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I am writing this from Bali. In a couple of days, I will be on stage at Bali Villa Connect 2026, and before the event kicks off I wanted to share a conversation I had with two of the people running it. Caroline Sandryani and Agung Juliarta from the Bali Villa Rental and Management Association (BVRMA) sat down with me to talk about what’s actually happening in the Indonesian villa industry right now.

What I learned is that Bali is professionalising faster than most people realise. BVRMA only formed in 2023. They’ve already got 70+ management companies and over 3,000 villas under the association. That kind of growth in two years is incredible, and the conference itself is a sign of how serious this industry has become.

A few things from the conversation that really stuck with me:

How fast this has all come together. BVRMA went from a small group in 2023 to representing thousands of villas across the island in just over a year. Caroline and Agung have been there since the start, and you can tell they’ve put serious hours into it on top of running their own businesses.

Caroline’s honesty about where the industry is. When I asked if Bali is still a bit wild-wild-west, she didn’t oversell it. She said “we’re getting there.” That kind of straight answer is exactly why this association is going to work. No spin, just real talk about what still needs doing.

The hospitality moat. Agung said something I keep thinking about. You can’t just sell the villa, you have to sell the experience and the genuine hospitality that comes with it. In a world where everyone’s glued to a phone and the human touch is disappearing, Bali still has it. That’s the competitive advantage of the region.

What you will learn from this episode:

Why Bali’s villa industry is professionalizing faster than most people realize 🏝️

How BVRMA grew from a small industry group to representing 3,000+ villas in just two years 📈

The challenges and opportunities facing Bali’s accommodation sector as it matures 🔑

Why authentic hospitality remains Bali’s biggest competitive advantage in a digital world 🤝

How industry associations can raise standards, build trust, and strengthen entire destinations 🌏

What Bali’s growth means for property managers, villa operators, and accommodation professionals across the region 🚀

Caroline is on the BVRMA committee and spent 13 years living in Australia before coming back to Bali. She is now one of the key people bridging the gap between Western standards and Indonesian property frameworks, and her whole focus is making sure guests get what they paid for.

Agung is the Vice Chairman of BVRMA and the founder of Puri Asia, a premium villa rental company. He’s been in Indonesian hospitality for over 16 years. He’s also leading the BVRMA strategy to expand the network across Indonesia’s five priority tourism islands, including Labuan Bajo and Medan.

The reason this matters: a massive chunk of our community already operates in Bali, sends guests there, or partners with local teams. The stronger BVRMA gets, the stronger the whole region gets. And as we lay the groundwork for STRive Indonesia on September 10, the people doing this work on the ground are the ones I want our community to know.

Caroline and Agung are also offering 15 free passes to Bali Villa Connect for podcast listeners. If you’re already in Bali on May 26-27, come find me on the ground.

📺Watch the episode here

🎙️Listen to the show here