SABAH is known for its lush rainforests and abundant nature, and Borneo’s first creative design hotel – The LUMA Hotel, encapsulates the very essence of Sabah’s natural gems, giving guests a taste of being in a verdant oasis within a bustling Kota Kinabalu city.The ‘LUMA’ means ‘HOME’ in the Bajau language, apt with its aspiration of providing travellers a sense of being ‘home away from home’ through its first-class hospitality.ADVERTISEMENT
At the hotel, guests would step into a compelling architectural space, crafted with nature-inspired urban design through its dark green schemes, wooden elements and organic furnishings.
The LUMA Hotel lobby.
The co-founders of The LUMA Hotel, Dato’ Steven Chin, Mr. Kelvin Hiew and Mr. Alan Wong said their aim was to introduce a boutique hotel that stands out and offers a unique hospital experience without being priced at the top bracket.
With the hard-hit tourism industry recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, the co-founders said that the LUMA Hotel also creates job opportunities in Kota Kinabalu.ADVERTISEMENT
“With these, we aim to attract more travellers to visit the beautiful Land Below The Wind, be it for business or leisure or a staycation for those who want to experience ecology at The LUMA.
A spiral staircase mimicking a river in Sabah’s lush rainforests.
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“Most importantly, we know the significance of this project towards the local community and the hospitality & tourism industry, let alone the economic impact that it will bring. We are making way for more gastronomy experiences, a platform to connect travellers to local cultures and diversity, opportunities for local talents to reach international audiences, and the introduction of yet another landmark for Kota Kinabalu,” they said.
Luxurious bathrooms in The LUMA Hotel’s bedrooms.
The LUMA Hotel also puts Sabah on the global map, with its international exposure in being affiliated with the Design Hotels brand which is wholly owned by Marriot hospitality group, while also gaining exposure on the group’s 29 global social media platforms.
Thus, The LUMA Hotel will be a platform to complement the Sabah Tourism Board in connecting influx travellers from around the world to Sabah’s abundant local attractions.
The LUMA Hotel lobby
“Not only will this bring economic benefits to the tourism players, but also catalyse and shorten the route of international outreach,” said co-founder Dato’ Steven.
Additionally, The LUMA Hotel is also a strong advocate for local arts and cultures, as the hotel has collaborated with local artists to source their work, such as the employees’ uniform scarf crafted by local boutique company Mj by MUS and bathroom ocean soap dish by resin artist Anastasia Agusto of Pouring My Art Out.
A lobby coffeehouse by leading local coffee roaster Crack Inc.
The LUMA Hotel has also collaborated with four food and beverage (F&B) outlets within its immediate vicinity to offer varied gastronomy experiences for guests.
They are JOJO Gastrobar – a refined Modern Asian Gastrobar, Hinode – a Premier Japanese restaurant & sushi bar, Fish Market – a hotpot joint, and the Flow Coffee – a lobby coffeehouse by leading local coffee roaster Crack Inc.
The Family Extraordinary Suite.
Overall, the hotel’s nature theme, along with its luxurious ambient lighting and contemporary furniture, creates a relaxing atmosphere, allowing guests to unwind and find their zen within the hustle and bustle of the city. The same can be said for the hotel’s 115 bedrooms. Each room is designed with dark green hues and wooden elements which mimic Sabah’s rainforests, providing guests a sense of tranquillity.
The bathrooms are furnished with golden sanitaryware that reflects Sabah’s wealth in diversity, which enable patrons to relax in style.
JOJO: A refined modern Asian Gastrobar
Coffee lovers need not worry about getting their caffeine fix, as they can brew a quality cup of joe in the comfort of their room with the coffee pod machine and coffee drip bags provided.
There is also a focus on green sustainability with its environmentally-friendly amenities such as trash bins made of straws, biodegradable gargle cups, bamboo toothbrushes, and water dispensers made available for guests to refill their water bottles, among others.
The Premier Hinode Japanese restaurant & sushi bar.
The LUMA Hotel houses seven types of room categories, namely the Fern Cosy Bedroom, Grass Standard Bedroom, Emerald Original Bedroom, Palm Marvellous Bedroom, Eden Deluxe Bedroom, Green Luxury Bedroom and the Family Extraordinary Suite.
The LUMA Hotel is set to open on Jan 30 and is currently accepting reservations via its official website www.thelumahotel.com or by contacting the hotel at 088-286909.
The Palm Marvellous Bedroom.
Guests are entitled to a free room upgrade when they book directly with the hotel through a phone call at 088-286909 or emailing [email protected] by using the quote “FREE UPGRADE”. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information, the public may also look the hotel up at its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thelumahotel and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thelumahotel.
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