Andreas Bergel’s journey through the world of hospitality is one of passion, dedication, and an unyielding pursuit of excellence. From his early days in Hamburg to his current role in Indonesia, Andreas has left a lasting impact on the industry.
Now, as the leader of Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach, Andreas continues to push the boundaries of luxury and service in one of the world’s most vibrant destinations. Join Indonesia Expat as we chat with Andreas to delve deeper into his remarkable career and the innovative strides, he’s making in Bali’s hospitality scene.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who is Andreas Bergel?
Growing up in Germany, my future was set, being a third generation in this industry and wanting to be on crates before reaching even the bar counters of our family friends’ restaurants. After a three-year apprenticeship with Hyatt Hotels in Hamburg, Germany — in which my very first job was to clean rooms and carry luggage — I continued in Food and Beverage, particularly in the bar and nightclub scene where my passion lay.
In the early 2000s, I was drawn to Dubai, where I spent the next decade managing some of the finest bars, clubs, and restaurants in the Middle East. Before becoming Director of Food & Beverage, I was tasked with handling the Resorts 32 venues’ promotions, and beverage selection including the biggest fine wine and spirit selection in the Middle East. This role allowed me to travel extensively and visit distilleries, relais, and châteaus all over the continents. I landed my first tenure in Asia, where I continued with that passion shortly after opening, helping to build the F&B strategies and events at W Bali — Seminyak in 2013, at that time possibly the most captivating property on the island.
Fast forward to post-COVID, after spending three years overseeing all operations as Hotel Manager and one year as Interim GM before starting my new journey at Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach. This job still allowed me to spark my creative ideas even further with the support of my neighbourhood hosts (staff). In 2024, I received further responsibility within IHG Hotels and Resorts, becoming the Area General Manager of IHG Indonesia. I work hand in hand with development teams, designers, property general managers, and owners across Indonesia for operating or upcoming hotels.
What prompted you to start a career in the hospitality industry?
It is essentially the service culture; being hospitable, creative and being able to interact directly with interesting guests. That is my main drive in pursuing my career in the hospitality industry.
You have resided in Bali since 2013. How would you describe your life as an expat on the island?
I love life on the island in general, where I can call this beautiful destination my office view. There is a clear difference between working and holiday-ing in Bali! I think this is not clear to most of my friends abroad yet.
Beyond living a balanced lifestyle, I enjoy adventures in and around Indonesia on a motorbike with some good friends. It’s an incredible way to discover remote islands and learn about their way of living, the local cuisine, and the beauty of nature. Being on those — either congested or totally remote — roads is my way of meditating.
Tell us about Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach.
Where do I start? We are not your typical resort destination, but we are the representative of your favourite neighbourhood of Seminyak.
The hotel is a representation of a modern mix of local luxury, brought into life through the facilities, services, and activities. We’ve recently been awarded #46 best hotels in the world, #16 favourite hotels in Asia, and #5 favourite hotels in Indonesia on one of the most prestigious international travel media — such a great and rewarding achievement for all of us in this neighbourhood.
What would you say makes Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach stand out in the highly competitive Seminyak area?
Being the first Hotel Indigo in a resort location, we are not taking this statement for granted. We continue doing our best by leaving a unique and fun memory to our esteemed guests by creating a destination within the Seminyak destination.
On a more technical note, the 4.8-hectare site allows us to have an extensive number of F&B outlets, rooms, suites, and villas that reach the size of 800 sqm for the two-bedroom villas, something you don’t usually see in the dense area of Seminyak beachfront.
Last, but not least, it is the team, whom we call our “neighbourhood hosts” that are always eagerly delivering the best service towards our guests through their local knowledge, services, and assistance.
Congratulations on your newly appointed role as Area General Manager for Indonesia with IHG! What are your immediate goals and priorities with this new role?
At IHG Indonesia, we are planning to open several new and exciting hotels with a variety of brands and locations. This is already beyond exciting — do stay tuned for our press releases on these developments!
Are there any specific initiatives or partnerships you are particularly proud of in terms of community engagement?
Partnerships are carefully selected and we love them! The few notable recent ones were our collaboration with BAWA (Bali Animal Welfare Association) where we brought the most sought-after activity — puppy yoga — into the neighbourhood. We successfully reached more than 40 guests across the four events held in one month. Aside from that, we also did our first-ever spay-and-neuter activity, giving back to the community by providing free-of-charge sterilisation to stray dogs and cats in a mission to control the population and minimise the population issues that might follow.
Another one that we did also recently this year was a rice planting collaboration; we worked with local farmers in the Mengwi area where we took over their land and utilised that to grow rice. The activities were done within a couple of months where we started with planting the seeds, fertilising, and harvesting the produce that later was donated to our partnering social organisation.
Not only are these two examples fun and educational activations, we also gladly implement it as our way of giving back to the community.
How would you describe the current state of the hospitality market in Indonesia?
Development is definitely on the rise; this can only be seen as a positive response towards the increasing travel demand for the island in particular and the country in general.
As a hospitality practitioner, we believe that this is a great opportunity for Bali and Indonesia to shine brighter, in comparison with many other beautiful Southeast Asian destinations.
What’s next for you, Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach, and IHG Indonesia?
Together with the team, stakeholders, and our company, we will continue doing our best to deliver the great service we are known for whilst, at the same time, continuing our legacy of Giving for Good; together, we can do so much, making a difference to the communities on many different touch points including education, wellness, culture, nature, and so many more.
On a much more exciting note, stay tuned on our additional facilities at Sava Spa, introducing a hair salon property and the rebirth of our KIOSK outlet by the beach, providing a selection of gelatos that we all love!
How can our readers get in touch?
Please feel free to say hello through my LinkedIn page under the name of Andreas Bergel.