After more than a decade helping put Sumba on the luxury travel map, NIHI is preparing to open its second Indonesian property with the debut of NIHI Rote & Hospitality Academy later this year.
The new retreat marks the brand’s first expansion beyond Sumba, taking it to the remote island of Rote Island, Indonesia’s southernmost inhabited island. While surfing, diving, and secluded beaches remain central to the experience, the project also introduces a hospitality academy to train local young people in hospitality and culinary arts and to integrate them into the guest experience.
The academy reflects NIHI’s longstanding emphasis on community engagement. Rather than operating separately from the resort, students will gain practical experience through day-to-day hotel operations, creating employment opportunities while giving guests a closer connection to local culture.
The opening builds on the reputation of NIHI Sumba, which has become one of Asia’s best-known luxury resorts since opening in 2012. The property remains the only hotel to have been named Travel + Leisure‘s World’s Best Hotel in consecutive years and has also received Three Michelin Keys.
Set on Sumba’s rugged western coastline, NIHI Sumba is known for experiences that connect guests with the island beyond the resort itself. Visitors can surf the renowned Occy’s Left break, ride horses along empty beaches, explore traditional Sumbanese villages and discover the island’s distinctive Marapu culture through guided excursions and bespoke itineraries.
The resort has also maintained a long partnership with the Sumba Foundation, supporting initiatives spanning healthcare, education, clean water and community development across the island.
On Rote, NIHI is taking a similarly place-led approach. Guests will be able to surf the celebrated T-Land break, dive coral reefs surrounding the island, spend time at Nammo Beach Club and explore one of Indonesia’s least-developed island destinations.
Rather than replicating Sumba, the new property has been conceived as a complementary destination, pairing barefoot luxury with education, local employment and cultural exchange. As travellers continue to seek destinations that offer both authenticity and a tangible connection to local communities, Rote may soon emerge as Indonesia’s next compelling island escape.