TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Wednesday, 31st December 2025
Page 86

Shaping the future of tourism at the Bali & Beyond Travel Fair

0
BBTF official opening with the Indonesia minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana (centre) and stakeholders to share a join commitment in preserving the green nature and cultural heritage of Indonesia for the world

Brought to you by Bali & Beyond Travel Fair

BBTF official opening with the Indonesia minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana (centre) and stakeholders to share a join commitment in preserving the green nature and cultural heritage of Indonesia for the world

The 11th edition of the Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2025 concluded with a vision toward sustainable, culinary-led tourism on June 13 at the Bali International Convention Center, Nusa Dua – further cementing its status as Indonesia’s leading international B2B travel marketplace.

The event brought together 529 buyers from 45 countries and 499 sellers and exhibitors representing diverse destinations across the archipelago.

“BBTF is proud to contribute to the sustained growth of Indonesia’s tourism sector by building a trusted platform that connects markets, strengthens partnerships, and showcases our rich and diverse destinations,” said I Putu Winastra, S.AB, M.A.P., chairman of BBTF 2025 and the Bali regional chairman of ASITA (Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies). “With support from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bali Provincial Government, and stakeholders across industries, BBTF continues to serve as a powerful bridge between Indonesia and the world – starting from Bali.”

BBTF offers a unique blend of curated business meetings and immersive post-show tours, enabling buyers not only to negotiate and build partnerships but also to experience the destinations firsthand. These tailored programmes deepen engagement through authentic storytelling, cultural immersion, and collaborative product development.

A key milestone at this year’s event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ASITA Bali and the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), establishing a long-term tourism partnership between Indonesia and Namibia. The agreement encompasses familiarisation trips, workshops, influencer and media exchanges, collaborative tour packages, and social responsibility programmes. Designed as a non-commercial commitment, the MoU also supports shared participation in exhibitions, training, and promotional content – laying the groundwork for sustainable, mutually beneficial cooperation.

“BBTF helps us align with diversity market expectations and refine Bali’s positioning as a competitive global destination,” said Ida Ayu Indah Yustikarini, SS., M.Hum, head of Marketing at the Bali Government Tourism Office. “We continue to develop integrated travel patterns across Bali’s regencies to promote dispersal and prevent overcrowding – BBTF supports this shift toward sustainable and high-quality tourism.”

Echoing this sentiment, Christopher Chung, senior director of Sales & Distribution, Indonesia & Malaysia at Marriott Bonvoy, stated: “Our five-year partnership with BBTF underscores the strategic importance of this event in our annual calendar. Through ‘Bali to Bali’ – our initiative to work with local suppliers – we demonstrate our commitment to sustainability, consistency, and collaboration.”

During the closing ceremony, the organising committee officially announced the 12th edition of BBTF will take place on May 28 to 30, 2026 at the BICC, with the theme: ‘Redefining Indonesia’s Gastronomy Journey: A Celebration of Taste, Culture, and Sustainable Heritage.’

In 2026, BBTF will spotlight Indonesia’s culinary heritage as a new tourism frontier – highlighting how food connects travelers to local ecosystems, traditions, and communities.

“Gastronomy is more than just taste – it’s a lens through which we understand heritage, connect with people, and preserve cultures,” said Winastra. “This theme reflects our belief that food tourism can empower communities, support biodiversity, and offer deeper, more conscious travel experiences.”

In a change from previous editions, the traditional tourism talk show will be replaced by a more personal and elegant Welcome Dinner at The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, to set a warm tone for BBTF 2026.

The upcoming theme also signals BBTF’s growing influence not only as a travel marketplace but also as a policy-influencing platform. With its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, BBTF now stands as one of the few global trade shows advocating low-impact, high-value tourism through cultural authenticity and environmental stewardship.

While digital platforms continue to expand global reach, speakers at BBTF 2025 agreed that nothing replaces the human connection and trust built through face-to-face engagement.
BBTF is where dialogue becomes action, and partnerships evolve into long-term commitments.

Join us for BBTF 2026 and be part of a new tourism era shaped by culture, cuisine, and conscious collaboration.

Early bird registration is now open. Contact: info@bbtf.co.id or visit www.bbtf.co.id.

Data-driven horizons

0

Can you tell us more about Demand360?
I call this my first child, because I’ve been working on this product longer than I’ve had children.

Demand360 is our proprietary solution. It allows properties to compare performance across all channels and spot trends by OTA, market, and segment.

We get data directly from the hotels. We have about 45,000 hotels globally – comprising six million rooms – that share data.

Hotels give us their data; we then provide a product that shows how they’re performing versus competition across all of the channels.

What types of data do you collect on the airline side that hotels can benefit from?
Amadeus’ data integration spans air searches, airline seat classes, booking lead times, and demographic trends – providing a 360-degree view of intent versus actual arrivals.

By merging this with segmentation data (e.g. booking channel, cabin class, age group), hoteliers can proactively tailor their rates and promotions, or launch geo-targeted campaigns across OTAs and metasearch platforms.

Our hotel clients have 24/7 access to this data through our SaaS platform.

Let’s talk about hyper granularity. How can hotels apply such granular insights in real-time?
A very tactical example would be that our platform allows them to see all the way down to Ctrip as a source. They can see their bookings on Ctrip versus the aggregate competitive bookings on Ctrip.

Let’s say they’re underperforming on Ctrip and we know there are strong Chinese travellers coming in – they may want to run a campaign on Ctrip to get business. They may want to pay to be on the first page of Ctrip. They may want to lower their rates to attract more business or open up more rooms on Ctrip to be bookable.

Maybe they only allocated 10 rooms that night, but if they opened up 10 more, they might get that occupancy from Ctrip. That’s a very specific tactical example of how they could use the data.

When it gets that granular, those strategies really become tangible for them to take action.

You’ve mentioned that you’ve already included a chatbot integration on your SaaS platform. What further potential do you see for AI at the moment?
We’re seeing more and more consolidation, meaning there are cluster leaders that have to manage multiple hotels.

AI is going to help them to be able to do their jobs so much more efficiently, because right now, they have access to so much data and not enough time in the day to get it all done.

Being able to use AI will help them be able to be more strategic – with so many different tools and data everywhere, it’s going to be really good to be able to use AI to combine data sets and find insights to be able to take action.

What’s next in AI for Amadeus? Are agentic workflows coming?
Not yet, but it’s absolutely on our roadmap. Today, we still execute media campaigns and inventory actions manually, even though they’re informed by data. But we envision a future where agents could automate these decisions – such as identifying low performance on a channel and triggering a media campaign or adjusting inventory in real-time.

Will Amadeus integrate with public AI agents like Gemini or Bard?
We won’t push our data into external AI knowledge bases. The value lies in protecting that data and applying it within our secure systems. So for now, we’ll work with our own internal databases and infrastructure.

What’s the broader goal of your data partnerships?
Partnerships are also a key focus for us. Where we don’t have the data that we feel is important to the journey, we will partner. We have event data globally on short-term rentals, like Airbnb or VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner).

We work with a company that provides us that information because that allows us to give the full picture of demand, rather than just looking at hotels.

So where we need, we partner to pull in the relevant data to support the journey.

Could you tell us more about your ForwardKeys purchase?
From what we understand, their forecast accuracy is really good, and they’re widely known throughout the globe as far as destinations. They’re also located in Spain where we’re headquartered, and they brought a great team of people. All of those factors played into the decision. We’re excited – it’s fantastic to have 100 new employees on our team.

Being responsible for the global expansion of this product, what potential do you see?
This is one of the reasons I’m visiting here in the (South-east Asia) region. We’re seeing a lot of local brands, and local hospitality chains wanting to participate in this product.

So this is, again, a big focus for us in growing Demand360, and it does provide us the opportunity to roll that information up and provide it to tourism authorities and different stakeholders so they can understand, for example, how many visitors are coming into Bangkok.

We can provide that from an airline standpoint, and also show what’s going on in the hotel market, so that preparations can be made from a staffing perspective – thinking not just within our industry, but also in adjacent sectors – and how destinations can prepare accordingly.

Abercrombie & Kent, Crystal Cruises set sights on Asia’s luxury travel market

0

Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) and Crystal Cruises are doubling down on Asia, with a focus on educating the market and capturing a new generation of ultra-luxury travellers.

Speaking at a recent media lunch in Bangkok, Michelle Mickan, vice president of marketing for both brands, shared insights into their strategy and the region’s potential.

Michelle Mickan addresses the press during a media roundtable in Bangkok on June 27; photo by Anne Somanas

“The growth in the ultra-luxury cruise market over the last two to three years has been really strong, hence why we now have a team up here,” said Mickan.

She added: “Asia is becoming just as significant as Australia for us. A lot of it is fly-cruise, especially into the Mediterranean, which remains a top seller for this region.”

Mickan acknowledged that cruise market penetration in Asia is not yet on par with the West – with an emphasis on yet.

“It’s all about creating a brand in this market – it’s a huge education piece. We’re working closely with luxury agents in-market to build the brand and highlight Crystal’s offerings, especially the culinary and enrichment experiences that resonate with affluent younger travellers,” she noted.

Since acquiring the Crystal brand and ships in 2022, A&K has invested in full-scale renovations and a brand reboot.

“We only bought the ships and the name. We had to rebuild everything – from the website to the ordering systems, renovating and elevating the ships and re-employing the staff,” Mickan explained.

Remarkably, around 90 per cent of the original Crystal crew returned, a testament to the brand loyalty and emotional connection that Crystal Cruises’s crew members have with the company.

“It underscores how deeply the staff identify with the brand – seeing it not just as a job, but as a home and community they genuinely want to return to. They want to be back with the guests; they want to be back on board,” she commented.

According to Mickan, upcoming synergies between A&K and Crystal set to launch next month will further blur the line between land and sea luxury with “a new type of journey”.

“It’s really about linking the two together because A&K does land so well, and then having Crystal at sea is the perfect tie-in,” she summarised.

Tourism Australia strengthens ties in Indonesia with Dwidaya Tour collaboration

0

Tourism Australia has signed a three-year partnership with Indonesian travel agency Dwidaya Tour to expand into Indonesia’s outbound market beyond Jakarta.

The agreement, finalised in Jakarta, will include joint marketing campaigns, development of tailored travel products, and promotion of travel from secondary cities such as Surabaya, Medan, Makassar, Semarang, and Malang to destinations across Australia.

The partnership aims to tap Indonesia’s growing tier-two cities by developing tailored travel products and joint marketing initiatives

“Demand from Indonesia’s tier-two cities is growing rapidly, and the key to engaging these markets effectively is through strong, on-the-ground partnerships,” said Jennifer Doig, Tourism Australia’s new regional general manager for South and South East Asia.

“With Dwidaya’s wide distribution network and deep understanding of Indonesian travel trends, this partnership positions us to reach a broader audience and connect more Indonesians to Australia’s diverse, high-quality experiences,” she added.

Indonesia continues to be one of Australia’s fastest-growing and most stable source markets. Tourism Australia data shows a 12.2 per cent increase in arrivals from Indonesia year on year to March 2025, ranking it as Australia’s ninth largest international market. Indonesian visitors contributed around US$800 million to Australia’s visitor economy in 2024, driven by longer stays and demand for regional, nature-based, and immersive experiences.

Dwidaya Tour reports Australia as one of its top five international destinations, with bookings rising 29 per cent year on year in 1Q2025. Chief operating officer Hendri Yapto said the partnership reflects a strategic response to shifting traveller preferences.

“We are seeing growing demand for nature, wildlife and immersive experiences beyond the typical Sydney and Melbourne itineraries. Tasmania in particular is becoming more popular among Indonesian travellers seeking something different,” he noted.

Hendri added that Australia’s infrastructure, diverse landscapes, and inclusive offerings, particularly for Muslim travellers and families, continue to support its appeal in the Indonesian market. The partnership will focus on co-developing products tailored to premium, youth, and event-driven segments, along with agent training and marketing to expand Australia’s reach beyond gateway cities.

Tourism Australia is also engaging a wider network of Indonesian travel agents through its Muslim-friendly consortium and the Aussie Specialists programme to maintain Australia’s position among travellers across the archipelago.

Hong Kong Disneyland kicks off 20th year celebration

0

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has launched its year-long 20th anniversary celebration, The Most Magical Party of All. More than 1,000 guests, including celebrities, content creators, media, and partners from Asia and the US, gathered on Main Street, USA for the launch event.

Mickey Mouse and friends, joined by Duffy and Friends in new anniversary outfits, marked the occasion with a themed performance. The celebration continued with fireworks, pyrotechnics, and a drone display forming the 20th anniversary logo above the Castle of Magical Dreams.

The parade lights up Main Street, USA, marking the start of Hong Kong Disneyland’s 20th anniversary celebration

“Disney is known around the world for exceptional storytelling, and Hong Kong Disneyland is a shining reflection of that,” said Jill Estorino, president and managing director of Disney Parks International. “I’m so proud of how the resort has woven itself into the fabric of this community. It has become the tourism flagship, the largest employer in the tourism and family entertainment industry, and a source of happiness for so many. We look forward to a bright and bold future for Hong Kong Disneyland.”

Royal Caribbean opens bookings for new beach club experience in The Bahamas

0

Royal Caribbean has opened bookings for a new beach club experience in The Bahamas. Holidaymakers booked on sailings visiting Nassau from late December 2025 can now purchase all-inclusive day passes for Royal Beach Club Paradise Island on the cruise line’s website.

Opening in December 2025, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is the first destination in the Royal Beach Club Collection. The club will feature beaches, pools, dining, bars, and what is described as the world’s largest swim-up bar. The experience is designed to incorporate Bahamian culture and includes return water transport, food and drink, entertainment, and activities suitable for families.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will feature the first two-storey Ultimate Family Cabana with a whirlpool, slide, and personal attendant; photo by Royal Caribbean

Guests will have access to two beaches and three pools, including The Deep End pool and The Floating Flamingo swim-up bar. Food and drink will be available across three beach grills and 10 bars. Amenities include Wi-Fi, umbrellas, lounge chairs, lockers, towels, and beach games.

A selection of all-inclusive passes will be available, with pricing subject to change based on seasonality. The Day Pass with Unlimited Open Bar and Dining will start from US$169.99 for guests aged 21 and over. The Day Pass with Non-Alcoholic Drinks and Dining will start from US$129.99 for guests aged 13 and over, US$109.99 for children aged four to 12, and will be free for children three years and under.

Guests may choose to combine their day pass with an onboard beverage package or pair it with additional experiences at Royal Caribbean’s other private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Additional features at the beach club will include a two-level private cabana designed for families, which will contain a slide, frozen drink machine, personal attendant, and whirlpool. Poolside and beachside cabanas will be available, including personal service, day beds, storage, umbrellas, and towels. A private second-floor area at The Floating Flamingo will accommodate up to 12 guests and include food and beverage service and music provided by a DJ.

Sailings that include Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will depart from six cities, with options including Utopia of the Seas. The destination joins others currently under development, including Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026, Lelepa in early 2027, and Perfect Day Mexico in autumn 2027.

For more information, visit Royal Caribbean.

Pan Pacific Hotels Group takes firm step into the global luxury tourism space with Pan Pacific Reserve Collection

0

Following a global asset enhancement initiative (AEI) strategy that kicked off in 2021, Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) is now presenting a new brand that captures the crème de la crème of its hotels from around the world. The Pan Pacific Reserve Collection features six Pan Pacific-branded hotels and two Parkroyal Collection-branded hotels – they qualify for being the most luxurious properties with the highest service standards in PPHG’s portfolio.

The Pan Pacific Reserve Collection is showcased at ILTM Asia Pacific 2025 in Singapore this week.

Representatives of properties under the Pan Pacific Reserve Collection join CEO Choe Peng Sum (fifth from right, front row) and chief commercial and marketing officer Cinn Tan (sixth from right, front row) at ILTM Asia Pacific 2025

PPHG CEO Choe Peng Sum told TTG Asia that properties in the collection must be the topmost interpretation of their “brand’s Version 2.0” – indicating hotels and resorts that have either completed the recent AEI or are recently launched according to new brand standards and hardware requirements.

Presently, properties in the the Pan Pacific Reserve Collection include: Pan Pacific Singapore; Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore; Bellustar Tokyo, A Pan Pacific Hotel; Pan Pacific Perth; Pan Pacific Jakarta; Pan Pacific London, Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore, and Parkroyal Collection Pickering, Singapore.

Choe said the Pan Pacific Reserve Collection was first revealed at ILTM Cannes three years ago, and it gave PPHG an opportunity to highlight what a Singapore-based, homegrown hotel company could do in the luxury accommodation space.

“We are not big (in terms of the number of properties globally), but it does not mean that we cannot punch above our weight,” stated Choe.

Jastina Balen, director, communications at PPHG, recalled having Craig Bond, senior vice president head of operations, to present the Pan Pacific Reserve Collection at a press briefing during last year’s ILTM Cannes for the first time.

She said Bond received a lot of media queries and interview requests immediately after, “as the media were seeing the visuals of our properties for the first time”.

Choe said Pan Pacific London, which opened in September 2021, is representative of the Pan Pacific brand’s Version 2.0, and expressed immense pride for what the hotel has been able to accomplish within a short period of time. Pan Pacific London was named Forbes Five-Star by Forbes Travel Guide in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and received several other accolades for its F&B venues, spa and sustainability features.

Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore also turned heads when it was conferred the World Selection title by UNESCO’s Prix Versailles, one of the world’s premier prizes in architecture and design, last December. It is the only Singapore hotel with this recognition.

The win was announced at ILTM Cannes, and alerted the luxury tourism community to the quality of PPHG’s most elite properties.

“These days, we have tourists walking up to Pan Pacific Orchard just to take photos, especially in the night. I will never take this for granted, and I know I have to work harder to ensure that people’s awareness of the brand is not limited to one famous property. I want them to know that PPHG’s brands are all respectable,” concluded Choe.

Kevin Markette helms as senior director – regional sales South Asia at Lufthansa Group

0

Lufthansa Group has appointed Kevin Markette as senior director – regional sales South Asia, based in New Delhi. He will oversee commercial activities across South Asia, including India.

He brings over 20 years of leadership experience within Lufthansa, having managed teams across Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. Starting his career in South Africa in 2000, he has held roles in marketing, business development, and sales, including positions in Dubai, Ghana, and the US.

Most recently, he served as general manager for East Africa, leading commercial strategy and partnerships across the region.

Neha Kapoor leads as GM of Hyatt Place Gurgaon

0

Hyatt Place Gurgaon has appointed Neha Kapoor as its new general manager, who brings over 21 years of hospitality experience to the role.

Kapoor has held positions with brands like Grand Hyatt Mumbai, JW Marriott, and Hyatt properties across India, progressing from sales and marketing to hotel operations.

She will lead Hyatt Place Gurgaon with a focus on guest experiences and strengthen the hotel’s position in the Gurgaon market.

Novotel Geelong appoints Larelle Fitt as director of sales

0

Novotel Geelong has named Larelle Fitt as its new director of sales, with her appointment expected to bolster the hotel’s standing as the region’s premier waterfront hotel and business events venue.

Fitt brings over 25 years of experience in tourism, hospitality, and events, with leadership roles at notable properties including Novotel Geelong, Sheraton Melbourne, and Mantra Lorne.