In this STRA special episode, Justin Sun speaks with Adhiguna Adnyana about why culture, empathy, and human connection cannot be delegated in hospitality — especially in Bali.

This episode is part of The Art of Short-Term Rentals in Asia, a six-part special series created in collaboration with Short Term Rental Asia (STRA).

Bali is often viewed through the lens of aesthetics and escapism — but behind every meaningful stay is a philosophy rooted in culture, leadership, and human care.

In this episode of The Curious Concierge, Justin sits down with Adhiguna Adnyana, CEO of The Kayon Hotels & Resorts and former COO of Nakula Villas, whose career spans guest relations, villa management, corporate leadership, and brand building across Bali’s most respected hospitality groups.

Adhiguna reflects on growing up surrounded by rice fields and temples, how those early environments shaped his view of service, and why hospitality must always reflect its destination — not imitate somewhere else. From rejecting offers at Aman early in his career, to professionalizing large-scale villa operations, he shares the lessons that taught him empathy, discipline, and long-term thinking.

The conversation explores why culture cannot be outsourced, how systems must support — not replace — human connection, and what it takes to scale hospitality without losing its soul. Adhiguna also discusses regulation, sustainability, Bali’s evolving guest mix, and why the future of the island depends on balance rather than volume.

This episode is a masterclass in grounded leadership, operational clarity, and preserving identity in a fast-growing destination.

As Bali continues to evolve as a global hospitality destination, Adhiguna offers a rare operator’s perspective on what truly sustains quality at scale. This episode is about leadership, cultural responsibility, and why the most enduring hospitality brands are built from the inside out.

(00:00) Introduction to The Curious Concierge

(00:33) Why hospitality in Bali is a way of life

(01:48) Culture should never be copied or outsourced

(03:11) From teaching and telecom to hospitality leadership

(06:35) Choosing people over KPIs

(09:32) What real hospitality looks like on the front line

(10:59) Why connection matters more than service

(11:58) Professionalizing Bali’s villa industry

(14:21) Systems, consistency, and scaling standards

(15:29) Corporate structure vs local culture

(17:51) Doubling Nakula’s portfolio without doubling headcount

(19:40) Auditing systems before scaling

(21:29) What outsiders misunderstand about villa management

(24:08) Regulation, transparency, and closing loopholes

(24:58) Founding BVRMA and educating villa owners

(26:25) How guest behavior has changed post-pandemic

(29:41) Where investors get Bali wrong

(31:04) Progress vs preservation

(32:44) Why The Kayon is more than a resort

(34:09) Guest mix, weddings, and wellness

(36:55) Rituals that define the Kayon experience

(38:39) Non-negotiables in new developments

(39:17) Hiring for passion and protecting culture

(40:53) Staying grounded in an intense industry

(41:25) Rapid fire round

(43:01) What’s next for Adhiguna

(43:58) Closing reflections

Adhiguna Adnyana | CEO, The Kayon Hotels & Resorts

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In this STRA special episode, Justin Sun speaks with Ritvik Khare, Founder and CEO of Elivaas, about how India’s luxury villa market is evolving through technology, trust, and a deeply human approach to hospitality.

This episode is part of The Art of Short-Term Rentals in Asia, a six-part special series created in collaboration with Short Term Rental Asia (STRA).

India’s luxury villa market is entering a new chapter. Travelers are demanding more space, privacy, and control, while owners are looking for professional, hotel-grade operations beyond simple listing management.

In this episode of The Curious Concierge, Justin sits down with Ritvik Khare, whose career spans finance, online travel, and entrepreneurship, to unpack how Elivaas is redefining luxury villas through fully serviced experiences and what he calls “humane hospitality.”

Ritvik shares how Elivaas was born out of personal frustration managing a second home, why consumer control and privacy have become central to modern travel, and how technology can support hospitality without replacing its emotional core. The conversation also explores India’s rapid travel renaissance, multi-generational travel trends, sustainability, and what it takes to scale trust across hundreds of homes.

As India’s short-term rental market matures, this episode offers a rare founder’s perspective on how branded villa operators can become the next generation of hospitality companies. It is a conversation about building consistency, empathy, and long-term value in one of Asia’s fastest-growing travel markets.

(01:33) Introduction to Elivaas

(03:53) From finance to hospitality

(05:40) Scaling India’s travel ecosystem

(09:25) How Indian travelers are changing

(11:34) Control and privacy in luxury travel

(16:14) Founding Elivaas

(20:11) Humane hospitality explained

(26:30) Operating luxury villas at scale

(30:31) Sustainability and responsibility

(34:50) Rapid fire round

(38:45) Closing reflections

Ritvik Khare | Elivaas

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Justin Sun | The Curious Concierge

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Email: justin@thecuriousconcierge.com

Fourth Space Hospitality: https://fourthspacehospitality.com

If you know a hotelier, villa operator, designer, or founder shaping hospitality in Asia, feel free to reach out or make an introduction.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating or review — it helps more listeners discover the show.

In this STRA special episode, Justin Sun speaks with Bruno Barone about building a hospitality ecosystem in Phuket that extends far beyond villas, focusing on people, systems, and long-term responsibility.

This episode is part of The Art of Short-Term Rentals in Asia, a six-part special series created in collaboration with Short Term Rental Asia (STRA).

Phuket’s villa market may look effortless from the outside, but behind every great stay is a complex network of people, systems, and responsibility.

In this episode of The Curious Concierge, Justin sits down with Bruno Barone, a hospitality entrepreneur who has spent over a decade building an interconnected ecosystem in Phuket. Bruno shares his journey from Europe to Thailand, the evolution of property management on the island, and why staff empowerment is central to service excellence.

The conversation explores Phuket’s shift toward long-term living, the rise of wellness and medical tourism, and why storytelling has become a strategic asset through Bruno’s media platform, Closer. Bruno also discusses legal support for expats, sustainability, and what it means to build hospitality with accountability in a fast-growing destination.

As Phuket continues to grow as a global destination, Bruno offers a rare operator’s view on what happens behind the scenes. This episode is about building trust, infrastructure, and community in a place where hospitality touches everyday life.

(00:00) Phuket’s evolving hospitality landscape

(04:06) Bruno’s journey to Phuket

(07:19) Quality of life and inner happiness

(09:59) Building a hospitality ecosystem

(13:01) The evolution of property management

(16:02) Technical systems and service philosophy

(19:00) Staff development and service excellence

(22:20) Long-term living and rental shifts

(24:53) Storytelling in hospitality

(26:38) Legal support for expats

(28:01) Community-driven hospitality

(30:39) Phuket’s regional role

(33:51) Sustainability and future development

(40:04) The future of hospitality in Phuket

(41:53) Closing reflections

Bruno Barone

Email: info@closercsslaw.com

Short Term Rental Asia (STRA)

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Justin Sun | The Curious Concierge

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Email: justin@thecuriousconcierge.com

Fourth Space Hospitality: https://fourthspacehospitality.com

If you know a hotelier, villa operator, designer, or founder shaping hospitality in Asia, feel free to reach out or make an introduction.

In this STRA special episode, Justin Sun sits down with Kadek Adnyana to explore how Bali’s villa industry has evolved and why culture, regulation, and community now matter more than ever.

This episode is part of The Art of Short-Term Rentals in Asia, a six-part special series created in collaboration with Short Term Rental Asia (STRA), a leading platform focused on education, events, and insight for the short-term rental industry across Asia.

Bali is one of the world’s most iconic hospitality destinations, but behind the beauty lies a fragile balance.

In this episode of The Curious Concierge, Justin speaks with Kadek Adnyana, founder of Individual Bali Villas and a leading voice behind the Bali Vacation Rental Management Association (BVRMA). Kadek shares his journey from local guide to villa operator, and how Balinese culture deeply influences hospitality practices on the island.

Together, they unpack the evolution of Bali’s villa market, the risks of unregulated growth, and why sustainable tourism, quality standards, and community-driven regulation are essential to protecting Bali’s identity for future generations.

This conversation offers a grounded, local perspective on what it really takes to build hospitality responsibly in Asia.

As Bali faces increasing pressure from mass tourism and unchecked development, this conversation provides rare insight from someone actively working to balance growth with preservation. It is a reminder that hospitality is not just about demand, but responsibility.

(00:00) Introduction and STRA series context

(02:01) Cultural roots of Balinese hospitality

(05:55) Kadek’s journey into the villa industry

(10:01) Why BVRMA was formed

(13:07) Challenges and achievements in regulation

(15:09) Evolution of Bali’s villa market

(18:21) Sustainability and eco-friendly tourism

(21:13) Community responsibility and cultural preservation

(24:42) Government, investors, and regulation

(27:06) Lessons for other destinations

(32:03) Building a sustainable future for Bali

(35:13) Final reflections

Kadek Adnyana

Individual Bali Villa Rental & Management

Bali Vacation Rental Management Association (BVRMA)

Short Term Rental Asia (STRA)

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Justin Sun | The Curious Concierge

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Email: justin@thecuriousconcierge.com

Fourth Space Hospitality: https://fourthspacehospitality.com

If you know a hotelier, villa operator, designer, or founder shaping hospitality in Asia, feel free to reach out or make an introduction.

In this opening episode, host Justin Sun shares the personal journey behind The Curious Concierge and why hospitality, real estate, and service have shaped his life and career. From growing up in Asia’s urban ecosystems to working behind the scenes of modern hospitality brands, this episode sets the foundation for a podcast focused on meaning, craft, and the future of hospitality in Asia.

This is not an interview. This is an origin story.

In the inaugural episode of The Curious Concierge, Justin reflects on growing up between Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States, where malls doubled as social ecosystems, buildings shaped behavior, and service was a cultural philosophy rather than a transaction. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong fascination with how space, emotion, and care intersect.

Justin traces how that curiosity led him to study hotel administration and real estate, work across hospitality startups, underwrite and integrate real estate portfolios, scale operations, and experience firsthand the emotional labor behind hospitality, from corporate strategy rooms to being an Airbnb host himself.

This episode introduces the philosophy behind The Curious Concierge, a podcast dedicated to the innovators, builders, and quiet operators shaping how Asia lives, travels, and gathers. Beyond check-ins and keys, this show explores the legends, legacies, and human stories behind hospitality.

Asia is where hospitality is evolving fastest, shaped by culture, density, technology, and a deep-rooted service mindset. From hotels and short-term rentals to wellness spaces and hybrid living, the next generation of hospitality models is being built here, often quietly. This podcast exists to tell those stories with depth, respect, and curiosity.

(00:00) - Welcome to The Curious Concierge

(01:15) - What this podcast is really about

(03:40) - Growing up in Asia’s urban ecosystems

(07:50) - When hospitality became personal

(12:20) - Studying hotels and real estate

(16:10) - Startup years, scale, and systems

(21:45) - Learning hospitality from the owner’s side

(26:40) - Why Asia, and why now

(30:10) - What to expect from future episodes

(33:30) - Closing reflections and invitation to stay curious

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Email: justin@thecuriousconcierge.com

Fourth Space Hospitality: https://fourthspacehospitality.com

If you know a hotelier, designer, founder, or operator shaping hospitality in Asia, feel free to reach out or send an introduction.