Indonesia is a vibrant mosaic of cultures, a land ripe with opportunity, vigorous growth and a burgeoning middle class, but it's not without its complexities, as geography, governance, language, and faith sculpt a nation of both challenges and untold potential.

In Bali, our reach is wide with seven properties, yet we’re on a quest for fresh horizons. Imagine 'the new Bali' awaiting discovery among the archipelago of 18,000 islands, each a lush green canvas for hospitality innovation.

At the excellent Hospitality Indonesia Conference, held in Jakarta, I joined forces with a panel of industry experts ( Dino Anthonio of Royal Tulip Springhill Resort - Jimbaran, Edgar Terutung of TUI BLUE Hotels & Resorts, Christian Sunjoto of Nakula Villa Management and Rental, and Steve Tjen of Radisson Hotel Group), to dissect a question that always gets a rise out of people: "The Rise of Boutique and Luxury Resorts: Is bigger always better?"
Cross Hotels & Resorts CEO Harry Thaliwal speaks at the 7th Hospitality Indonesia Conference HIC 2024

We started by discussing the essence of ‘luxury’ in boutique hotels as a concept not bound by size but by the bespoke experiences they offer. Luxury can denote exclusivity and privilege; but must it be small and perfectly formed? Must it scream 'unique luxury'? Do you have to have gold taps in the bathroom and mineral water pouring out of them?!

I do not agree with the term; “Affordable Luxury”, as boutique hotels are distinct from mainstream offerings, and excel in delivering privacy, high-quality finishes, and exceptional service. I do not think that luxury is the exclusive purvey of the ultra-rich either.

True luxury transcends the material; it's the currency of time well spent, the wealth of experiences that stitch together our lives. Boutique hotels can be the perfect platform to bring this to life for guests.

But does size matter…? In short, yes.

A luxurious boutique experience can’t be too diminutive or excessively vast. The former may not be profitable, not every 25-room property is a $1,000 a night chateau outside Paris. However, try promising boutique luxury at a sprawling 250 key resort and you will start to compromise the delivery of excellence very quickly.

Size is critical in our mission to provide bespoke lifestyle experiences that are both meticulously curated and profitable. In boutique luxury resorts, size does matter.

It’s a conversation that will go on and on! What does 'boutique luxury' mean to you? Are we too fixated on labels, or do they hold the key to distinctiveness? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one…
HT

Harry Thaliwal - Follow Harry
Chief Executive Officer at Cross Hotels & Resorts