Singapore Philanthropist to Launch Luxury Resort in Pokhara

Singaporean businessman and philanthropist Robert Ki, who has long been involved in the care and upbringing of poor and abandoned children, is set to launch a luxury resort in Pokhara this December.

Ki, the founder and executive chairman of the international non-governmental organization Operation Hope Foundation, is bringing the Himalayan Hideaway Resort Pokhara – The Centara Collection into operation at Kaskikot, overlooking Pokhara.

According to a report published in the online edition of The Straits Times, the 42-room luxury resort will feature skylights, private gardens, yoga classes and spa services. Built on a hilltop in Kaskikot, the resort is scheduled to begin welcoming guests in December, the report said.

Hotel management has been entrusted to The Centara Collection, which manages more than 90 hotels across Asia and the Middle East.

Nepal Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Deepak Raj Joshi said efforts to bring the resort into operation had been underway for several years. “The resort has been established with a focus on delivering high-quality service,” he said. “It will make a significant contribution to Nepal’s high-end tourism segment.”

The Straits Times reported that the resort is being positioned to attract luxury travelers from around the world. Ki said a portion of the hotel’s profits would be used for charitable purposes. “Some of the profits from the hotel can support my charity work. If jobs can be created, that in itself is the best form of charity,” he was quoted as saying. He plans to run the hotel as a social enterprise, with part of the profits going toward Operation Hope Foundation’s projects.

Once fully operational, the resort is expected to provide full-time employment to about 80 people. The project also aims to supply drinking water to a nearby village from a deep well built within the resort premises.

Who is Robert Ki?

The 77-year-old Ki is the founder of Operation Hope Foundation and has been serving as its full-time pro-bono executive chairman. Since 1995, he has been actively involved in poverty alleviation and social enterprise projects in Cambodia, the Philippines and Nepal. He established the foundation in Singapore in 2001. In Nepal, the foundation works in partnership with various non-governmental organizations to operate children’s homes, housing, sanitation, livelihood programs and other social initiatives.