How NIHI introduced Padel and became the World’s Best Hotel…twice

There’s mantlepieces of awards and then there’s NIHI Sumba, a barefoot paradise resort quite literally - and in its own oft-repeated words - on the edge of wilderness. Nestled on the southwestern tip of the unspoilt Sumba island (one of just 17,000 islands in Indonesia) pointing out to the Indian Ocean, NIHI is the rightful owner of approaching 50 awards, including two-time champion as Travel + Leisure’s Best Hotel in the World. With a deep philanthropic purpose and its finger on the pulse of what the discerning traveller of today wants (NIHI has installed a padel and pickleball court), we caught up with Sabine G. Lamberts Regional General Manager of NIHI Hotels to discover more. 

The multiple-award winning NIHI Sumba, including two-time winner of Travel + Leisure’s Best Hotel of the Year. For the uninitiated, what is NIHI Sumba all about?

SL: NIHI Sumba is not a place you simply visit—it is a place that meets you where you are and invites you to reconnect with something deeper. Set on the edge of wildness, both geographically and emotionally, our luxury is measured in freedom, time, and connection—to the land, the culture, and oneself. Guests arrive curious and leave quietly transformed, often in ways they never anticipated.

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Since your time at NIHI, you’ve secured the prize as the inaugural winner of the prestigious Forbes The Edge List and become one of only three Indonesian hotels to secure Michelin’s three keys distinction. What is the secret of NIHI Sumba’s success, and what is your personal secret to an instantly successful leadership?

SL: There is no single secret. Success comes from living our philosophy every day: listening deeply—to our guests, our team, and the island itself. Authenticity guides everything we do.

As a leader, I believe in creating space—space for people to grow, to take ownership, and to feel proud of what they are building together. When trust is present, excellence follows naturally.

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Luxury and authenticity seem to be the blend that best explain the Edge of Wildness philosophy here. What examples can you give of how you marry these two aspects of NIHI life?

SL: Authenticity is our starting point; luxury is how we support it. We don’t soften Sumba or stage it. Villas open to nature rather than closing it out. Our Spa Safari takes guests through villages and wild landscapes before they ever lie down for a treatment. Service is intuitive, never scripted. Comfort exists so guests feel safe enough to be transformed.

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There is a strong focus on not just providing the best in class experience for guests, but also working closely with Sumbanese culture through partnerships and foundation work, something owners James McBride and Christopher Burch have embraced. Tell us about this.

SL: This relationship is the heart of NIHI. It is not an add-on—it is who we are. From the beginning, our owners believed hospitality should serve its surroundings. Through long-term partnerships and foundation initiatives, we support health, clean water, and education across the island. Many guests tell us this connection gives their stay meaning and depth, something that stays with them long after they leave.

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Being so geographically distant from the beating heart of fast-paced life and global trends, how does NIHI stay so attuned to what guests want next?

SL: Remoteness gives us clarity. Trends move quickly, but human needs remain constant. We focus on how guests feel rather than what is fashionable—are they seeking challenge, stillness, play, or reconnection? We only introduce experiences that genuinely belong here and serve both the land and the guest journey.

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For a resort known for surfing, horse riding, and spa safaris, what was the inspiration for adding a padel court? What was the catalyst?

SL: Padel arrived very naturally. We noticed a desire for joyful movement that was social, accessible, and grounding—something playful yet engaging. The court sits quietly within the jungle. It doesn’t dominate the landscape; it simply invites.

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As a member of the luxury Club Águilas (known as “the Michelin Guide of Padel”), NIHI Sumba secured its Eagles Wings and won the world’s best padel resort award. What does this recognition mean to NIHI?

SL: We are genuinely proud. Awards matter to us when they reflect intention rather than ambition. We didn’t create our padel experience to chase recognition, but to offer something joyful, thoughtful, and true to this place. Being acknowledged affirms that we stayed aligned with who we are and how we choose to evolve—quietly, purposefully, and with respect for the land.

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Does implementing a padel court symbolize a wider global trend of padel becoming the new status symbol in luxury travel?

SL: Perhaps elsewhere, but not here. At NIHI, padel isn’t about status—it’s about how it makes you feel. It strips away formality. Guests laugh, play longer than planned, and connect. That sense of freedom is the real luxury.

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What story or standout comment from a guest who came to play padel has stayed with you?

SL: One guest told me padel here reminded them how much they had missed play—not exercise, but play. They said it unlocked a joy they had forgotten. That stayed with me.

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Have you seen padel draw a new type of traveler compared to those who come for surfing or wellness?

SL: Yes, but it complements rather than replaces our core guest. Families play together. Surfers cross-train. Wellness guests rediscover movement they genuinely enjoy. Padel brings different worlds into one shared space.

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What trends are you seeing in guest participation as it relates to padel?

SL: A natural mix has emerged—casual morning games, moments of friendly competition, and guests choosing coaching sessions. What unites everyone is curiosity, not performance.

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Wellness and padel are often said to complement each other. How does padel fit into NIHI’s holistic approach to wellness?

SL: Wellness isn’t only stillness. It’s also joy, movement, laughter, and connection. Padel supports physical health, mental clarity, and social bonding. It sits naturally alongside meditation, spa rituals, and time in nature.

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Padel might seem an unexpected attraction at a resort best known for surfing, horses, and spa safaris. How do you describe the jungle padel experience to guests focused on adventure or wellness?

SL: I describe it as padel without distraction—no city noise, no crowds. Just the sound of the ball, the jungle, and your breath. It feels grounded, almost meditative, yet alive.

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Finally, if you could add one wild activity not yet on the roster tomorrow, what would it be and why?

SL: I would create The Living Tides Exchange—a seasonal, dawn-led experience rooted in the rhythms of the sea. Guests would join coastal families to observe how moon cycles, currents, and wind quietly shape daily life along Sumba’s shoreline. The focus wouldn’t be on activity or outcome, but on learning to read time through nature rather than clocks.