New Kuta Beach The Ultimate Resort

Just 15 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, on the west coast of Bukit Badung Peninsula, Bali, an exquisite, fully-integrated resort comes on stream by bringing together big bucks and the incomparable beauty of Kuta.

The large billboard at the main thoroughfare of Pecatu Village simply says that the site is the future location of "Bali's international event and pleasure venue".

It is a modest statement given the size of investment and the breadth of the undertaking: US$750 million pumped into a mega integrated resort complex called New Kuta Beach (previously Pecatu Indah Graha) on 400 hectares of prime, green estate.

On the drawing board are residential and business areas that include a convention center, an 18-hole, Ronald Freame-designed championship golf course (already operational and was used for the Indonesian Open tournament in February), an international-standard hospital, international schools and an entertainment center.

Nature, culture, beauty and the inspired vision of prominent business-man Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra converged to create the exceptional New Kuta Beach (NKB).

The project is being developed by PT Bali Pecatu Graha (BPG), a company owned by Tommy in partnership with a Balinese businessman, Made G. Putrawan.

It has along the way created thousands of jobs and a boom for the island's tourism.
Tommy had originally bought 600 hectares of land in the early 1990s. He later sold 200 hectares to third parties and the proceeds are now used to finance the project.

The project started in 1994 but shifted to low gear when the Asian financial crisis hit the country in 1998. In 2006 the owners gave it a new lease on life and are now making efforts to regain lost time.

BPG had prepared a master plan in 1998, but the economic crisis and two terrorist bombings on the island forced the owners to defer the project to a later date.

"We are working very hard to meet our commitment to the public and investors," said Putrawan in a recent interview.

"The first phase of development will take up about US$270 million. The whole project is expected to be completed in 2020."

The resort will also feature a convention center set on 3.7 hectares of prime land, offering all the comfort, space and state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate to 15,000 people.

It's not all business at NKB, as a plan is in place to set up a museum, a treasure trove of Balinese artifacts, history, art and culture, with the aim of making it a preeminent centre of Balinese culture.

One of the modern icons of NKB is Klapa, a four-storey world-class resort club and entertainment center.

In February Tommy was on hand to inaugurate its opening, in an event studded with celebrities from Jakarta.

"It is exclusively designed for those who wish to enjoy first-class entertainment. Sitting on a cliff overlooking the beach, Klapa will set new standards in resort luxury," says Victor Agustinus, its general manager.

"You will be able to enjoy the pleasures and comforts of a one-stop entertainment area with fitness and spa facilities, three different clubs, two restaurants, a beach club, a boutique and an open plaza,"he added.

"It is set to become the hottest place for nightlife, private parties and other high-class entertainment."

Another centerpiece being prepared is New Kuta Village, which, according to Tommy, is a "modern version of Kuta."

Once completed, NKB will include at least five luxury hotels.

Insiders say that The Westin has bought land and plans to build a hotel there, while the giant bottled tea company Teh Sosro plans to branch out into the hotel sector with its first property on the same site.

Best Western New Kuta Condotel Hotel (278 rooms) and Hotel Le Grande (120 rooms) are already accepting guests.

The former last month held its Asian Members Meeting in an event that awed participants.
Two other hotels, namely The Kempinski and The Raffles, have seen their foundation completed. Both offer guests a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean, which in turn offers perfect waves to surfers.

Last but far from least is the sandy beach that clings to the coast and never fails to present visitors with stunning views of the sunset.

A paradise for nudists and surfers – and enthusiastic watchers thereof – it will remain open to the public.

"The management of NKB has decided that although the property is privately owned, people can access it free of charge," says Agustinus.

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