For Ankit Airon, the secret to becoming Canggu’s most-loved hotel begins with the people behind the experience.
As General Manager of Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu, he believes that genuine hospitality starts with a team that feels valued and translates that care into memorable guest experiences.
A British national and Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA), Airon led the resort through its pre-opening phase. His career spans more than 24 years across international hospitality markets, combining a foundation in food and beverage operations with senior finance leadership at properties including Trump Turnberry in Scotland, The St. Regis Singapore and InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay.
With a career that bridges financial management and hotel operations, Airon offers a distinctive perspective on the business of hospitality, setting the stage for a conversation about his journey, his leadership philosophy and his ambitions for the resort.
What first drew you to hospitality, and what have been some of the experiences that shaped you as a leader?
I began by studying accounting, but I was always fascinated by hotels whenever I visited one while growing up. So when the opportunity came to study hospitality management in Goa, I took a leap of faith to explore something I had long been curious about. That decision marked the start of my career in hospitality. I began in operations, including time on cruise lines, where I learned that hospitality is won or lost in small moments with guests and with the team.
Then came a turning point. After my MBA, I was offered the chance to move from operations into hotel finance. To make the most of this opportunity, I enrolled in and qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) part-time while working full-time. That path led to Director of Finance roles at Trump Turnberry, The St. Regis Singapore and InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay, and eventually into general management.
Working across different cultures has taught me that great service looks different everywhere, but kindness is understood by everyone. I have been fortunate to be supported by many generous leaders who believed in me, and that shapes how I lead today. To anyone starting out in hospitality, my advice is simple: be good to people, say yes to opportunities, and never stop learning.
How would you describe Bali’s hospitality landscape today? What do you think makes it different from other destinations you have worked in?
Bali is one of the most dynamic hospitality markets I have worked in. It is a destination guests choose for its culture, nature and sense of wellbeing, not just for the hotel, so the experience around the property matters as much as the property itself. The market is also very competitive, with new openings arriving constantly, which keeps every hotel focused on delivering something authentic.
What sets Bali apart from Scotland, Singapore or my years on cruise lines is the role of people and community. Service here comes naturally from Balinese warmth and tradition, and guests appreciate that. They are looking for authenticity, connection, and a sense of place, and hotels that respect the local culture and their teams tend to stand out.
That is why I am proud that Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu has recently earned the “IHG Most Loved – Top 10%” badge, which now appears in the IHG app for members searching for hotels in the area, placing us in the top 10% of IHG hotels worldwide. The credit belongs to our team, and it shows that guests value genuine care and consistency, which is what makes a hotel loved in a market like Bali.
Tell us about Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu.
Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu sits in the heart of Batu Bolong, and our location is one of our greatest strengths. The beach, the surf, chic bars, cafes and some of the best restaurants Canggu has to offer are all within walking distance. We have 144 rooms and suites with garden and ocean views, designed with a modern coastal feel and touches of Balinese character.
Guests tell us they love the location, a breakfast many call one of the best in Canggu and perhaps in Bali, and the 180-degree views of the Indian Ocean from our rooftop infinity pool, where the sunset is special every evening. Roomah, our all-day restaurant, serves international, Balinese and Asian dishes. We are also a natural choice for families, with bunk bed kids’ suites that are a favourite with our younger guests and a complimentary kids’ club. Through the Holiday Inn Kids Stay and Eat Free program, a brand standard at Holiday Inn Resorts, children under 12 stay and eat free with us.
Above all, our guests tell us about the warmth of our team. The friendliness they experience from the moment they arrive appears often in their reviews, and it is what makes Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu feel like a place to come back to.
What do you think makes Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu relevant to today’s Bali traveller, and what role do you want it to play in Canggu?
Today’s traveller wants to feel Canggu’s energy, but also to feel at ease. They want the beach, the cafes and the sunsets on their doorstep, and a place to come back to where they are welcomed, comfortable and looked after. That is what we are committed to delivering: a warm team, a rooftop with beautiful ocean views, a location that lets guests explore on foot, and the reassurance of the IHG family behind us. We also love welcoming families, and I think many travellers appreciate a resort where every generation feels at home.
As for our role in Canggu, I want us to be a friendly home away from home, a place where guests arrive as visitors and leave feeling like part of the community. I also want us to be a good neighbour, growing alongside the local people, suppliers and traditions that make Canggu so special.
Hospitality can be demanding, and great service often depends on what happens behind the scenes. How do you approach developing and retaining people, particularly when the industry is competing for experienced hospitality talent?
People stay where they feel valued, trusted and able to grow. I owe much of my own career to leaders who gave me opportunities before I had proven myself, so I commit to doing the same for our team, understanding what each person aspires to achieve and helping them get there.
We do not simply train; we train to excel. We enter competitions because they push us to look at every part of what our guests will love, and the team learns something new every day. Our barista, Ni Nyoman Ayu Budiarti (Yubi), won the IHG Barista Championship 2026. In 2025, we placed in the top 3 hotels in Southeast Asia and Korea (SEAK) in the IHG Food competition, and ranked No.1 for overall breakfast experience among Holiday Inn hotels in the region.
A strong service culture is one where everyone, from the newest team member to the General Manager, shares the same simple purpose: to give our guests an amazing experience. It starts with leadership setting the tone, but it is built every day by the whole team. Together we listen to each other, recognise one another when someone does something special, and share guest feedback openly- the compliments and the lessons- so that everyone sees the difference their work makes.
Ultimately, service cannot be forced. It comes from people who feel cared for, so we care for each other, and that care naturally reaches our guests.
What does sustainability mean to you beyond environmental initiatives, and how can a hotel contribute positively to the destination and the community around it?
For us, sustainability is about people and place as much as the environment. In Bali, life is guided by the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, harmony between people, nature and the spiritual, and we try to honour that in how we work. Our team observes daily offerings and prayers and takes part in the island’s ceremonies, and we welcome our guests to experience that culture with respect.
We organise beach clean-ups, and we contribute our time and resources to charitable organisations that support worthy causes, including orphanages and senior citizens’ homes. Within the hotel, we have chosen to remove single-use plastic bottles wherever possible, and modern technology and equipment help us use power, water and fuel efficiently. Our à la carte breakfast keeps food waste low. Sustainability is also a priority for IHG, which keeps us focused on doing better every year.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu, and what would you like the hotel to be known for?
Our vision is for Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu to be the most loved hotel in Canggu, known for the warmth of its people. It begins with a beautiful property, and the credit for that goes to our owners. Their vision and care shaped a resort with a true premium feel, and that gives our team the confidence to deliver great service. Guests may come for the location, the sunsets and the breakfast, but it is the way our team makes them feel that brings them back and leads them to recommend us to others.
We want to keep raising the standard in everything we do, from the guest experience and our food and beverage to the way we look after our team and our community. We will keep learning, competing and celebrating together, because a team that is always improving delivers service guests remember.
Above all, we want to be known as a place where every guest, from couples to families, feels at home, and where every team member is proud to belong.