: Ayana Komodo Resort, Waecicu Beach – five star, opening September 2018

No. of Keys: 205

Seller:

Buyer: Ayana Hotels, who currently have the Ayana Resort & Spa in Bali, located on 90 hectares of cliff-top land perched above Jimbaran Bay, 10 kms from Bali airport, the Ayana Midplaza Jakarta (formerly the InterContinental) and the Delonix Hotel in Karawang with 295 rooms and residences.

Ayana is part of MidPlaza Holdings, who are into Commercial, Residential as well as IT, founded in the 1980’s

Eager jetsetters waiting to visit the cannibalistic Komodo dragons on these islands east of Bali will also get a glimpse of world-class luxury with Ayana. As a brand it aims to appeal to a diverse range of travellers – from families, couples to business clientele.

Accompanying the upcoming opening, the independently-owned brand will be pledging to set the benchmark in nurturing the ecosystem in East Indonesia.

The new resort has introduced a series of initiatives to protect the resort’s surrounding land and sea while actively educating guests on the importance of sustainability and environmental consciousness.

Fernando Arroyo, general manager of Ayana Komodo Resort, said: “Ayana Cares” is our approach that motivates our actions and there is no better time for us to take more impactful strides towards caring for our planet.

“The new hotel represents an opportunity for us to open our minds about the way we contribute to the environment. Our collective aim is for this positive approach to ripple through the decisions of our team members, guests, and our competitors.”

The upcoming sustainability and environmental initiatives include:

The resort welcomes a resident marine biologist, Jinjing Yan, who will be studying the reef’s biodiversity and will take guests on designated excursions. Her role also includes hosting regular workshops and presentations where she will educate guests and build awareness on protecting the ocean and marine life.

Yan holds a Masters in Biological Oceanography and has worked in marine biology in Europe and Maldives.

Ayana Kids’ club will offer a series of activities including weekly coral planting programmes. The Kids’ Club will also feature fun craft activities using recycled material and invite families to participate in regular beach clean ups.

Each morning Ayana’s chefs will purchase the best catch of the day from local fishermen, delivered directly to the resort’s Naga Pier, the best pick will be presented to Ayana before being sold at local fish markets.

This creates a sustainable way to stock the resort’s six restaurant outlets and support local businesses.

In addition to environmental initiatives, Ayana will contribute to the community by committing to a donation of US$1 from every room sold to Komodo National Park.

These funds will go towards improving visitors’ experiences at the National Park by supporting the training for National Park rangers and purchasing new uniforms for them. Funds will also contribute to the renovation of bathrooms.

THPT Comment: We love this genuine commitment to sustainability and environmental initiatives from Ayana.

Firs Seen: Travel Daily Media