NUSA DUA, BALI — The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali has appointed Arun Kumar as General Manager, marking his return to Indonesia after more than three decades in the hospitality industry. Alongside his property-level leadership role, Kumar has also been appointed Area General Manager – Bali (Premium & Select Properties) for Marriott International.
In his expanded role, Kumar will provide strategic oversight of 21 Marriott International Premium and Select properties across Bali, while leading The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali and the adjoining Bali International Convention Centre (BICC). His appointment brings experience across luxury hospitality, resort operations, commercial performance, hotel openings and multi-property leadership to Marriott International’s Bali portfolio.
Kumar most recently served as Market Vice President – North India, Nepal and Bhutan, where he was responsible for the performance and strategic growth of 60 Marriott International hotels across the region. His responsibilities included financial performance, commercial strategy, owner relations and operational excellence across a diverse portfolio of properties.
The move also brings Kumar back to a market where he has previously held senior leadership positions. His career in Indonesia includes serving as General Manager of The Westin Jakarta, followed by his role as Managing Director overseeing The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan and JW Marriott Jakarta.
At The Westin Jakarta, Kumar led the successful opening of the property, which was then described as Indonesia’s tallest hotel. His responsibilities included establishing the property as a luxury hospitality destination while building commercial momentum and brand recognition during its early years.
Kumar later led The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan and JW Marriott Jakarta through the challenges brought by the global pandemic. His work during that period included commercial strategies, operational performance and efforts to maintain the properties’ premium positioning as market conditions changed.
His career extends across Asia, the Caribbean and the United States, with leadership experience at Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels and Accor Hotels. His background covers city hotels, luxury resorts, convention facilities, hotel openings, operational transformations and multi-property management.
In the Caribbean, Kumar led a US$50 million renovation of Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort in St. Thomas. The project added large-scale resort renovation experience to his portfolio, alongside his previous work managing hotel openings and operational transformations in different markets.
At The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali, Kumar will oversee 432 guestrooms, suites and family suites, together with the Bali International Convention Centre. The convention centre is a venue for international conferences, incentive travel, weddings and business events.
His responsibilities at the resort will cover accommodation, dining, meetings and events, destination weddings, family travel and sustainability offerings. The property’s leadership direction also includes strengthening its wellness positioning and guest experience in line with Westin’s global wellbeing philosophy.
Westin’s wellbeing philosophy focuses on restorative sleep, mindful movement, balanced nutrition and meaningful connections throughout the stay. Kumar’s role will include continuing the development of these areas as part of the resort’s wider accommodation, dining, meetings and events, family travel and sustainability offerings.
Kumar’s appointment follows a career that has included responsibility for both individual properties and larger hotel portfolios. His most recent regional position covered 60 Marriott International hotels across North India, Nepal and Bhutan, while his new area role covers 21 Premium and Select properties across Bali.
His experience includes managing financial performance and commercial strategy, as well as working with hotel owners and overseeing operational standards. These responsibilities have formed part of his leadership roles across multiple markets and hospitality brands.
Kumar has also received several industry recognitions during his career with Marriott International. His accolades include Marriott International General Manager of the Year – Asia Pacific in 2019, General Manager – Sales Leadership in 2019, General Manager – Leadership Excellence in 2018, Hotel Opening General Manager of the Year in 2017 and Operations Leader of the Year – Asia Pacific in 2009.
Speaking about his appointment, Kumar said he was pleased to return to Indonesia and join The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali. He highlighted the resort’s wellness positioning, hospitality and guest experience, while expressing his intention to work with the property’s associates to build on its existing operations.
“Travel today is increasingly purposeful. Guests seek experiences that inspire connection, support wellbeing, and create lasting memories,” Kumar said.
He also identified operational excellence, commercial performance, innovation and people development as principles that will shape his leadership of the resort and his wider area responsibilities in Bali.
The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali’s portfolio includes accommodation, dining, meetings and events, destination weddings, family travel and sustainability. Its adjoining Bali International Convention Centre provides additional facilities for international conferences, incentive travel, weddings and business events.
Kumar’s return to Indonesia follows his leadership of a 60-hotel portfolio in North India, Nepal and Bhutan and previous management positions in Jakarta. His responsibilities in Bali now encompass the operations of The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali and BICC, alongside strategic oversight of Marriott International’s 21 Premium and Select properties across the island.
In his expanded role, Kumar will provide strategic oversight of 21 Marriott International Premium and Select properties across Bali, while leading The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali and the adjoining Bali International Convention Centre (BICC). His appointment brings experience across luxury hospitality, resort operations, commercial performance, hotel openings and multi-property leadership to Marriott International’s Bali portfolio.
Kumar most recently served as Market Vice President – North India, Nepal and Bhutan, where he was responsible for the performance and strategic growth of 60 Marriott International hotels across the region. His responsibilities included financial performance, commercial strategy, owner relations and operational excellence across a diverse portfolio of properties.
The move also brings Kumar back to a market where he has previously held senior leadership positions. His career in Indonesia includes serving as General Manager of The Westin Jakarta, followed by his role as Managing Director overseeing The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan and JW Marriott Jakarta.
At The Westin Jakarta, Kumar led the successful opening of the property, which was then described as Indonesia’s tallest hotel. His responsibilities included establishing the property as a luxury hospitality destination while building commercial momentum and brand recognition during its early years.
Kumar later led The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan and JW Marriott Jakarta through the challenges brought by the global pandemic. His work during that period included commercial strategies, operational performance and efforts to maintain the properties’ premium positioning as market conditions changed.
His career extends across Asia, the Caribbean and the United States, with leadership experience at Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels and Accor Hotels. His background covers city hotels, luxury resorts, convention facilities, hotel openings, operational transformations and multi-property management.
In the Caribbean, Kumar led a US$50 million renovation of Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort in St. Thomas. The project added large-scale resort renovation experience to his portfolio, alongside his previous work managing hotel openings and operational transformations in different markets.
At The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali, Kumar will oversee 432 guestrooms, suites and family suites, together with the Bali International Convention Centre. The convention centre is a venue for international conferences, incentive travel, weddings and business events.
His responsibilities at the resort will cover accommodation, dining, meetings and events, destination weddings, family travel and sustainability offerings. The property’s leadership direction also includes strengthening its wellness positioning and guest experience in line with Westin’s global wellbeing philosophy.
Westin’s wellbeing philosophy focuses on restorative sleep, mindful movement, balanced nutrition and meaningful connections throughout the stay. Kumar’s role will include continuing the development of these areas as part of the resort’s wider accommodation, dining, meetings and events, family travel and sustainability offerings.
Kumar’s appointment follows a career that has included responsibility for both individual properties and larger hotel portfolios. His most recent regional position covered 60 Marriott International hotels across North India, Nepal and Bhutan, while his new area role covers 21 Premium and Select properties across Bali.
His experience includes managing financial performance and commercial strategy, as well as working with hotel owners and overseeing operational standards. These responsibilities have formed part of his leadership roles across multiple markets and hospitality brands.
Kumar has also received several industry recognitions during his career with Marriott International. His accolades include Marriott International General Manager of the Year – Asia Pacific in 2019, General Manager – Sales Leadership in 2019, General Manager – Leadership Excellence in 2018, Hotel Opening General Manager of the Year in 2017 and Operations Leader of the Year – Asia Pacific in 2009.
Speaking about his appointment, Kumar said he was pleased to return to Indonesia and join The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali. He highlighted the resort’s wellness positioning, hospitality and guest experience, while expressing his intention to work with the property’s associates to build on its existing operations.
“Travel today is increasingly purposeful. Guests seek experiences that inspire connection, support wellbeing, and create lasting memories,” Kumar said.
He also identified operational excellence, commercial performance, innovation and people development as principles that will shape his leadership of the resort and his wider area responsibilities in Bali.
The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali’s portfolio includes accommodation, dining, meetings and events, destination weddings, family travel and sustainability. Its adjoining Bali International Convention Centre provides additional facilities for international conferences, incentive travel, weddings and business events.
Kumar’s return to Indonesia follows his leadership of a 60-hotel portfolio in North India, Nepal and Bhutan and previous management positions in Jakarta. His responsibilities in Bali now encompass the operations of The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali and BICC, alongside strategic oversight of Marriott International’s 21 Premium and Select properties across the island.
