focus
The Sanchaya
which led the way in the luxury market
by opening Banyan Tree Bintan in 1994
in Lagoi, an area that boasts pristine
coastline, tropical jungles and unspoiled
natural landscapes.
Then came The Sanchaya, which
entered Bintan in December 2014 and
paved the way for a new era of uber
luxury on the island (see review on
page 39). An exclusive beachfront
estate featuring 29 villas and suites
and a stunning private residence with
spectacular views of the ocean, it brought
to Bintan unrivalled luxury, tropical
glamour and world-class service. Its
four-bedroom Vanda Villa is said to be
Bintan’s only US$10,000-a-night villa.
The question is, beyond more luxury
accommodations, what is actually
luxurious about Bintan?
Just as Banyan Tree Bintan peddled
the idea of a world-class retreat when it
opened – which obviously sells as the
resort is still standing after 24 years –
The Sanchaya’s estate manager Magnus
Olovson too believes in “restorative”
luxury.
Said Olovson: “New York has its
Hamptons, Sydney the Blue Mountains
and Rome its Naples. In fact, most major
36 TTG Asia luxury | May 2018
world cities have a go-to retreat where
the well-to-do flock for a weekend
escape. They’re nearby, upscale and,
ultimately, restorative.
“In Singapore, Bintan has emerged
as such a retreat, proving to be a major
drawing card for Singapore’s well
heeled. Bintan is also an ideal go-to
retreat for those wishing to temporarily
escape bustling Jakarta.
“What Singapore lacks in beaches,
Bintan Island more than makes up for.”
Hajar Ali, founder of Urbane Nomads,
a travel planner based in Singapore,
believes that the infrastructure to attract
luxury travellers has improved on the
island.
Said Hajar: “Bintan has historically
attracted a more upmarket clientele as
opposed to Batam. The Banyan Tree
was the first luxury presence. Now, we
have The Sanchaya. This isn’t so much
happenstance as it is the provision of
infrastructure predisposed to the luxury
segment like golf resorts.”
Bintan Resorts International
spokesperson Iris Kok also pointed
out that the island has more than just
luxury accommodations to cater to luxe
travellers. Citing Treasure Bay Bintan
as an example, she said: “Treasure Bay
Bintan has gotten so much social media
attention and is insta-famous for the
appealing shade of blue of its 6.3ha
Crystal Lagoon, South-east Asia’s first and
largest recreational sea-water lagoon.”
She also opined that destination dining,
offered by most resorts, where guests
could choose from a list of locations for a
private candlelight dinner or a customised
event, is another big attraction.
The newest luxury kid on the block
in Bintan is Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts, a
Singapore-based group which owns The
Sheraton Towers Singapore, and owns
and operates its own upmarket hotel
brand, The Residence, with properties
in Tunisia, Mauritius, Zanzibar and
Maldives.
Cenizaro shows its confidence in
Bintan as an upmarket destination not
only by fielding the latest Residence there,
but in a greenfield site in the east of the
island, far away from Lagoi which is in
the north.
The Residence Bintan adds 127 suites,
villas and residences to the luxury
inventory on the island (see review on
page 40).
Andy Xie, executive director of