12:30 – Late | Potato Head Beach Club
Whatever’s next for the world, it starts in the Asia-Pacific region. And those ideas first form here, at Open House. Our annual ideas festival launches Further East and welcomes our community into the industry’s boldest emerging concepts, topics and trends — ready for you to take and run with.
Over talks, roundtables and workshops, you’ll hear from groundbreaking talent and join the conversations that matter more than ever in APAC luxury travel. But this isn’t just a chance to gain lessons and insight. You’ll also bond with fellow Further Easters, letting conversations fly under the Bali sun. Which is great for doing business differently.
Enjoy Welcome Drinks starting at 18:00, wear your best beach outfit!
So, step through the doors. Open your mind. Follow the sound of Asia-Pacific, amplified . . .
View the official 2025 agenda here.
Amplify is Open House’s main platform – a stage built for bold visions, pioneering insights, and the trends reshaping high-end travel in APAC. Expect future-facing talks from industry leaders, creative thinkers, and boundary-pushers redefining what’s next for the region.
Horizon is where ideas turn actionable. In these hands-on sessions, delegates roll up their sleeves to tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities in travel today from sustainability and storytelling to growth and innovation. Practical, focused, and designed to spark collaboration.
Circle Talks are raw, real discussions, small, intimate groups gathered beachside to share challenges, trade insights, and unpack the topics that matter most. No stage, no slides, just open dialogue and honest exchange, guided by curiosity and community.
Wild Origins Founder
Neil’s visionary perspective is reshaping our industry. He was instrumental in building Six Senses into one of the world’s most respected luxury hotel brands, more than tripling their number of properties over 13 years. Since then, he’s put his versatility to work in new ways, running sites, financing new ventures, opening doors and closing deals. Under Wild Origins (a full-service creative advisory group) he’s providing deep strategic insights to Capella — particularly their Patina brand — while spotting growth opportunities for Desa Potato Head’s expansion. At the heart of it all remains his commitments to people, place and purpose, favouring impact over scale.
As the visionary behind Six Senses, Neil Jacobs helped define what modern luxury could be: conscious, experiential, and rooted in wellbeing. Now, as he steps into his next chapter, Neil brings a rare vantage point — one that spans both the deep roots of high-end hospitality and the frontier of what’s next. In this wide-ranging conversation, he and collaborator Lexie Rodriguez will explore what a world-class brand demands from day one. Expect reflections on innovation, leadership, and positioning yourself on the bleeding edge of travel — alongside a look at where hospitality must go next to stay relevant, bold and human.
VP of Lifestyle, Capella Hotel Group
Through her partnerships with cultural institutions, emerging artists and regional tastemakers, Lexie transforms traditional hospitality touchpoints so they can drive both connections and measurable growth. Cutting her teeth as Head of APAC for Soho House & Co.’s ‘Cities Without Houses’ division, she expanded to 14 cities throughout Asia-Pacific and spearheaded activations such as the Soho Residency. Today Lexie’s role at Capella flexes her creative and business relationships to position Patina Hotels & Resorts as a cultural catalyst. As ever, she believes in finding authentic intersections that make a brand distinct and commercially successful — a blueprint for luxury that’s mapped deeply to a sense of place.
As the visionary behind Six Senses, Neil Jacobs helped define what modern luxury could be: conscious, experiential, and rooted in wellbeing. Now, as he steps into his next chapter, Neil brings a rare vantage point — one that spans both the deep roots of high-end hospitality and the frontier of what’s next. In this wide-ranging conversation, he and collaborator Lexie Rodriguez will explore what a world-class brand demands from day one. Expect reflections on innovation, leadership, and positioning yourself on the bleeding edge of travel — alongside a look at where hospitality must go next to stay relevant, bold and human.
Founding Partner, Re:Set Strategies/High-Yield Tourism
Gary is a fascinating authority on travel markets, tourism policy, investment and consumer trends for the Asia-Pacific region. Every day, he works with hotels, banks, consulting firms and market research agencies to forecast trends across the globe, sharpening his perspective on APAC’s growing influence. Additionally, he’s an Asian Travel Analyst for Phocuswright, and has worked for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). News channels and publications — including the BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera and Reuters — often approach him for clear-eyed takes on APAC travel.
Gary Bowerman’s new book, Tourism in Asia 2030, offers a sharp look at our near-future. It begins with a belief: that Asian consumers — and travellers — are leading the charge in innovation, self-expression, and an on-demand lifestyle that’s reaching its peak in APAC. In this talk, Gary unpacks why high-end travel brands must evolve with shifting expectations across the region. From the mega-markets of China, India and Vietnam to EV itineraries and set-jetting escapes, he reveals where tastes are headed — and how your brand can stay one step ahead.
Founder, The Wedge Asia
Stephanie Dickson is the exited founder of two platforms that’ve helped shift sustainability from niche to mainstream across Asia. After nearly a decade building conscious movements with events for over 40,000 changemakers, Stephanie sold the company and launched The Wedge Asia, a consultancy focused on helping businesses design high-impact, future-fit experience, events and strategies rooted in conscious leadership and sustainability. She’s set on advancing consciousness and climate action by changing from the inside out — reprogramming the way we live, lead and do business for a regenerative future.
The travel industry has invested heavily in green infrastructure, reducing single-use plastics, and chasing sustainability certifications. But impact isn’t just powered by spreadsheets and supply chains. It starts from within. Steph Dickinson, a conscious business revolutionary, invites you to consider a bold idea: What if the biggest breakthrough doesn’t come from hotel designs and audits, but your leadership style? We can’t regenerate the planet if we aren’t regenerating ourselves — and the people and work cultures we’re in charge of. This mainstage talk positions emotional intelligence, regulation and self-awareness as the biggest influences on your impact outcomes.
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Eastside.Asia
Audrey is a travel editor, writer and social media consultant with bylines in Condé Nast Traveller, The Telegraph, TIME and Prestige. She’s been a journalist with companies such as The Wall Street Journal, ELLE and The Business Times, and led global social media teams in Amazon and TikTok. She left the corporate world to start Eastside, a platform focused on Asian travel content by Asian storytellers, after identifying a gap in storytelling by local creators and the demand for deeper stories about the region.
Narratives across Asia Pacific are shifting, as a new generation of travellers seeks more than bucket lists and big-name stops. They want authenticity, clarity, and content that reflects their values. So how can you explore fresh formats to tell these new stories — and let your marketing mainstays evolve? From podcasts and newsletters to trusted local voices and community curators, Audrey Phoon will host a panel of experts to help you capture the changing face of APAC. You’ll learn why tech like AI and AR is reshaping the way stories are told, and how to avoid common traps like tokenism or oversimplification.
MD & Co-Founder, Smiling Albino
Daniel first arrived in Thailand in 1995, working on consulting and teaching projects at the Royal Chitralada Palace. What began as an adventurous detour soon reshaped his life, sparking a lifelong connection with Southeast Asia’s cultures, landscapes, and people. In 2000, he co-founded Smiling Albino to share his passion for exploring Southeast Asia in ways that reveal its hidden richness. Over the years, Daniel has become a familiar figure across Thailand, appearing in print and feature films. Named a Tourism Ambassador in 2005 by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, he has hosted over 300 television documentary episodes, mostly in the Thai language, illuminating cultural traditions, culinary stories and local sustainability projects. With boundless energy, fluency in Thai, and rare depth of knowledge, Daniel is a trusted authority on the region, splitting time between Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.
Narratives across Asia Pacific are shifting, as a new generation of travellers seeks more than bucket lists and big-name stops. They want authenticity, clarity, and content that reflects their values. So how can you explore fresh formats to tell these new stories — and let your marketing mainstays evolve? From podcasts and newsletters to trusted local voices and community curators, Condé Nast’s Audrey Phoon will host a panel of experts to help you capture the changing face of APAC. You’ll learn why tech like AI and AR is reshaping the way stories are told, and how to avoid common traps like tokenism or oversimplification.
Regional Travel Editor, Tatler Asia
Coco leads Tatler Asia’s travel content across print, digital and social media. She is known for her stories that cover lesser-explored destinations and hotels, and through her love for design, sustainability and storytelling, has shaped Tatler Asia’s unique voice in the travel space. In 2023, she launched the annual Tatler Travel supplement, which in 2025 was nominated Travel Magazine of the Year by TravMedia.
Narratives across Asia Pacific are shifting, as a new generation of travellers seeks more than bucket lists and big-name stops. They want authenticity, clarity, and content that reflects their values. So how can you explore fresh formats to tell these new stories — and let your marketing mainstays evolve? From podcasts and newsletters to trusted local voices and community curators, Condé Nast’s Audrey Phoon will host a panel of experts to help you capture the changing face of APAC. You’ll learn why tech like AI and AR is reshaping the way stories are told, and how to avoid common traps like tokenism or oversimplification.
Senior VP Asia-Pacific, Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Mark oversees the SLH brand’s regional operations, including hotel development, sales, marketing and distribution. As the official spokesperson for SLH in Asia-Pacific, Mark also leads a growing, curated membership portfolio across the region. With more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he has held senior leadership positions at NEXT Story Group, Preferred Travel Group and Hyatt Hotels. An active contributor to the industry, Mark sits on the Board of the Asia-Pacific Outlook Lodging Association (APOLA). He was also a founding board member of both the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Singapore Chapter and the Mekong Tourism Advisory Group (MeTAG). Throughout his career, he has received multiple accolades recognising his creativity and innovation in hospitality marketing.
Narratives across Asia Pacific are shifting, as a new generation of travellers seeks more than bucket lists and big-name stops. They want authenticity, clarity, and content that reflects their values. So how can you explore fresh formats to tell these new stories — and let your marketing mainstays evolve? From podcasts and newsletters to trusted local voices and community curators, Condé Nast’s Audrey Phoon will host a panel of experts to help you capture the changing face of APAC. You’ll learn why tech like AI and AR is reshaping the way stories are told, and how to avoid common traps like tokenism or oversimplification.
Chief Customer Officer, The Misfits Company
Chloe has worked with global travel brands and tourism boards across APAC. With a background in brand storytelling, content strategy and AI-powered marketing, she offers a more practical approach to finding your voice and identity online. It’s about showing up — not burning out. In pursuit of this philosophy, she leverages all of her experience leading new work for Misfits Media, a full-service agency in Australia.
In today’s hyper-connected world, a strong digital presence isn’t optional — it’s survival. But that doesn’t mean filming a TikTok dance or turning your face into the brand. First, you need to understand where content fits: in your work, values and style. Chloe Noel De Kerbrech will show you how to cut through the noise, pairing sharp digital thinking with a clear brand identity to grow your online influence, whether you're a content pro or a social sceptic. It’s about the right content, for the right people, at the right time. With a live AI demo in the mix, this is your chance to decode digital reinvention — on your terms.
Senior Marketing Director, Potato Head
Radit is a travel and hospitality enthusiast. His career and hobbies span roles at mostly Asian hospitality brands such as Alila, Aman, Potato Head and Regent. He has also consulted for independent hotels such as Soori and other establishments like Begawan and Space Available. In 2020, he co-launched Paras, a digital platform dedicated to chronicling Bali's tourism and hospitality evolution. His book Paras: Documenting 100 Years of Hospitality and Hotel Architecture in Bali is an extension of this digital initiative — featured by global publications such as Condé Nast Traveller, Design Anthology, Destinasian, Manual Jakarta and Travel + Leisure Asia.
Sustainability is no longer the ceiling — it's the floor. This panel explores how hospitality and design can move beyond ‘doing less harm’ to actively contributing to regenerative living. Through integrated approaches to architecture, engineering, waste management and cultural responsibility, we’ll look at how built environments can restore ecosystems, utilise local craftsmanship, and redefine the guest experience. This conversation brings together voices shaping the future of responsible travel — not with slogans, but with a hammer and chisel.
Founder, Sainha / Co-Founder, Asia Sustainable Travel
Jeremy is an impact entrepreneur and award-winning marketing and communications leader. With more than a decade of experience in global branding and market strategy, he has advised over 50 brands on entering the Asian market, integrating sustainability, and purpose-driven storytelling. In 2022, Jeremy founded Sainha, a sustainability marketing agency dedicated to scaling next-gen travel and hospitality brands with positive impact and measurable returns. He’s also the co-founder of Asia Sustainable Travel (AST), a media and intelligence platform delivering agenda-setting green insights and Asia-focused marketing solutions for travel and hospitality leaders. Today, AST reaches a global audience across 60+ countries and territories. Jeremy is a regular speaker at leading industry conferences such as Further East and The Long Run, and his work has been featured in publications including Skift and Travel Tomorrow.
Sustainability is no longer the ceiling — it's the floor. This panel explores how hospitality and design can move beyond ‘doing less harm’ to actively contributing to regenerative living. Through integrated approaches to architecture, engineering, waste management and cultural responsibility, we’ll look at how built environments can restore ecosystems, utilise local craftsmanship, and redefine the guest experience. This conversation brings together voices shaping the future of responsible travel — not with slogans, but with a hammer and chisel.
Co-Founder & Director, Eco-Mantra
As head of the Bali-based consultancy Eco-Mantra, Maitri collaborates with visionary leaders and developers to design and create sustainable destinations and experiences. Thanks to both residential and commercial projects such as Waterbom Bali, Desa Potato Head, Mandarin Oriental Bali, The Loop Residence, and Batavia PIK, Eco-Mantra has built a reputation for innovative design that marries environmental responsibility with modern living. Driven by his passion for the environment, science, and travel, Maitri demonstrates that developments can achieve positive social and environmental impacts through holistic systems thinking and integrated environmental design. His work proves that progress and sustainability can go hand in hand, ensuring that development does not come at the expense of the environment.
Sustainability is no longer the ceiling — it's the floor. This panel explores how hospitality and design can move beyond ‘doing less harm’ to actively contributing to regenerative living. Through integrated approaches to architecture, engineering, waste management and cultural responsibility, we’ll look at how built environments can restore ecosystems, utilise local craftsmanship, and redefine the guest experience. This conversation brings together voices shaping the future of responsible travel — not with slogans, but with a hammer and chisel.
Founder, Dolkhar Ladakh
Lachic, a Ladakhi entrepreneur, redefines tourism in her region by integrating sustainability with cultural preservation. She co-founded Hatti (a social enterprise for local artisans), advises sā Ladakh land art exhibition, and launched Tsas by Dolkhar, a green initiative for food and hospitality. As the first woman president of the All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALHGHA) she’s also been a key advocate for policies that balance tourism growth with ecological and cultural sensitivity. This has brought Lachic recognition from Condé Nast Traveller, TIME Magazine and the SATTE Awards, among many others.
Sustainability is no longer the ceiling — it's the floor. This panel explores how hospitality and design can move beyond ‘doing less harm’ to actively contributing to regenerative living. Through integrated approaches to architecture, engineering, waste management and cultural responsibility, we’ll look at how built environments can restore ecosystems, utilise local craftsmanship, and redefine the guest experience. This conversation brings together voices shaping the future of responsible travel — not with slogans, but with a hammer and chisel.
Co-CEO, Advant Labs
US-born Matt Lo brings a management-consultant’s brain and an innovator’s passion to hospitality. An early career with Ernst & Young in Hong Kong honed his consulting craft, and offered unique insights into Asian markets sculpting growth strategies for multinational giants. Matt was introduced to luxury travel when he was recruited to join NYC travel tech startup, Porter & Sail, as one of its founding team. Here he learned to see hotels as vibrant storytellers, intricately weaving tales of place and tradition. Matthew piloted Porter & Sail’s strategic foray into the Asia-Pacific with a move to Singapore. In 2019, he founded Advant with a goal to change the way the luxury sector interacts with patrons in the digital age.
AI is leaving science fiction behind for the hard realities of our world. But since ChatGPT hit the industry’s mainstream, what have we learned? And where else might this tech take us? Join Advant Labs’ Matt Lo and Alex Liu as we look at the next era of artificial intelligence for the travel business. By examining key verticals, trends, tools and applications, they’ll unroll the future — and how you can make moves towards it now. Practical case studies will illuminate integrations for sales, marketing and talent retention, streamlining everything you do without losing the human touch that already defines you.
Chief Technology Officer, Advant Labs
Alex has carved a niche at the nexus of technology and entrepreneurship. With a degree in Electrical Engineering from UCLA and a Master’s in Financial Engineering from UC Berkeley, he established himself in quantitative trading at Credit Suisse's proprietary trading desk. There, he utilized algorithms and data science to manage a billion-dollar portfolio and crafted innovative quantitative trading strategies throughout Asia. In 2018, Alex transitioned from traditional finance to the emerging blockchain sector. As a co-founder of Blue Block Group (BBG), he introduced institutional trading strategies to the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies. His passion for innovation led him to co-found Advant, a trailblazing hospitality venture that harnesses his profound expertise in machine learning and AI, aiming to revolutionise the industry.
AI is leaving science fiction behind for the hard realities of our world. But since ChatGPT hit the industry’s mainstream, what have we learned? And where else might this tech take us? Join Advant Labs’ Matt Lo and Alex Liu as we look at the next era of artificial intelligence for the travel business. By examining key verticals, trends, tools and applications, they’ll unroll the future — and how you can make moves towards it now. Practical case studies will illuminate integrations for sales, marketing and talent retention, streamlining everything you do without losing the human touch that already defines you.
Freelance Writer, Editor & Content Strategist
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Erica is now based in Hong Kong and has over a decade of experience in leadership positions within Asia Pacific’s top luxury lifestyle titles, including Regional Managing Editor at Lifestyle Asia and Head of Digital Content at Tatler Asia, Hong Kong. Since starting her own content studio in 2019, she has produced content for the likes of LUXE City Guides, South China Morning Post, Tatler Asia, Prestige Magazine, Zolima CityMag, Legend Publishing, CNA Luxury and DestinAsian, whilst offering bespoke content solutions for a variety of corporate and lifestyle clients.
Erica will be moderating two Circle Talks. Anatomy of a Sustainable Choice looks at how sustainability has become a core part of doing business, not just a buzzword — focusing on helping travellers make meaningful, responsible choices and rethinking luxury as care, connection, and lasting impact. When Does AI Enhance Us — or Go Too Far? considers how technology is changing travel design and personalisation, asking when it elevates hospitality, and when it starts to chip away at the human warmth that makes it special.
Check out the names, faces and insider knowledge that have defined past editions of Open House.
Director, GeoEx
Tina has logged 34 years working in the travel industry, 18 of which have been with Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx) focusing primarily on Asia. She’d adept at planning behind-the-scenes looks at museums and historic sites, conversations with local experts or lecturers, receptions at galleries and exhibitions, meetings with artists, and private dinners at amazing locales. Tina takes great pleasure getting to know the local people she visits, and their mythologies, writing systems and handicrafts — in particular the silk weavings of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, the lacquerware of Myanmar, and the batiks of Indonesia.
New travel markets emerge from shifts in culture, spending habits and the quest for novelty. Yet how do we spot the signs of new desires and destination appetites? Our Amplify panel will get right into it. Debating cultural nuances, booking patterns, hunting for preferences, and challenges in honeymoon, solo and family markets, our travel gurus will strengthen your ability to find trends and serve them before your competitors catch up.
Director, SMA Tourism
Simon is known across the world as ‘the Tourism Doctor,’ and it’s easy to see why . . . Since he began to visit struggling destinations, diagnosing their constraints and developing interventions for sustainable, competitive tourism, he’s honed a knack for flipping from destination analysis to bringing plans and products to market. He’s published six books on visitor management, while building models for controlling the impact of travel today. These models have been used in hotspots as far as China, Cyprus, Mozambique, Canada and Australia.
Too many tourists are wreaking havoc on Asia’s most beloved destinations. From the beaches of Bali to the ancient streets of Kyoto, overcrowding is not only degrading our environment, but also disrupting local cultures and economies. Overtourism is more than just a buzzword — it’s a crisis, a source of erosion and suffocation. A radical rethink is due. Our panel is ready to reveal how your business can fight back against one of the biggest issues of our time. Whether you’re interested in smarter destination management, visitor flow controls, community-first solutions or more robust policies to encourage travellers off the beaten path, take a seat. This electrifying discussion will cut through the noise, offering real solutions to a new era of sustainable travel.
CEO & Founder, This is Beyond
Serge is the mastermind of This is Beyond, a company dedicated to creating transformative communities for high-end travel brands. After launching and selling ILTM Cannes in 2008, he has gone on to help redefine luxury travel by founding several movements tailored to niche corners of the industry. His event portfolio includes Further East, PURE Life Experiences, LE Miami, We Are Africa, SET and Do Not Disturb.
Editor-In-Chief, Middle East Traveller
Scott Campbell is a journalist based between Dubai and London writing for titles such as The Washington Post, The Telegraph, BBC, Condé Nast Traveller Middle East, Harper's Bazaar Arabia, The National and Arab News, as well as the Editor-in-Chief of Middle East Traveller — a publication focusing on luxury hotels for high net-worth travellers from the Gulf region. Scott previously worked advising governments in the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on digital and communications strategy, including for key tourism projects under the Kingdom's Vision 2030 initiative. Further experience includes roles as Digital Editor at Time Out Dubai, the launch restaurant reviewer for Time Out Riyadh and a photographer for Getty Images.
What makes a story worth telling? And how do you make it too good to ignore? Here, we spin the press conference on its head, interviewing some of the brightest, most influential voices in the travel industry so you can find out what they look for in a great news piece. The likes of Scott Campbell (Middle East Traveller), Claire Turrell (National Geographic), Jonny Bierman (Lonely Planet) and Ron Gluckman (Forbes) are ready to share their secrets for getting a story in a magazine, including pitching and sharpening the right angle. Along the way, they’ll also explain how to come up with subject matter, pull your work back into travel trends, and avoid the risk of greenwashing.
Founder, Plastic Free Southeast Asia (PFSA)
Sarah has been working in tourism since 2001 and sustainability more generally since 2015. After completing her training on Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, she moved to Cambodia to meld her enthusiasm for reducing single-use plastics with her expertise in tourism. This led to Plastic Free Southeast Asia (PFSEA), a business that supports sustainable tourism brands, engaging their team, suppliers and customers while a plan falls into place. Sarah is an independent, trained Blue Consultant for Oceanic Global's Blue Standard, which helps hotels reduce single-use plastics, and is a verified coach for the Travelife Certification program. In Australia, she’s spent time working with Better Business Partnerships while remaining the primary sustainability trainer and advisor for the Sydney Festival.
Now — more than ever — the best staff are essential to keep breaking expectations in luxury travel. Staff themselves are also seeking more meaningful work in places that align with their values. In the race for a green light, it’s easy to overlook what your talented teams want and can do for your sustainability targets. In fact, they may already be the solution . . . So, empower your workforce with Sarah Rhodes’ approach to stoking interest, ownership and loyalty, taking you out of the fruitless sustainability loop. This interactive Masterclass generates and tests ideas until you have a practical roadmap for internal inspiration — those that can be used at work, and in everyone’s personal lives.
Principal, Advant Labs
With over 15 years in the hospitality industry spanning iconic brands and stand alone hotels from six Senses to Aman and the critically acclaimed Shinta Mani Wild, Sangjay has successfully opened some of the worlds leading hotels continually striving to push the boundaries of guest experiences and what a hotel is.
AI is poised to tear through hospitality marketing – first as a critical advantage, then as table stakes, and eventually perhaps as a liability. Here’s what you need to do to prepare for this rollercoaster, direct from three innovators in the high-end hospitality sector. Sangjay Choegyal has successfully opened some of the world’s leading hotels for brands like Six Senses, Aman and Shinta Mani Wild; Matthew Lo is a former management consultant who scaled Porter & Sail and built products for Design Hotels, EDITION Hotels and Soho House; and Alex Liu is a data scientist with valuable insights into innovative technologies like blockchain and AI.
CEO, Potato Head Family
Serial entrepreneur and founder of Seminyak Beach’s uber-cool Potato Head Beach Club, who has a reputation as an artistic visionary, industry disruptor and cult hero.
Ronald Akili, CEO & Founder, Potato Head, in conversation with Colin Nagy, Director & Columnist, Skift. Ronald Akili is an entrepreneur, innovator and change-maker who thrives on challenging the status quo in every industry he touches. In this conversation, he’ll reveal his journey from promoting sustainable Indonesian architecture to the creation and evolution of Potato Head, the first carbon-neutral company in the region. Ronald’s “Good Times, Do Good” motto encapsulates his belief that we can balance incredible experiences with actions that make the world a better place – and that we can not only serve guests but also inspire them. Learn more about how Ronald is investing in real change towards a regenerative future.
Journalist
Ron Gluckman is an American journalist who has been roaming widely around Asia for over 30 years. Previously, he spent a decade with daily newspapers in the USA, before moving to Hong Kong, and later writing in Bangkok, Beijing, Phnom Penh and Jakarta. He specialises in long-form profiles and features on travel and adventure, hospitality, business, arts, architecture, science and the environment. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Time, Forbes, CNN, CNBC, Travel + Leisure, Luxury Escapes, DestinAsian, Hotelier and various other hotel, airline and luxury magazines.
What makes a story worth telling? And how do you make it too good to ignore? Here, we spin the press conference on its head, interviewing some of the brightest, most influential voices in the travel industry so you can find out what they look for in a great news piece. The likes of Scott Campbell (Middle East Traveller), Claire Turrell (National Geographic), Jonny Bierman (Lonely Planet) and Ron Gluckman (Forbes) are ready to share their secrets for getting a story in a magazine, including pitching and sharpening the right angle. Along the way, they’ll also explain how to come up with subject matter, pull your work back into travel trends, and avoid the risk of greenwashing.
Founder & CEO, Lemongrass Marketing
Mirjam’s innovative leadership has driven Lemongrass to win multiple awards for the agency’s new approach to travel communications, blending the creativity and storytelling of PR with the strategic strength of data insights. In 2023 Lemongrass became an accredited B Corp and won the prestigious Sunday Times Best Places to Work Award. As one of the industry’s leading figures, Mirjam regularly speaks at global travel events and on industry podcasts. She is also a judge on the EMEA Purpose Awards.
Too many tourists are wreaking havoc on Asia’s most beloved destinations. From the beaches of Bali to the ancient streets of Kyoto, overcrowding is not only degrading our environment, but also disrupting local cultures and economies. Overtourism is more than just a buzzword — it’s a crisis, a source of erosion and suffocation. A radical rethink is due. Our panel is ready to reveal how your business can fight back against one of the biggest issues of our time. Whether you’re interested in smarter destination management, visitor flow controls, community-first solutions or more robust policies to encourage travellers off the beaten path, take a seat. This electrifying discussion will cut through the noise, offering real solutions to a new era of sustainable travel.
Co-founder & CEO, Song Saa Private Island & Foundation
Melita Koulmandas is a regenerative designer and living systems thinker working in the travel sector. She co-founded Song Saa Private Island & Foundation more than 10 years ago, where she now serves as CEO.
In 2005, Melita arrived at the Song Saa islands, witnessing a landscape overwhelmed by ocean waste, its resources depleted, and its habitability fading. Applying the principles of regenerative design, she orchestrated a remarkable transformation. Today, the area boasts Cambodia’s largest Marine Park and community-driven initiatives spanning education, waste management, fisheries, and more.
Amidst global challenges, Melita remains resolute in her mission to advance regeneration in travel, fostering a new era of thoughtful and purposeful exploration.
Prepare to be inspired and to gain the knowledge needed to begin your own transformative journey by adopting a regenerative mindset. This session is designed for those who are driven to create meaningful change and are intrigued by truly innovative systems of change-making. Melita will delve into how Song Saa Private Island & Foundation has continually generated a ripple effect of generational positive impact in its surroundings since adopting regenerative principles. She’ll discuss the learning curve in co-evolving and designing in harmony with nature, place, and people, and the shift from linear to integrated, holistic thinking. You’ll discover why embracing regenerative principles represents a crucial mindset shift for the travel industry, how working with “wholes” in business rather than parts can revolutionise your business strategies and create enduring change far beyond your brand, and the limitations of mechanical systems compared to a living systems perspective that fosters collaborative environments that regenerate nature. Overall, you’ll find out how regenerative design enables you to navigate complexity, creating more resilient and adaptable businesses in our rapidly changing world.
Journalist & Founder, Eco Escape Travel
Jonny Bierman is a sustainable travel journalist, guidebook author, and sustainable tourism educator through eLearningU. He connects community, culture, and conservation through written and visual storytelling while showing how tourism can be a regenerative force for good, leaving places better than how we found them. He has worked with and told stories of marine and land-based conservation, indigenous stewardship and tourism, regenerative travel, and science and technology-based sustainability. Jonny actively contributes to Vogue, National Geographic, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler and Lonely Planet.
What makes a story worth telling? And how do you make it too good to ignore? Here, we spin the press conference on its head, interviewing some of the brightest, most influential voices in the travel industry so you can find out what they look for in a great news piece. The likes of Scott Campbell (Middle East Traveller), Claire Turrell (National Geographic), Jonny Bierman (Lonely Planet) and Ron Gluckman (Forbes) are ready to share their secrets for getting a story in a magazine, including pitching and sharpening the right angle. Along the way, they’ll also explain how to come up with subject matter, pull your work back into travel trends, and avoid the risk of greenwashing.
Head of Leisure Travel, WildChina
During her 15 years at WildChina, Jenny has travelled far and wide, visiting many wonderful places and surveying most of the brand’s experiences. Her favourite trips include trekking through the ethnic minority villages of remote Yunnan, making a pilgrimage to Everest Base Camp, dancing with a local family on the Silk Road, and touring the ancient financial capital of China, Pingyao. Day to day, Jenny leads WildChina’s leisure team, exemplifying the epitome of customer service, expertise and client care. Outside of work, Jenny’s secret passion is experimenting with new drinks by blending various types of tea. She insists that her family members sample her creations, but only allows for positive feedback.
Whenever we think we’ve drawn a clear line to the horizon of APAC travel, something erases it. There are so many countries, tastes, cultural factors and generational differences at play that the future always seems hard to grasp before it changes again. Yet in this main stage session, you’ll hear from five experts and how they’re charting a way forward — one they can trust. From the reasons why travellers prefer certain experiences in your region, to the burgeoning expectations of Gen Z guests and how hotels are serving them with innovative luxury concepts, there’s a wealth of knowledge to take and run with. Erica Fong (LUXE City Guides) will be chairing a diverse panel hailing from China, Myanmar, the Maldives and beyond.
Climate Action Lead, SEASTORIA
Ivory is a social entrepreneur who aids businesses and organisations taking climate action. Her experience includes measuring the carbon footprint for over 100 businesses in travel, shipping, media, associations, and events industries, supporting them on everything from action and metrics to climate risk assessments and due diligence on green investments. Additionally, Ivory was an Article 6 negotiator for Palau at COP27 and spoke at the UN Ocean Breakthrough at COP28. She continues to advise island governments and international agencies on sustainable tourism, youth, oceans, islands and climate change.
Too many tourists are wreaking havoc on Asia’s most beloved destinations. From the beaches of Bali to the ancient streets of Kyoto, overcrowding is not only degrading our environment, but also disrupting local cultures and economies. Overtourism is more than just a buzzword — it’s a crisis, a source of erosion and suffocation. A radical rethink is due. Our panel is ready to reveal how your business can fight back against one of the biggest issues of our time. Whether you’re interested in smarter destination management, visitor flow controls, community-first solutions or more robust policies to encourage travellers off the beaten path, take a seat. This electrifying discussion will cut through the noise, offering real solutions to a new era of sustainable travel.
Director of Marketing & Communications, Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach
An avid traveller who’s into running, HYROX, watching movies and finding hidden gems he can’t wait to talk about, Ian is a consummate moderator for our panel. His marketing and PR skills often draw out his storytelling instincts, while his many years at the heart of brands such as the Hard Rock Hotel Bali and W Bali – Seminyak have provided an inside view on how hotels find a voice and grow an audience.
What makes a story worth telling? And how do you make it too good to ignore? Here, we spin the press conference on its head, interviewing some of the brightest, most influential voices in the travel industry so you can find out what they look for in a great news piece. The likes of Scott Campbell (Middle East Traveller), Claire Turrell (National Geographic), Jonny Bierman (Lonely Planet) and Ron Gluckman (Forbes) are ready to share their secrets for getting a story in a magazine, including pitching and sharpening the right angle. Along the way, they’ll also explain how to come up with subject matter, pull your work back into travel trends, and avoid the risk of greenwashing.
Co-Founder, Sungai Watch
Gary Bencheghib is a filmmaker and environmental activist. He founded Sungai Watch in 2020 to combat environmental pollution in Indonesia. His initiatives include garbage-floating barriers and cleanups, alongside innovative recycling projects through Sungai Design. In 2022, he earned the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia's Nobel Prize, for his efforts against plastic pollution in Indonesia.
Sungai Watch is an environmental organisation on a mission to stop plastic going into the ocean. Founded in 2020 by Gary, Kelly and Sam Bencheghib in Bali, Sungai Watch is now a team of 90 passionate river warriors, and is working with the government on a master plan to make all rivers in the Tabanan and Denpasar regions plastic-free. Gary will share challenges and learnings from his humble journey of environmental activism, including the power of social media to drive change, Sungai Watch’s creative techniques in documenting and analysing waste data, and its upcycling initiatives that transform trash into products that generate funds. Above all, he’ll emphasise the need for unified global efforts and the role of both individuals and communities in this collective responsibility.
Founders, Sungai Watch
Gary Bencheghib is a filmmaker and environmental activist. He founded Sungai Watch in 2020 to combat environmental pollution in Indonesia. His initiatives include garbage-floating barriers and cleanups, alongside innovative recycling projects through Sungai Design. In 2022, he earned the Ramon Magsaysay Award — Asia's Nobel Prize — for his battle against plastic pollution in Indonesia.
Sam Bencheghib, a 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia alum, founded Sungai Watch in 2020 to clean up rivers in Indonesia. Sungai Watch has installed 300 floating barriers in rivers that have removed 5.2 million pounds of (mostly) plastic waste. Sungai Watch now employs 150 people and plans to expand to rivers in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. Sam is also part of talks with government officials and non-profits to expand into the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Colombia and Kenya.
Join the Bencheghib brothers for an incisive gaze at Sungai Watch’s waste transformation processes. Every day, Sungai Watch collects upwards of 4,000 kgs of plastic from Indonesian rivers, which they carefully sort, wash and process into beautiful furniture. Sam and Gary will guide you through the entire waste lifecycle, from collecting and sorting plastics to the design and craftsmanship that make each piece truly one-of-a-kind. Learn how innovation and sustainability meet as they demonstrate the unique techniques and creativity that go into crafting these exclusive furniture pieces, blending environmental impact with functional art.
Fundadora, LUXPERTS
Gabriella has over 25 years’ experience in the tourism and hospitality industry. With a degree in Hospitality from Florida International University and a specialisation in luxury tourism, she’s gained a comprehensive understanding of market trends and their evolving high-end demands. As the founder and leader of LUXPERTS, a consortium of premium independent travel agencies, she strengthens relationships with industry partners and secures exclusive benefits for her members and clients. Elsewhere, she serves as CEO of GC Travel Experience, a company dedicated to offering bespoke consultancy, planning, and management services for luxury travel, catering to sophisticated and discerning clientele.
New travel markets emerge from shifts in culture, spending habits and the quest for novelty. Yet how do we spot the signs of new desires and destination appetites? Our Amplify panel will get right into it. Debating cultural nuances, booking patterns, hunting for preferences, and challenges in honeymoon, solo and family markets, our travel gurus will strengthen your ability to find trends and serve them before your competitors catch up.
Freelance Writer, Editor & Content Strategist
Erica is a professional writer, editor and content strategist based in Hong Kong. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, she has over a decade of experience in leadership positions within Asia Pacific’s top luxury lifestyle titles, including Regional Managing Editor at Lifestyle Asia and Head of Digital Content at Tatler Asia, Hong Kong. Since starting her own content studio in 2019, she has produced content for the likes of LUXE City Guides, South China Morning Post, Tatler Asia, CNA Luxury and DestinAsian, while offering bespoke content solutions for a variety of corporate and lifestyle clients.
Whenever we think we’ve drawn a clear line to the horizon of APAC travel, something erases it. There are so many countries, tastes, cultural factors and generational differences at play that the future always seems hard to grasp before it changes again. Yet in this main stage session, you’ll hear from five experts and how they’re charting a way forward — one they can trust. From the reasons why travellers prefer certain experiences in your region, to the burgeoning expectations of Gen Z guests and how hotels are serving them with innovative luxury concepts, there’s a wealth of knowledge to take and run with. Erica Fong (LUXE City Guides) will be chairing a diverse panel hailing from China, Myanmar, the Maldives and beyond.
Founder and Creative Director, IBUKU
Elora is the Founder and Creative Director of IBUKU. Born and raised in Bali, Elora then spent 14 years in the United States, where she designed prints for Donna Karan that walked the world’s runways. In 2010, Elora left her successful fashion career to carry on the incredible work of the design-build team that created the world-renowned Green School in Bali, founded by her father John Hardy. She reconnected with the culture and landscape that she loves – and today continues to work with Balinese artisans alongside innovative designers and architects, with the goal of making Bali a global centre for sustainable design.
When architecture is imagined in harmony with the potential of nature, enchanting spaces that resonate on a different frequency arise. IBUKU is a sustainable design and architecture firm that offers travellers access to this harmony, creating a new luxury grounded in nature. With a portfolio that includes The Four Seasons and COMO Hotels, Elora rejoins us at Further East to explore the transformative power of IBUKU’s nature-infused design and its profound impact on our quest for authenticity in travel. Elora’s TED talk on the topic has over 5 million views and she’s shared her insights with emerging leaders at institutions including MIT, the World Government Summit, the US Green Building Council, and London Design Week. Now, learn about how to merge architecture, artisanal craftsmanship and human-made and natural spaces for yourself.
Managing Director, Exploration Travel Thailand
Edwin has been crafting experiences for travellers to Myanmar and Thailand for over two decades. He’s always hunting for new paths, people and stories to bring these destinations to life. For Edwin, luxury is a very personal thing — touching emotions while recognising that you can’t find it elsewhere.
Whenever we think we’ve drawn a clear line to the horizon of APAC travel, something erases it. There are so many countries, tastes, cultural factors and generational differences at play that the future always seems hard to grasp before it changes again. Yet in this main stage session, you’ll hear from five experts and how they’re charting a way forward — one they can trust. From the reasons why travellers prefer certain experiences in your region, to the burgeoning expectations of Gen Z guests and how hotels are serving them with innovative luxury concepts, there’s a wealth of knowledge to take and run with. Erica Fong (LUXE City Guides) will be chairing a diverse panel hailing from China, Myanmar, the Maldives and beyond.
Founder, Equator
Equator is an AI startup that's helping travel companies talk about the impacts they have on people and the planet. Edmund loves bringing data to life with animations and other visualisations that make even the most complex topics seem attainable and relatable. He's shared his models and work with Fortune 500 companies, governments, destinations and at events around the world, and has been featured in Forbes and Travel Weekly.
Discover the trends that will shape the future of tourism through a series of stunning animations and extraordinary data stories. Edmund will explore what the next generation of travellers is looking for in new places, how impact marketing is shaping consumer preferences, the future of short-term rentals, and what overtourism will mean for trip planning.
VP Commercial, COMO APAC
Doris has an illustrious career spanning more than 20 years in the hospitality industry. Her work has been recognised on the Power 100 list of the most influential hospitality leaders, as the recipient of CMO Asia’s 2016 Leadership Excellence award for 50 women leaders, and as one of 18 nominees for high-achieving businesswomen in the 2017 Great Women Of Our Time awards. A noted pioneer and thought leader in luxury and responsible tourism, she fronts COMO Hotels’ mission to drive transformative journeys in wellbeing and meaningful travel.
Whenever we think we’ve drawn a clear line to the horizon of APAC travel, something erases it. There are so many countries, tastes, cultural factors and generational differences at play that the future always seems hard to grasp before it changes again. Yet in this main stage session, you’ll hear from five experts and how they’re charting a way forward — one they can trust. From the reasons why travellers prefer certain experiences in your region, to the burgeoning expectations of Gen Z guests and how hotels are serving them with innovative luxury concepts, there’s a wealth of knowledge to take and run with. Erica Fong (LUXE City Guides) will be chairing a diverse panel hailing from China, Myanmar, the Maldives and beyond.
Columnist, Skift
Colin Nagy leads global brand strategy and management for Instagram. He writes the long running Skift column on luxury, customer experience and innovation and contributes to Courier and Monocle. Nagy holds a degree in Politics and History from New York University.
Ronald Akili, CEO & Founder, Potato Head, in conversation with Colin Nagy, Director & Columnist, Skift. Ronald Akili is an entrepreneur, innovator and changemaker who thrives on challenging the status quo in every industry he touches. In this conversation he’ll reveal his journey from promoting sustainable Indonesian architecture to the creation and evolution of Potato Head, today the first carbon-neutral company in the region. Ronald’s “Good Times, Do Good” motto encapsulates his belief that we can balance incredible experiences with actions that make the world a better place – and that we can not only serve guests, but also inspire them. From the launch of Katamama to the creative village of Desa Potato Head and partnerships with Green School Bali and the United Nations, hear how Ronaldi is investing in real change – and share your own action for a regenerative future.
Freelance Journalist
Claire is an award-winning journalist based in Singapore. She’s written for numerous international titles, such as Harper’s Bazaar, The Smithsonian, The Guardian and National Geographic. Her own magazine, Travel By Lightfoot, won the MPAS Travel Media award for its print edition, and the Gold NATJA achievement for a digital article. She’s also the CEO of Sweatshop Media, managing lifestyle stories and weekly freelance projects.
What makes a story worth telling? And how do you make it too good to ignore? Here, we spin the press conference on its head, interviewing some of the brightest, most influential voices in the travel industry so you can find out what they look for in a great news piece. The likes of Scott Campbell (Middle East Traveller), Claire Turrell (National Geographic), Jonny Bierman (Lonely Planet) and Ron Gluckman (Forbes) are ready to share their secrets for getting a story in a magazine, including pitching and sharpening the right angle. Along the way, they’ll also explain how to come up with subject matter, pull your work back into travel trends, and avoid the risk of greenwashing.
Regional Manager, Mr & Mrs Smith
With over a decade of experience in luxury hospitality, Charlotte's journey began in France, where she studied History of Art in Paris before moving to London to start her career in the industry. She now lives in Singapore, where she’s spent the last nine years cultivating a deep understanding of the Asia-Pacific market. As a key figure at Mr & Mrs Smith, Charlotte has been instrumental in curating the Asia Pacific collection, adding more than 100 properties across the region. Today, she oversees partnerships and drives growth, always seeking out new opportunities to expand the platform’s reach.
New travel markets emerge from shifts in culture, spending habits and the quest for novelty. Yet how do we spot the signs of new desires and destination appetites? Our Amplify panel will get right into it. Debating cultural nuances, booking patterns, hunting for preferences, and challenges in honeymoon, solo and family markets, our travel gurus will strengthen your ability to find trends and serve them before your competitors catch up.
Founder, RETRACE Hospitality
Chalana is an independent hospitality and tourism investment consultant. He advises public, private and non-profit organisations in Sri Lanka, specialising in sustainable travel, destination development and asset management. All of this work is consolidated within RETRACE Hospitality — a group that links investors to projects with high-value, low-footprint potential. After becoming Sri Lanka’s first signatory to Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency and The Future of Tourism Coalition, Chalana was appointed to the Hospitality World Net Panel on Sustainability in 2023.
Too many tourists are wreaking havoc on Asia’s most beloved destinations. From the beaches of Bali to the ancient streets of Kyoto, overcrowding is not only degrading our environment, but also disrupting local cultures and economies. Overtourism is more than just a buzzword — it’s a crisis, a source of erosion and suffocation. A radical rethink is due. Our panel is ready to reveal how your business can fight back against one of the biggest issues of our time. Whether you’re interested in smarter destination management, visitor flow controls, community-first solutions or more robust policies to encourage travellers off the beaten path, take a seat. This electrifying discussion will cut through the noise, offering real solutions to a new era of sustainable travel.
Senior Director, Global Brand Marketing, W Hotels Worldwide Marriott International
Carly Van Sickle is the Senior Director of Global Brand Marketing for W Hotels Worldwide at Marriott International. In this role, Carly is responsible for setting the W Global Marketing vision and driving innovation in marketing platforms, campaigns and partnerships. She oversees the creation of strategic and integrated marketing programs for the brand worldwide, driving commercial performance and increased brand awareness. She spearheaded the brand evolution and re-positioning project for W Hotels, impacting all 68 hotels around the globe.
Prior to her role as Senior Director, Carly was a key member of The Luxury Collection brand team where she served many roles, most recently as Director, Global Brand Marketing. Carly oversaw the development and implementation of The Luxury Collection’s global marketing, strategic partnerships, visual identity and digital strategies to ensure consistent messaging across the portfolio of more than 115 independent hotels worldwide.
Carly brings more than 15 years of experience in luxury lifestyle and hospitality to her role at Marriott International. Prior to joining the organization in 2015, Carly held multiple roles at New York-based PR agency, HL Group, where she oversaw brand strategy and communications for brands such as Baccarat Hotels and Resorts, Rizzoli Publishing, and Hilton Luxury Worldwide Brands including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts brands, among others.
Carly received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Michigan State University and resides in New York City.
Social media impacts every decision consumers make before and while travelling, and at the centre of it all are influencers. As newer platforms like TikTok change the influencing game, in this panel we’ll talk to influencers, buyers and hoteliers about how best to collaborate to enhance their business. You’ll learn about how influencers operate in the high-end market, how they drive revenue for their partners, and how they see their profession developing within the travel industry in 2023 and beyond. You’ll leave feeling empowered about the business of influencing, and how you can collaborate with influencers to amplify both your bookings and your brand.
Founder & Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks
Bill is a globally-recognized hospitality, tourism and real estate advisor, as well as a foremost expert in brand residencies. With over 39 years’ experience in the Asia-Pacific region, he has an extensive background in hotel operations, development and asset management. Career highlights include senior roles at international hotel chains and publicly-listed companies. He’s developed successful residential projects in Thailand, and is currently involved in several property tech startups. To date, Bill has written four books on travel, property and hotels — Slave to the Bean, Collective Swag, It Might Get Weird and Last Call. He is the Founding Advisor of the Phuket Hotels Association and leads Asia’s preeminent annual sustainability event PHIST (Phuket Hotels Islands Sustaining Technology).
People versus product. The designs we take for granted. Your sustainability masterplan, with an economic imperative. Bill Barnett believes that any lines we use to define a hotel can and should be erased. His boundary-pushing Amplify slot will give you five methods for rethinking the hotels you own, the teams you inspire, and how back-of-house staff can support it all. Bill will examine lessons learnt from retail and daily design recreation, stripping away preconceptions of a space and the people within it.
Founder & Managing Director, Katana
A creative entrepreneur and brand strategist, Andrew established Katana in London and Beijing, then Tokyo, working with hospitality and lifestyle brands across the world. Over two decades, he’s been instrumental to the likes of Éclat Hotels and Parkview Green, One&Only, Rocco Forte, SLH, Soho House, Villa Treville, and brands like Goop, to name a few. The Tokyo branch was established in partnership with Hoteres and Taro — Japan’s leading hospitality media — to support local brands with their international ambitions. Amidst his projects with high-end travel markets, Andrew co-founded Gilpin’s Gin (crowned World’s Best Gin in 2014) and Educate Private, a private education consultancy supporting HNW clients in London, Beijing and Tokyo
Branding. It means many things to many people, particularly depending on where you sit in the value chain. Visions, missions, values, personalities, personas, influence, needs, wants, desires, archetypes . . . It’s enough to drive a marketer mad. In response to an increasingly complex, fractured and saturated industry, we have created increasingly complex systems to try and find order in the chaos. In reality, all these items have one thing in common: the customer. Your guest. This session examines the evolving travel branding landscape, how recent events are accelerating change, and how you can apply these tools more effectively to speak to your guests, so they speak for you.
Director of Asia Concierge
Andreas initially began his travel career in the hotel industry as an apprentice in a small town in South Germany, where he developed a deep interest in Asia. In 2002 he dove headfirst into his first inbound management opportunity in Myanmar, just when the country was beginning to open up. Since then he has assumed posts in Oman, Malaysia and finally Indonesia, where he has since settled in Bali for 12 years. Working in senior management positions in Indonesia, Andreas saw an opportunity for a more refined and specialised travel venture that could add a high degree of value to the industry, and where he could play a part in repositioning Asia away from the reliance on large-scale tourism.
We all know that business is carrying more risks from uncertainty. Changes are sweeping our politics, cultures, environments and international relations. Luxury travel — compared to many other industries — is increasingly exposed to cancellations, climate emergencies, legitimate or mistaken biases, and rapid shifts in demand. How can you prepare for a crisis like these? Even one you’ll never see coming? The answers lie in robust scenario planning from our crisis management panel. You’ll get a comprehensive breakdown of contingency frameworks, operator training, risk analysis and ways to cooperate with guests and partners when the worst happens. Keep your reputation intact, and stay ready for anything.
Area Director, Sales and Marketing, IHG Maldives
With 23 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ali Nihad has honed his expertise in crafting and executing impactful sales and marketing strategies in global markets. Throughout his career, Ali has held several pivotal roles leading marketing and commercial approaches while managing cross-functional teams across multiple resorts. Notably, he was also the Director of Sales & Marketing at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Bali from January 2019 to January 2021, where he enhanced brand visibility and revenue growth. Ali's strengths lie in sales, marketing, and e-commerce, with a particular focus on trade marketing, channel strategies and market penetration tactics that deliver sustained results.
Whenever we think we’ve drawn a clear line to the horizon of APAC travel, something erases it. There are so many countries, tastes, cultural factors and generational differences at play that the future always seems hard to grasp before it changes again. Yet in this main stage session, you’ll hear from five experts and how they’re charting a way forward — one they can trust. From the reasons why travellers prefer certain experiences in your region, to the burgeoning expectations of Gen Z guests and how hotels are serving them with innovative luxury concepts, there’s a wealth of knowledge to take and run with. Erica Fong (LUXE City Guides) will be chairing a diverse panel hailing from China, Myanmar, the Maldives and beyond.
Where are we unlocking Open House this year? A place that suits grand ambitions — somewhere that’s been voted one of the world’s finest hotels. Desa Potato Head is a mini creative village and luxury paradise by the Bali ocean. Its Beach Club, renowned for cocktails, DJs and a jaw-dropping infinity pool, will host our speaker sessions and welcome party with a plant-based menu. Once you arrive, you’ll see so much of what makes our region special come alive.
Every question is worth asking. Chat to us about Open House, or download our free report on some of the topics that our brightest Further Easters dissected in the past.