Indonesia’s tourism and hospitality sector will gain a new national industry platform with the launch of Indonesia Tourism Xchange 2026 (ITX 2026).
Scheduled for May 12 at The Langham, Jakarta, and set to be an annual event, the forum will bring together hotel owners, operators, investors, and senior decision-makers to examine the forces driving the archipelago’s tourism economy.
Organised by Horwath HTL, C9 Hotelworks, STR, QUO Global, Greenview, and Delivering Asia, in partnership with Langham Hospitality Group, the event arrives at a point of renewed growth and increasing market complexity.
The agenda will cover an assessment of Indonesia’s investment climate and tourism outlook for the year, providing economic context for the discussions that follow. This will then continue with luxury hospitality, where expectations are shifting rapidly and brands are being challenged to move beyond traditional definitions of premium service.
Sherona Shng, regional vice president of operations Asia at Langham Hospitality Group, noted that modern luxury travellers are seeking “meaning and a sense of place” rather than global replicas.
“The brands that succeed here will be those that understand Indonesia’s cultural complexity and deliver experiences that feel deeply personal,” Shng stated.
Matt Gebbie, director at Horwath HTL, will address the 2026 outlook, emphasising that the industry’s future lies in “smart growth”. He suggests that understanding specific destination performance and sustainable capital returns is now critical for investors facing higher expectations.
Beyond hotels, ITX 2026 also examines how ownership structures and development strategies are evolving. A dedicated discussion on standalone branded residences reflects the rising importance of residential-led hospitality across Indonesia’s resort and lifestyle destinations, where brands are increasingly used to drive long-term value.
Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks, who will moderate the session, said: “Branded residences are no longer a secondary product in Indonesia – they are becoming a primary driver of luxury real estate demand. What makes Indonesia compelling is the combination of brand trust, destination appeal, and lifestyle aspiration. The challenge is aligning those elements in markets that are diverse, fragmented, and culturally nuanced.”
The forum will also discuss hospitality technology and sustainability strategy, ownership transitions and leadership, and culturally grounded design and development.
ITX 2026 is supported by the Jakarta Hotels Association, PHRI Indonesia, and the Bali Hotels Association.
