It’s not every day Jakarta becomes the epicentre of Asia’s travel industry, but from 25–26 June 2025, that’s precisely what happened. Over two invigorating days at Swissôtel Jakarta PIK Avenue, the city hosted a who’s who of tourism movers and shakers as Travel Meet Asia 2025 roared back with more clout, confidence and commercial chemistry than ever before.

Presented by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific—those same tireless organisers behind ITB Asia—this year’s edition of Travel Meet Asia didn’t just tick the boxes; it redrew the blueprint. With a record attendance of over 1,000 travel trade professionals, more than 100 sellers, and 5,215 pre-scheduled B2B meetings, the event delivered networking on an industrial scale, minus the soulless small talk.

Indonesia Steps into the Spotlight

Kicking off proceedings was the redoubtable Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy Minister for Marketing at Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. A proud torchbearer for Indonesian tourism, Marthini made it abundantly clear: Indonesia isn’t merely a pitstop on the Asia tourism map—it’s the linchpin.

“We’re proud to support Travel Meet Asia 2025 as a platform connecting Indonesia’s vibrant destinations with regional partners,” she said. “From Lake Toba to Greater Bali, our tourism villages are ready to welcome the world with both cultural depth and sustainable hospitality.”

It’s the sort of remark that rings with intent—and with over 17,000 islands to back her up, Marthini wasn’t bluffing.

Big Names, Bigger Business

The show floor buzzed with heavyweight brands from across Asia and beyond. We’re talking The Ascott Limited, Meliá Hotels International, Resorts World Sentosa, TUI Hotels & Resorts, Business Events Sarawak, Ama Waterways, SUNRATE, and a cast of regional heroes like Plataran Indonesia, Khiri Travel, and Nippon Travel Agency.

Whether you were in leisure, MICE, or corporate travel, there was someone to talk to—and more importantly, something to sign. Business cards changed hands faster than baristas poured kopi luwak.

The Thinking Traveller’s Conference

But Travel Meet Asia 2025 wasn’t all glad-handing and glossy brochures. Over 640 minutes of content were packed into the conference schedule—22 sessions with 40 speakers who weren’t afraid to say what the industry needs to hear.

Among them:

• Rio Kondo, Accor’s VP of Development for Indonesia & Malaysia

• Budijanto Ardiansjah, ASITA’s Secretary General

• Yasa Sediya, Managing Director, Destination Asia Indonesia

• Riyanti Teresa, Industry Manager – Travel, Google Indonesia

• Jonathan Seevaratnam, CEO of JIGGEE

• Adam Piperdy, Founder of UP Group Asia

The topics covered the whole travel gamut—from digital transformation and sustainable tourism to what travellers want post-pandemic (spoiler: it’s not another Zoom webinar).

One session worth noting? A fiery panel on cross-border collaboration, where Henry Yu of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises declared, “If we don’t align on quality and sustainability now, the next generation of travellers won’t wait around.”

He’s not wrong.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Let’s take a quick look at the stats that made industry insiders sit up straighter:

• 1,000+ attendees from across Asia-Pacific

• 5,215 one-on-one business meetings

• 100+ exhibitors representing every major vertical

• 22 conference sessions spanning innovation, marketing and operations

• 640+ minutes of expert insights

In short, it was quality over quantity, yet they managed both.

Beyond the Booths

What makes Travel Meet Asia more than just another B2B knees-up? It’s the nuance. From tailored buyer-seller matchmaking to curated networking lounges, the event is engineered for meaningful exchange. As Ryan Adrian, Managing Director of NICE, quipped during a break between panels, “It’s like speed dating for serious people.”

And he’s not wrong either.

Looking Ahead: Travel Meet Asia 2026

Fresh off this resounding success, organisers are already planning a return to Indonesia for next year. The 2026 edition is locked in for 23–24 June; if this year’s turnout is anything to go by, it’ll be another sell-out affair.

Travel Meet Asia may be regional in focus, but its ambition is anything but. In a world constantly redrawing tourism’s boundaries, this event reminds us why face-to-face still matters—and why Jakarta, once again, proved itself a worthy capital for ideas, investment, and inspiration.

As always, the final word goes to the organisers—or, in this case, to the growing band of attendees already marking next June in their diaries.

“It’s not just about the meetings,” said one returning delegate. “It’s about momentum. Travel Meet Asia is where Asia’s tourism future is being written—in real time, by real people.”

And that, dear readers, is worth travelling for.

Official website: www.travelmeetasia.com, Next event: 23–24 June 2026 | Indonesia.

By Christine Nguyen

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