BRCA Newsletter: May 2026

BRCA Newsletter: May 2026

May 2026

BRCA Newsletter - May 2026

Salam Jumpa! Warm hospitality greetings from BRCA!

May has been full of good energy at BRCA, with plenty of gatherings, collaborations, and fun moments shared across the community.

One of the highlights was our lunch at House of Sababay, where we enjoyed a winery tour, learned more about the journey behind one of Indonesia’s local wine brands, and spent the afternoon catching up with familiar and new faces.
Most importantly, it was lovely seeing everyone come together, connect, and simply enjoy the afternoon.

Next, we are heading to Ubud Food Festival to take part in a collaborative private event at ADORE Chef’s Table with Gareth Whitton, celebrating pastry craftsmanship alongside the richness of Indonesian cacao and vanilla.

Towards the end of the month, the focus shifts to sustainability as BRCA joins Eco Tourism Week with a booth supporting more sustainable practices within Bali’s hospitality industry.

Sponsor May 2026
BRCA Luncheon at House of Sababay - May 2026

BRCA Monthly Luncheon - 13 May 2026
BRCA Luncheon at House of Sababay I 13 May 2026

MONTHLY LUNCHEON UPDATE


MONTHLY LUNCHEON UPDATE

Winery Tour - Yoke Darmawan Director of Corporate Affair

Following opening remarks from BRCA and Ibu Yoke Darmawan, Ibu Yoke led a guided “Tour & Taste” experience, sharing Sababay’s journey.
Founded in 2009 with a fair-trade mission to empower Balinese grape farmers, Sababay has grown into an internationally awarded winery and distillery.
The behind-the-scenes look into the cellar highlighted their production process, showcasing distinct creations like their

Mascetti fortified red wine and SABA spirits alongside recent releases crafted from Bali-grown Cabernet and Shiraz grapes.
Afterward, the group gathered at the House of Sababay to enjoy lunch alongside an engaging session hosted by the Sababay team, diving deeper into the craftsmanship, sustainability practices, and community-driven mission behind their production.

Sababay Winery

MONTHLY LUNCHEON UPDATE

The talk session at House of Sababay explored how gastronomy, wine, and local craft can help shape Bali’s identity as a world-class culinary destination.  The session highlighted how food and beverage experiences are becoming an important part of how travellers remember a destination.

Speakers including Yoke Darmawan, Fei, Vania and Evy Gozali discussed Bali’s opportunity to build a stronger “destination of taste” by elevating local products, craftsmanship, and hospitality culture rather than imitating other countries.

The discussion also touched on changing global wine trends, the importance of storytelling in gastronomy, and how restaurants and cafés play a key role in shaping guest experiences and Bali’s culinary identity. A key message throughout the session was that Bali’s strength lies in confidently celebrating what is uniquely its own, from local ingredients and farmers to craftsmanship, service, and culture.

Observing the Sababay team throughout the afternoon, it was inspiring to see how much the business is shaped by women leadership.

House of Sababay

EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

FHTB EXPO
BRCA at FHTB 2026
BRCA at FHTB 2026 - Conversations Around Sustainability in Hospitality

EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

Gareth Whitton
ADORE Chef’s Table with Gareth Whitton

EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

Eco Tourism Week
A World Environment Day initiative by Wonderspace

What to expect:

  • A thought-led panel discussion with key stakeholders
  • A curated zero-waste dining experience
  • Cross-industry participation and dialogue

BRCA chefs will cook for the zero-waste dining experience. BRCA and its member will join the panel discussion. Register now, limited seats available.



EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

BRCA Upcoming Events

Collaboration That Drives
the Industry Forward

Hatten Wines
Bali, Life on The Island - NOW
Gaia Digital Agency

Strong industries are built through strong ecosystems, and we truly value the businesses and partners who continue to support BRCA along the way.

From community events and educational discussions to collaborations that connect people across Bali’s hospitality sector, every initiative reflects a shared commitment to helping the industry grow in meaningful and sustainable ways.

What makes these partnerships valuable is not only the support itself, but also the shared vision behind it: to see Bali continue evolving as a dynamic and respected culinary destination while creating opportunities for the people and businesses within it. We sincerely thank our sponsors for being part of this growing community and for contributing to the positive momentum of Bali’s F&B industry.

sponsor-apr2026-4

OUR SPONSORS


Viceroy Bali

Energy Efficiency
The property uses LED lighting throughout while continuously upgrading kitchen and operational equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives. Viceroy Bali is also continuing to upgrade and expand its solar energy system as part of its longterm sustainability efforts to further reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.

Beyond infrastructure, sustainability is also embedded into daily operations. Staff across departments regularly receive training on energy-saving practices, supported by SOPs that encourage mindful use of electricity and resources. Operational efficiencies are continuously monitored to identify further opportunities for improvement.

Another key focus is sourcing. By prioritizing local suppliers and ingredients, the property helps reduce transportation-related emissions while supporting local producers. Some herbs, vegetables, and edible garnishes are also grown directly on-site in the property’s greenhouse and gardens.

BRCA SUSTAINABILITY CORNER


Aperitif and CasCades at Vinceroy Bali

Employees are encouraged to reduce unnecessary electricity usage by turning off lights and electrical appliances when not in use, supported by reminder notes placed throughout staff areas to reinforce these habits.

Water Efficiency
To encourage more responsible resource use, water stations are provided across departments, supporting a workplace culture that encourages employees to use reusable tumblers instead of single-use plastic bottles. Teams are also encouraged to practice mindful water usage in daily operations, including turning off faucets when not in use. Reminder notes placed near faucets and operational areas help reinforce these daily habits.

Beyond water and energy efficiency efforts, the property also supports waste management initiatives by redirecting organic food waste for livestock feed and composting.

REVĪVŌ Wellness Resort and NŪTRIO Restaurant

BRCA SUSTAINABILITY CORNER


Nusa Solar & SOL Point
Nusa Solar & SOL Point

Nusa Solar is a renewable energy company based in Jakarta and Bali with more than 15 years of experience and over 50 successful renewable energy projects. SOL Point, a subsidiary of Nusa Solar, focuses on flexible solar leasing solutions for businesses across Bali.

“At SOL Point, we aim to make clean energy more accessible for commercial businesses across Bali through flexible solar leasing solutions with no upfront investment,” shared Widya from the SOL Point team. She also shared that their services are not only for large businesses, but also suitable for restaurants, cafés, villas, hotels, and other commercial properties, depending on their energy needs.
Through its zero-upfront-cost model, SOL Point fully covers the investment, installation, operation, and maintenance of solar systems, allowing businesses to benefit from solar energy without large capital investment.

By using solar energy, hospitality businesses can improve energy efficiency while also reducing long-term operational costs. As sustainability becomes increasingly important in the hospitality industry, solar energy can be one of the solutions businesses may consider to support more efficient and environmentally responsible operations.

Nusa Solar
Marc
Email: halo@wearesolpoint.com

BRCA SUSTAINABILITY CORNER


THE F&B LOOP

Blake Thorney

Blake Thorney, Co-Owner and Head Chef of Mozaic

Blake Thornley, the chef and co-owner of Mozaic in Ubud, began his culinary journey at the age of eleven in his uncle’s restaurant, where he developed a strong work ethic and passion for cooking.

While his absolute favorite places to dine are, of course, Mozaic and Spice by Blake, he shared his favorite daily spots located just steps away from his kitchen. Fu Shou Noodle Club down at Jl Raya Andong is his top choice for a noodle fix, where the tasty Chinese meals and housemade noodles always keep him coming back. For local eats, Ocin Babi Guling and Samsam satisfy his cravings for babi guling, one of Bali’s most iconic dishes. Rusters is Chef’s ultimate go-to for a killer coffee and fresh-baked bread. Meanwhile, for a perfectly poured glass of vino and artisan cheese, Belle Wine Bar is the ultimate winddown spot. And when it’s time for a proper nightcap, Chef heads straight to 45ml for the slickest cocktails in town.


THE F&B LOOP

Nic Vanderbeeken
Dean Keddell

Dean Keddell, Owner and Chef at Ginger Moon Group,
Award Winning Author

Chef Dean Keddell is a seasoned hospitality professional with experience across both fivestar hotels and independent restaurants. Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, he began his culinary journey at 16 through an apprenticeship at a local hotel before moving to Melbourne to further his career. Since then, his passion for discovering, exploring, and creating has taken him to kitchens around the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Bali, Dean also helped support families in need through the fundraising cookbook Our Bali, Your Bali, which later received international recognition at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

His go-to spots around Bali range from familyfriendly favourites to comforting local eats. For dim sum, he heads to Lui Li Palace at AYANA, while beachside seafood dinners often mean a visit to Teba Cafe Jimbaran. Slow seaside brunches at Hyatt Regency Bali are also high on the list. When craving something different, he enjoys the rich flavours of Saudi Arabian cuisine at Abunawas, while local comfort food comes in the form of Babi Guling from Pak Malen.


THE F&B LOOP

Prestige Gourmet Awards 2026

Prestige Gourmet Awards 2026:
The Best 30 Restaurants of the
Year – Jakarta & Bali:

Gold Awards

  • Syrco BASÈ
  • August
  • Kindling
  • ESA Restaurant
  • Locavore NXT
  • The Crown by Kirk Westaway
  • Rumari
  • AMUZ Gourmet Restaurant
  • SU MA
  • JinJoo

Silver Awards

  • ERRE & Urrechu Jakarta
  • Costa
  • YOUNG Restaurant
  • MAURI Restaurant
  • Shelter
  • Apollo Wu Artisan Roast
  • Room4Dessert
  • T’ang Court
  • Mama San
  • Il Ristorante – Niko Romito

Bronze Awards

  • Lulu Bistrot
  • YY Private Dining
  • Bar Vera
  • Sola Ristorante & Bisteccheria
  • Numero Quattro
  • Seasalt
  • Hakuren
  • Izakaya by OKU
  • The Long Table Restaurant & Bar by John Hardy
  • Longtime

BALI TOURISM & HOSPITALITY

Bali Traditional Domestic

By the Numbers (Based on BPS March 2026 Data):

  • Foreign Arrivals: BPS recorded 472,070 direct foreign tourist visits to Bali in March, representing a minor 4.11% dip from February’s 492,289 visits. Australian tourists anchored the market, dominating arrivals at 25.37%.
  • Star-Rated Occupancy: The Room Occupancy Rate (TPK) for starred hotels landed at 52.54% (a 2.89 percentage point drop from February). However, BPS highlights that this is a solid 5.93 percentage point increase year-on-year compared to March 2025.
  • Non-Star Accommodations: The occupancy rate for non-starred hotels and alternative accommodations held steady at 33.32%, up slightly by 0.32 percentage points from February.

The Luxury Supply & Trend Pipeline (Based on Colliers Q1 2026):
Despite short-term headwinds, investor confidence remains robust with 1,623 new 5star rooms across at least 12 luxury hotels scheduled for completion between 2026 and 2029. Alongside this pipeline, Colliers highlights that luxury in Bali is shifting away from pure size toward exclusivity, wellness, retreat-style environments, and hyper-personalized experiences, which heavily appeal to Millennial and Gen Z travelers.

Total Foreign Visitors Numbers

BALI TOURISM & HOSPITALITY

BRCA barcode

Bali’s F&B Community

SIGNING UP INVITATIONS


BRCA

Founders
Dean Keddell – Ginger Moon Restaurants & Author of Our Bali
Your Bali – Bali Kita Bali Kamu
Chris Salans – Mozaic
Anthony Syrowatka – Viceroy Hotel, Aperitif, Blossom + others & Gaia Digital Marketing Agency

Board
Weni Ariasty – Manager NOW! Bali & the BRCA treasurer
Ana Dewi – Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali – HACCP
Maria Efflin – Secretary/Administrator, BRCA
Naomi Tribuana Festilani – Business and Community Manager BRCA
Rahmi Fajar Harini – Eco Tourism Bali & sustainability champion
Kertawidyawati (Widya) – BRCA President
Maudy Maha – Marketing Advisor
Jeroen Van Overbeek – Social Impakt, Bali Coop & BRCA Vice President
Min Siah – Wheatfields Bakery, Starter Lab – Advisor
Heru Dwi Soesilo – 2080 Burger & an events, branding & marketing guru

Thank you for reading this newsletter. Sampai Jumpa!

Welcome New Members to BRCA!

With culinary regards,

Naomi Tribuana Festilani
Business & Community Manager BRCA

On Behalf of BRCA Founders & Board

manager@balirca.id
www.balirca.id