AYANA Hotels celebrated the grand opening of AYANA Komodo Resort, Waecicu Beach; the first five-star resort to launch on the dreamy island of Flores.
In true AYANA fashion, the independently owned hotel group pulled out all the stops for their opening ceremony, which started at 10:00 am and continued into the early hours. Friends, travel agents, government officials, and media from across the globe came together to join the AYANA team to raise a glass to the benchmark property.
AYANA Komodo Resort, Waecicu Beach
Built in just 14-months, and spanning 1.4 hectares, the new resort showcases 205 bedrooms, 2 designer pools, children's pool, and a handful of hospitality outlets including Rinca Restaurant, UNIQUE Rooftop Bar, Naga Bar, Mesa Bar, and Kisik Seafood Grill. The famous Japanese restaurant, HonZEN, will also follow on October 1. The resort also features a premium spa, grand ballroom and handful of inspirational meeting spaces.
Upon arrival, the resort's very first guests were met with a welcome drink and canaps before resort owner Rudy Suliawan shared the journey of AYANA Komodo, a dream that was inspired by Mr. Suliawan's daughter's love of diving and fondness for Flores. The opening was warmly welcomed by tourism partners, local and government officials, including Bupati (Head of Region) for Kabupaten Manggarai Barat, Bapak Agustinus Dula. The ceremony was also the ideal time to formally introduce the resort's new General Manager, Fernando Arroyo.
After the official ribbon cutting ceremony, guests were invited to participate in a host of water activities such as stand up paddle boarding and kayaking, as well as sailing onboard Lako Taka, the resort's new whale-shaped glass bottom boat. Come sunset, and dressed in white, guests gathered for an evening rich in entertainment, cocktails, and delicious cuisine.
During the event, guests were invited to participate in the culture of Komodo while dancing to a traditional Maumere Dance - a dance promoting 'togetherness', as well as experiencing the time-honored Manggarai - otherwise known as the Caci dance, which represents a ritual whip fight. In addition to traditional performances, Korean-American artist 'Tim' ended the official ceremony with his show-stopping famous ballads, before fireworks and Rock Bar, BALI's resident DJ lit up the dance floor.
The resort is an impressive sight to behold and truly marks a new beginning for tourism in East Indonesia.
