Soori Bali relaunches as independent brand after leaving Alila group
Alila Villas Soori in Bali’s Tabanan Regency has exited the Alila group and relaunched as Soori Bali under owner management.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 4 min read
Tabanan — Alila Villas Soori, the beachfront resort in Bali’s Tabanan Regency, has left the Alila Hotels and Resorts portfolio and is operating under the new name Soori Bali, according to statements from the resort and regional travel media citing a Soori Bali representative.
The change sees the property revert to owner management under Singapore-based architect Soo K. Chan, who designed and owns the resort. The relaunch of Soori Bali is described by Chan and partner publications as the first project under his new luxury lifestyle brand Soori, which will also encompass developments in New York and Japan.
Soori Bali opened as Alila Villas Soori about six years before the rebrand announcement, and the resort continues to comprise 48 private pool villas and residences set between a volcanic black-sand beach, terraced rice fields and views of Mount Batukaru. The resort’s location in Tabanan Regency places it near UNESCO-recognized rice terraces and a coastal stretch of southwest Bali.
Refurbishment and new facilities
Following the transition out of the Alila group, all 48 villas and residences are undergoing upgrades including reroofing, installation of new audio-visual equipment and new air-conditioning systems, according to Soori Bali and regional hospitality outlets. The refurbishment programme is positioned as part of the property’s relaunch under the Soori brand and its entry into the Leading Hotels of the World collection.
Media reports and resort communications state that the relaunch will also add several new facilities ahead of an official grand opening targeted for spring 2017, including a 100-seat cantilevered events platformwedding lawn on the Soori Estate and a new Indonesian specialty restaurant amid the surrounding rice fields. Existing facilities include an infinity pool, spa, gym, library, bars and an ocean-view restaurant, which are being retained alongside the new additions.
Management and staffing
With the resort’s shift to independent, owner-led management, Soori Bali has appointed a new management team while retaining existing staff members, according to Jakarta-based and regional lifestyle publications citing the resort. Industry communications indicate that the property left Alila’s management at the end of 2016 and has been working with the new team to ensure continuity for guests and bookings.
The resort has also joined the Leading Hotels of the World portfolio, signalling its repositioning in the luxury market under the Soori brand, according to hospitality trade media. In guest-facing communications, the owners highlight a focus on “living exceptionally well through holistic design,” linking the Bali property with Soori High Line in New York’s West Chelsea and the planned Soori Niseko ski resort in Japan.
Design, setting and sustainability focus
Chan has described Soori Bali as one of his most personal projects, emphasizing that he made all major design decisions to create a private, peaceful and restorative environment. The resort’s low-rise architecture and pool villas are integrated between the Indian Ocean, volcanic sand beach and rice terraces, with views inland to Mount Batukaru.
Regional travel features note the resort’s emphasis on environmental and cultural sustainability, including the use of locally sourced food and organic products in its restaurant and spa offerings. The relaunch materials, however, focus primarily on the rebranding, refurbishment and expansion plans rather than announcing new sustainability initiatives tied specifically to the transition out of the Alila group.
For guests and travel partners, the confirmed changes are the resort’s new name, its move to independent owner management, the villa refurbishment and the planned addition of new event and dining spaces. Details such as the exact timeline for completing all upgrades and the full impact on rates and reservation policies are being communicated directly by the resort and its distribution partners on an ongoing basis.