Bali exhibitors told micenet that Australian business is holding steady despite Lombok’s volcanic eruptions and street protests elsewhere in Indonesia. It is popular with the mining, pharmaceutical and financial industries.
Besides upmarket Nusa Dua, Seminyak, Jimbaran Bay, Uluwatu and Ubud, the refreshed Sanur and new areas like Canggu are attracting interest.
The 184-suite The Meru Sanur and Bali Beach Hotel with 274 rooms and suites accommodate Australian groups averaging 100 to 200 pax, with bigger groups split across the two hotels.
They are next to Bali Beach Convention Center which has a 5,000-pax capacity. The hall divides into three, each holding 610 pax in banquet seating. Smaller groups may choose from among 18 function rooms at Bali Beach Hotel.
Since Sanur is a special economic zone for health and wellness tourism and it has Bali’s first ethnomedicinal botanical garden, the hotels include these aspects in meeting packages.
Canggu on Bali’s south coast is gaining traction for its ‘chill’ vibes. The 119-room COMO Uma Canggu hosts corporate events for 10 to 30 pax at venues ranging from a small meeting room to penthouses and its beach club comprising restaurant, pool deck and lawn.
Nusa Dua is still popular, although large conferences like CT Asia (formerly Coaltrans) relocated to Jimbaran Bay this September.
At Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, Australian groups usually take between 50 and 200 rooms, but buyouts are possible.
Grand Hyatt Bali sees groups ranging from 50 to 500 pax, but it also allows buyouts. The 12 F&B outlets make catering easy and the hotel cross-markets with Hyatt Regency and Andaz in Sanur.
Hilton Bali Resort is pitching sustainability both onsite – such as in catering and for team-building activities – and offsite, through mangrove-planting and beach cleaning.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bali also hosts Australian incentive groups, with 100 to 200 pax groups being a good fit for multiple meeting rooms. The wide beach accommodates up to 400 pax for team-building or parties.
Meanwhile in northern Jakarta, Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) is becoming a bustling business and residential area. Just 15 minutes from the international airport, the 412-room Swissôtel Jakarta PIK Avenue is the first Swissôtel in Indonesia.
Its grand ballroom holds up to 3,000 guests standing or 1,000 in each of three rooms. Complemented by nine meeting rooms, Swissôtel hosts conferences and meetings, especially from the banking, water and travel and tourism sectors.
The hotel adjoins a shopping mall and the 440-room Mercure PIK next to it and is near new venue Nusantara International Convention Exhibition which is already drawing international conferences and exhibitions.
