NIHI Sumba was built in 1988 at Nihiwatu by Claude and Petra Graves and acquired by Chris Burch and James McBride in 2012.[8][9][10] The history of NIHI Sumba traces back to the early settlers who named the beach Nihiwatu, meaning "mortar stone," after its isolated rock formation along the tide.[11][12] In 1988, Claude and Petra Graves established a hotel resort called Nihiwatu, later renamed NIHI Sumba.[13] In 2012, the resort was acquired by Christopher Burch,[14] an American entrepreneur, and James McBride, a South African-born hotelier, transforming it into a globally acclaimed destination.[15]
Facilities
Nihi Sumba offers 27 private villas comprising 38 rooms available in one, two, three, four, or five-bedroom configurations, each featuring a private infinity pool.[16] Guests can partake in various amenities and activities.[17][18][19]
NIHI Sumba introduced a brand-new equine wellness program that makes it the first hotel in the world to have horses available for therapy and wellness purposes around-the-clock at the spa.[20][21][22][23]
The resort engages in initiatives such as organic gardening, composting, water recycling, and community outreach programs.[24][25] Through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program in partnership with The Sumba Foundation.[26][27][28]
Awards and recognition
NIHI Sumba has garnered international acclaim and numerous prestigious accolades, including being ranked fourth on the Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite Resorts in Indonesia of 2023 list,[29] and securing the 18th position in The World's 50 Best Hotels on Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List 2023.[30][31] Additionally, the resort has been honored as the Best of the Best by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice of 2022, recognized as one of the world’s top seven eco-hotels by Travel Advice in 2022, and lauded as Travel + Leisure’s Best Hotel in the World for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017.[32][33][34]
NIHI Sumba secured the 36th position on Travel + Leisure’s Top 100 Hotels in the World list,[35] and ranked number one in Luxury Lifestyle magazine's 2020 list of 7 Of The Best Luxury Escapes In Asia.[36][37][38][39]
