Hilton debuts in Bali with huge beach resort

Hilton has opened a huge coastal resort in Bali, marking the entry of the famous upscale brand into the popular Indonesian island.

The former Grand Nikko resort in the Nusa Dua area of Bali has been renovated, rebranded and relaunched as the Hilton Bali Resort. Set on Bali’s southern peninsula, directly overlooking the Indian Ocean, Hilton Bali Resort covers more than 11 hectares of land, starting at the top of a 40-metre-high cliff and ending on a sandy beach.

The resort is also located just 1.3km from the 18-hole Bali National Golf Course and 3.7km from the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center.

“Hilton Bali Resort is a significant addition to our flagship brand portfolio, bringing Hilton Hotels & Resorts’ renowned hospitality to one of the world’s premier island destinations,” said Sean Wooden, Hilton’s vice president of brand management for Asia Pacific.

The launch of the 389-room resort marks the arrival of the upscale Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in Bali, and joins the company’s existing Conrad and Hilton Garden Inn properties on the island. It also becomes the second Hilton-branded hotel in Indonesia, following the existing Hilton Bandung. This rebranding also marks the Nikko brand’s exit from Indonesia.

“Hilton Bali Resort is testament to the confidence we have in this stunning resort destination and our deep commitment to serving the burgeoning market of Indonesia. This opening marks our fifth property in Indonesia and third in Bali,” explained William Costley, Hilton’s vice president of operations for Southeast Asia & India. “The location makes the hotel a great base for travellers visiting Bali, and positions us well to capture opportunities from Bali’s rising inbound and domestic tourism.”

According to data from STR, Bali has one the largest hotel development pipelines in Asia Pacific, with 32 new properties currently under construction on the island comprising almost 5,700 rooms. This is being driven by a sharp increase in demand from travellers; Bali welcomed 2.27 million international arrivals in the first half of 2016, marking a new record and a 19% jump compared to the same period in 2015.