Indonesia Tourism Xchange 2026 Discusses Future of Indonesian Tourism Industry
The Indonesian tourism and hospitality sector will have a new national industry platform with the launch of Indonesia Tourism Xchange 2026 (ITX 2026). The inaugural edition of ITX 2026 will be held at The Langham, Jakarta, on 12 May.
This forum will bring together hotel owners, operators, investors, and senior decision-makers from various regions across Indonesia to discuss the various factors shaping the future of the national tourism industry amid new growth momentum and increasingly complex industry dynamics.
ITX 2026 has been designed to reflect the unique character of Indonesian tourism, ranging from industry scale, cultural wealth, to destination diversity, whilst addressing changing requirements of tourists, global brands, and investors. It covers various aspects of the hospitality industry, from luxury and lifestyle segments to business performance, investment, technology, sustainability, and new development models being developed.
The agenda will open with a discussion on Indonesia’s investment climate and tourism prospects in 2026, providing economic context for strategic discussions throughout the forum. Subsequently, attention will shift to the luxury hospitality segment, where tourist expectations continue to evolve and brands are required to go beyond traditional definitions of premium service.
Sherona Shng, Regional Vice President Operations Asia at Langham Hospitality Group, will speak at ITX 2026 to discuss how the concept of luxury in Indonesia is now increasingly determined by cultural intelligence, personalisation, and emotional connection with destinations, rather than merely facility scale or grandeur.
According to her, luxury tourists visiting Indonesia are not seeking replicas of global hotels but rather seeking meaning, context, and experiences that reflect the character of the destination.
“Brands that succeed here are those able to understand the complexity of Indonesian culture and deliver experiences that feel personal, not uniform,” said Sherona in a press statement on Wednesday (11 March) in Jakarta.
“Indonesia’s opportunity is not merely about growth—but intelligent growth. Luxury hotels in particular face increasingly high expectations regarding performance, return on investment, and differentiation,” added Matt Gebbie, Director – Pacific Asia, Horwath HTL.
Hotel performance and demand dynamics also become an important focus in the ITX 2026 programme. Discussions will highlight how hotels in Indonesia, both in resort destinations and major cities, are performing amid changing market trends, including the performance of upper-upscale and luxury assets.
Beyond the hotel sector, ITX 2026 will also discuss ownership structure developments and development strategies in the hospitality industry. One special session will focus on the trend of standalone branded residences, which are increasingly developing across various resort and lifestyle destinations in Indonesia.
The discussion will be moderated by Bill Barnett, Managing Director at C9 Hotelworks. According to him, branded residences are increasingly becoming a key driver of luxury property demand. What makes Indonesia attractive is the combination of brand strength, destination appeal, and lifestyle aspirations.
“The challenge is to align these three elements in a market that is very diverse and rich in cultural nuances,” said Barnett.
ITX 2026 is organised by Horwath HTL, C9 Hotelworks, STR, QUO Global, Greenview, and Delivering Asia, in collaboration with Langham Hospitality Group, and supported by Jakarta Hotels Association, PHRI Indonesia, and Bali Hotels Association.
ITX 2026 is expected to become an annual industry forum providing strategic perspectives on business performance, investment, and brand strategy in one of Asia’s most dynamic tourism markets.