A fashion mogul's 'irrational' investment has turned a surfing paradise into a luxury resort chain
, 66, says his original motivation for entering the high-end resort business was more personal than monetary—he fell in love with Nihiwatu, a remote luxury resort on the island of Sumba in Indonesia, where he went to spend quality time with his three sons. After his visit there, he decided to buy the place in 2012 from the original founders Claude and Petra Graves.
It was in search of an off-the-grid getaway destination that Burch stumbled onto Nihiwatu. While more than 5 million tourists visit Bali every year, official figures show only about 15,000 visit Sumba. Many are heading to the Nihi Sumba resort that Burch and South African hotelier James McBride have been building on the foundations of the Nihiwatu property.Nihiwatu, the name of the beach in front of the resort, is popular among surfers drawn by the perfect wave breaking just off its shore.
Burch considers Nihi to be probably the most irrational, emotionally-driven investment he’s ever made. Similarly, his partner McBride says, “There were many times in the dark days of building Nihi where my peer group thought I’d gone completely nuts or descended into midlife crisis.” The pair’s work has paid off, with Nihi Sumba winning numerous accolades, including Travel + Leisure magazine’s prestigious World’s Best Hotel award in 2016 and 2017.
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