Denpasar. The partial opening of eL Hotel & Resort Bali–Sanur marks the latest collaboration between the Indonesian government and eL Hotel Group, entrusting the private operator to professionally manage a state-owned hospitality asset in one of the country’s most prominent tourism destinations.

The resort in Sanur officially began phased operations on Wednesday, representing the seventh property in the eL Hotel portfolio and the group’s first venture in Bali.

More than a quarter century ago, the company was also appointed to fully manage Hotel Kartika Wijaya, a heritage property owned by the Indonesian Army’s Brawijaya Military Command in the city of Batu, East Java.

That early collaboration helped shape the group’s hospitality management business. Building on the experience, the company later developed its second property, eL Hotel Malang, in 2013 and gradually expanded into a hotel network spanning seven Indonesian cities.

The new Bali resort was developed from the former Wisma Werdhapura guesthouse in Sanur, a property owned by Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works. Under a 30-year management contract — one of the longest public–private hospitality partnerships in the country — the government aims to increase revenue from the state-owned asset.

Speaking in October 2025, Wida Nurfaida, secretary-general of the ministry, said the selection of eL Hotel Group as the operator followed a careful evaluation process.

“With a 30-year contract, it was crucial to ensure the agreement is lawful, accountable, and based on sound governance,” Wida said at the time.

She added that collaboration with a private hospitality operator is also expected to reduce maintenance costs.

“Our calculations show it is more efficient when maintenance expenses are shared through cooperation with eL Hotel,” she said.

Apart from the Sanur resort and the two East Java properties, the group operates eL Hotel Jakarta, eL Hotel Bandung, eL Hotel Yogyakarta, and eL Hotel Banyuwangi.

Before the addition of the Bali resort, the group managed a combined total of 1,365 rooms across its six other properties.

For founder Enggartiasto Lukita, the Sanur project represents a milestone in the company’s expansion, bringing the brand into Bali, Indonesia’s largest tourism destination and one of the most popular travel hubs in the world.

Enggartiasto said the new resort will operate according to the group’s guiding vision: blending Indonesian cultural traditions and local wisdom with international hospitality standards.

“We want to support Bali’s tourism industry while safeguarding the cultural values that distinguish Bali from other destinations,” he said. “Elements such as the use of the Balinese language in official events should not disappear. They must be preserved and nurtured.”

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