Inside Out

By Mary Scoviak, Design Editor -- Hotels, 7/1/2007

Fragrant frangipane trees suffuse Bulgari Bali with natural aromatherapy. Ocean breezes make air conditioning feel counterintuitive. Pools, terraces and gardens frame the public spaces as well as the resort's 59 villas. In a setting like this, who would want to be indoors? "Prospective guests told us they wanted an indoor/outdoor experience equivalent to the luxury and comfort of their homes," says Robert Lagerwey, general manager, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts Bali. "Beyond that, they wanted an open-air living room concept with views of the cliffs and the ocean, and they wanted authenticity-something that would be true to the Bali experience, not just a picturesque representation of it." Ultra-luxe resorts such as the 10-month-old Bulgari Bali are leveraging guests' preference for an indoor/ outdoor lifestyle into a means of maximizing the revenuegenerating potential of their entire sites. Outdoor spaces are more "designed"-both as extensions of interior spaces and as stand-alone venues-and the result is waves of new profit possibilities.

Expanded Selling Space

Architect Antonio Citterio & Partners, Milan and Hamburg, built out the capacity of Bulgari's cliffside lounge with terraced seating that afford breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean more than 500 ft. (150 m.) below. A reflecting pool wraps around the open-air bale-style structure (based on wall-less Balinese pavilions) of the fine-dining Il Ristorante to give guests a menu of seating options. A large balcony and veranda fuse indoor and outdoor experiences at the all-day dining Sangkar restaurant at the cliff's edge. Guests benefit from a choice of "destinations" during their typical week-long stay, and the restaurant has optimal operational flexibility during peak and off-peak periods.

"Sangkar is designed in such a way that it can be opened up to the outdoors," Lagerwey says. "We find that nearly half of our guests ask to be seated outdoors. Al fresco is equally compatible with a fine-dining concept. The menu and design attract not only our guests but people from outside the hotel. We are exceeding our expectations in terms of both foot traffic and in-house capture."

Outside The Box

Beautiful outdoor spaces drive incremental sales potential for this boutique resort. Design elements that blend contemporary Italian style with classical Balinese aesthetics and materials provide myriad venues for setting up "romantic experiences" overlooking the ocean. Outdoor terraces cascade down from the function pavilion to give the sales staff more flexibility for accommodating anything from private luncheons or dinners to cocktail receptions and weddings. Cabanas and sun beds scattered around the pool invite guests not only to linger, but also order drinks and light fare throughout the day.

The four-bedroom Bulgari Villa does double duty as function space. Anchored by a 65-ft. (20-m) swimming pool and an extensive terrace with small pavilions, the villa serves as an exclusive venue for high-end events for limited audiences. Its opulent gardens and sleek Italian accented design complement the resort's high-level boardroom and larger function and pre-function areas.

"Integration of these spaces into the overall concept means we are able to cater to from two people to 300 people throughout the resort," Lagerwey says. Bookings are running ahead of projections, but functions are more about quality than quantity. "We do not want any special event to interfere with the privacy of other guests," Lagerway adds.

Luxury Of Privacy

A reinterpretation of a Balinese village, the Bulgari brand's second property takes advantage of changes in the natural terrain, landscaping and water features to seclude the private, almost secret, atmosphere of the villas and spa from the easternmost side of the property, which includes the public areas, restaurants and bars. The villas address guest demand for a seamless indoor/outdoor environment. Each has the expected plunge pool, patio, garden and outdoor shower. What differentiates these retreats is the open, natural feel that brings the outdoors inside-from the black Terrazzo flooring to the flowing curtains that surround a bedroom entirely enclosed by glass. An open-air living room has its bottom-line advantages. Guests usually arrange for in-villa dining at least once during their stay.

Bulgari Bali's spa sits at the foot of a narrow valley. Open yoga pavilions are standard for high-end, oceanside resorts. Here, even the four treatment pavilions have large windows that allow guests to take in the ocean sound and breeze while having a treatment. Guests who prefer to commune with nature can request massages and reflexology treatments in the gardens. In-villa treatments are another popular service.

"Private treatment rooms and separate areas in the relaxation pavilion are important," Lagerwey says. "So is proper inventory management. You have to book guests in a way that they feel they are alone. Design, both outdoor and indoor, should give the operator the ability to create personalized experiences for our guests when they want it and where they want it."