The LUMA Hotel sets itself miles apart from its contemporaries. An independent hotel affiliated to the Design Hotels brand by the Marriott hospitality group, The LUMA has a distinct, unique quality and connection to its locale characteristic of all Design Hotels, offering an unparalleled luxury stay experience that can be found nowhere else in Sabah.
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The LUMA Hotel: Kota Kinabalu's First Design Hotel
One word to describe Luma, Distinctive.
The LUMA Hotel is singular in every aspect of a hotel, from its concept, architecture, design, interiors, rooms and eateries. It traverses time bringing the new contemporary and the old world together. The hotel is situated within Sutera Avenue, in the heart of Kota Kinabalu city, less than 15 minutes’ drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
The co-founders of The LUMA Hotel, Dato’ Steven Chin, Mr. Kelvin Hiew and Mr. Alan Wong are avid advocates for local talent. The hotel was designed by local architecture firm, Seshan Design, and incorporates the essence of Sabah’s natural beauty into its walls. The pièce de résistance is a signature spiral staircase made from local Sabahan wood standing in the lobby like a great tree in significance of the amazing age old Bornean rainforests.
The interior is lush with greens and an exquisite central mosaic path, akin to the river of life, runs through the lobby amidst concrete floors polished by local artists. This impeccable craftmanship and attention to detail is reflective of the forethought that birthed this conceptualised hotel, taking inspiration from surrounding natural wonders such as the magnificent Mount Kinabalu.
LUMA, meaning home in the Bajau language, aspires to be a home away from home for all travellers and has gone above and beyond in its interior to bring a sense of luxury and comfort to its guests. The ambient lighting and contemporary emerald colour palette of its rooms exudes true serenity and creates a wonderfully relaxing ambiance. An ambiance and atmosphere replicated throughout all 115 rooms of the hotel.
People say it is the little things that count. In this hotel, the little things that count are in fact big things. Quoting the International Traveller “It has taken a considered approach to sustainability, from using organic materials on furnishings to collaborating with local artisans to utilising local produce to offering guests recycled and biodegradable amenities. Every bamboo toothbrush makes a difference here.”
Beyond sustainability and design, the hotel plays a significant contribution to the local economy, providing job opportunities and support to local arts and culture. The hotel has collaborated with local artists such as boutique clothing store Mj by MUS on staff uniform designs and resin artist Anastasia Agusto of Pouring My Art Out to produce delicately handcrafted bathroom soap dishes.
The LUMA views itself not as a hotel with restaurants, but instead a “dining destination with guestrooms”. The hotel houses Sabah’s top new names in the culinary scene, with JoJo Gastrobar for modern Asian cuisine and creative cocktails, Flow Coffee by leading local coffee roaster Crack Inc., Hinode for traditional Japanese dining, and Fish Market for casual Chinese hotpot.
Make your way to experience the exquisite LUMA Hotel, be it to spend a night or two in this elegant home away from home, dine in the array of top notch restaurants or spend the afternoon sipping coffee in its beautifully designed environment. There is something here for everyone in this new icon of Sabah.