BHA Press Relase: Bali Gears Up in Advance of APEC 2013
Meeting
Hotels, preparations given ministerial seal of approval
August 29, 2012, Denpasar—Bali
and Indonesia as a whole are gearing up in preparation for the meeting of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in 2013, says the Bali
Hotels Association (BHA). The association is recognized as one of the key
stakeholders involved in organizing this international-scale event.
“The Indonesian government, along
with BHA, is taking this event very seriously, and so we are working with the
Association of the Indonesian Tours & Travel Agencies (ASITA) as well as
the Association of Hotels & Restaurant (PHRI) to guarantee that delegates
experience—and so take away—the most memorable impressions of the island,” said
BHA chairman Jean-Charles Le Coz.
As for hotels, it means having
professional “liaison officers” on hand to ensure that visitors get the best
information about tours in Bali and beyond, as well as eco and nature tourism,
community-based tourism, cruises and more, said Le Coz. Hotels would be
receiving delegates weeks before the actual event, so readiness for their VVIP
guests will be vital he stressed.
Meanwhile, at an August 25
meeting with BHA at Sanur Beach Hotel in Bali, Indonesian Minister for Tourism
and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, said, “Everything is (and will be)
done to impress all our visitors and show them the best of Indonesia and
Indonesian culture.”
She added that key projects will
see completion between May and July 2013, including the Bali toll road and
underpass project, and the new airport. As such, the island is more than ready
to welcome a predicted and welcome increase in MICE tourism over the next few
years.
Bali Hotels Association is also keen to stress that all such
improvements are part of its ongoing efforts to solve the island’s challenges
in the face of increasing popularity.
“One project that is benefiting
from the island-wide preparations is the Bali Clean and Green program for
sustainable tourism,” said Le Coz. “The fact that Bali (and Indonesia as a
whole) has been chosen to host the meeting means we can engage schools, parents
and teachers on changing their mindsets to think of the island as a prime
international destination, and, of course, a source of pride.”
Initiatives like these represent
the best illustration of how effective the stakeholders in Bali—such as BHA,
the ministry of environment, other local authorities, NGOs and schools—are when
they work together. Le Coz added that the momentum that is building up in
advance of APEC should continue afterwards and become a continuous activity
that promotes sustainable tourism in Bali.
Editors’ note: About BHA
Bali Hotels Association (BHA) is
a professional group of star-rated hotels and resorts in Bali. Members include
general managers from more than 100 hotels and resorts in Bali, representing
more than 15,000 hotel rooms and almost 30,000 employees in the tourism sector.
BHA’s vision is to keep Bali as the most desirable destination in Asia through
the warmth and hospitality of its people, and through sustainable tourism. Its
mission is to bring together stakeholders in a non-competitive environment, to
exchange information on matters of general interest, to have a common voice on
issues pertaining to the tourism and hospitality industries in support of Bali
as a destination.
For more info about Bali Is My Life, visit www.baliismylife.com,
join www.facebook.com/baliismylife, or follow our tweet: BaliIsMyLife
For further information, contact:
Jean-Charles Le Coz
Chairman of Bali Hotels Association
For press inquiries, contact:
Rebecca Leppard
Media & Public Relations of
Bali Hotels Association
Edited by Jamesrudy
Edited by Jamesrudy
Entrepreneurship in Big Corporations /
