Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another SL2M all the way from Bali. And the reason I'm here in Bali is also because of my good friend Jason Fong, as well as known for many as the boss of Bali. He's gonna be with us today as one of our guests, and he's a travel expert featuring Forbes and entrepreneur, also partner of Bridgeburst, which we'll be talking a bit about it. And we'll be talking about all the different things that relate to luxury traveling and specifically this beautiful destination such as Bali.
There he is. What's going on, Ben? How are you? Excellent.
Good to see you. Salamat Pagi. I should be saying good morning in Bali. I wish I was in Bali, but this is as close as I'm gonna get in Sydney.
Yeah, that's all right. It does. It does. It's got that Bali feel better.
Yeah, it's a... Yeah, I wish I could be there, but I'm in Sydney at the moment. So, yeah, it's pretty good. That's pretty good.
From Bali. Only six hours away. So hopefully I can come see in a couple of weeks. That would be amazing and show you around.
But it seems like you've been having a great time there. Absolutely. I'm very thankful for you because as I was saying to everybody to you today, you are considered the boss of Bali and therefore that's why your name is there. I mean, you've been nothing but amazing by putting us together with some of the most incredible hotels, villas and anything related to luxury travel.
Please guys, make sure to follow him because he's an expert and I'm really thankful for being here. It's beautiful in Bali my first time actually, so really grateful about it. I can't wait to see you. So definitely make sure to get everything done there.
You see, and come over here to Bali to show us the most amazing time. Yeah, absolutely. I'm so glad that you've come for the first time. It's...
I love showing people or giving them direction on the best basis to go to, the restaurants, the culture, the hotels as well. There's so many incredible hotels in Bali. So you've definitely picked the best ones to go to and it'll really give you the inspiration of coming back as well. And I'm sure all the people over there have been dying to meet you and have visitors come back.
It's been a couple of years since I've been in trouble. It's been hurting really badly and it's been really excited now to have everyone back. So Bali's going to come back with a big bang this year. Oh my God, absolutely.
That's a beautiful part, isn't it? But tell us about you. How is it that you became the boss of Bali? I mean, where the name came from and how did you become such a successful travel luxury expert?
Yeah, good question. So I worked for a luxury travel company in Australia, been doing that for sort of 10 years now. And I was in Bali all the time working with hotels, so contracting hotels and building relationships. But I was never that person to go and take all the beautiful photos on Instagram, right?
Because I was working breakfast, lunch, dinner meetings, like, you know, five to eight meetings a day. So there's no chance to do that. So I thought, what do I create a page and inspire people to travel to Bali and celebrate the luxury of Bali? So did that through through my Instagram page to repost viral content, because there's an endless amount of content.
There's so many incredible creators in the space that come to Bali and you're never, never run out of content. So I had a look at the name of Bossa Bali thought that thought that tidying really well because of we have an outstanding reputation delivering room nights and volume and customers from the Australian market into Bali. So the company that I that I'm affiliated with delivers the most room nights out of Australia for Bali hotel. So, so yeah, so it's the name sort of just all's available, it sounded good and just sort of try to build that brand from there and really work on, really work on, you know, working closely, especially in the last couple of years during COVID.
We haven't been able to travel from Australia. So I've built up these amazing connections with celebrities and people through Instagram and connecting them with luxury hotels in Bali. So that's sort of how I've sort of positioned the brand and really worked out a lot to grow that brand and invest in my own self. And it's opened up so many incredible doors to sort of position myself over that sort of go to person when people want to go to Bali.
So, yeah, that's right. I think you've built that authority itself just by having that name and building the page to that degree. How long ago did you start building that Instagram page? This is remarkable.
I love it. Yeah, it's been like 10 years now. So really the last sort of few years is really, you know, push hard on growing the brand and building those connections. And as you know, look with social media, the great thing is you can build a, you can build all these connections through DMing people.
Everyone's so accessible these days. So, you know, whether whether they answer or not is another question, but it gives you an opportunity to connect them. I think sort of sort of being able to add value to customers and people, whether it doesn't matter who it is. I can go in and add value with the Bali proposition.
So that's what I've been successful in building these relationships with people. And it's like, you know, for me, it's all about adding value to relationships and that's how you can grow and network. So fantastic. I love that about you because it's a different type of business model.
You know, everybody that comes from the luxury travel in space, it's a bit more traditionally and some other different ways. But in your case, you mainly build it now most recently through social media and Instagram is probably where you get the most leads. Correct. Definitely.
Definitely social media is Instagram is where it's up for me. That's where I've really grown my, my brand, especially with the Boston Bali brand. So definitely, you know, that's where you get all my pages. Never about monetizing the page.
I've never used it to make money or intention was always to celebrate the luxury inspired people to try the Bali. And what about happens happens? Because I'll tell you this. Me and Hophid, we were looking at your pasting.
Okay, let's see what cool spots are in Bali. Oh my God. This is amazing. Oh, this is great.
Like, as you said, these pages are not just something that it's great for conversations or connections, but also in terms of inspiration because when you look at this content, you're like, Oh my God, I can wait to be there. And then they reach out to you. Hey, Jason, how do we make that happen? And the great thing is, the great thing is with Bali, especially like a lot of my contacts are in the US.
So Bali is an aspirational place when it comes to the US because it's, as you know, you have to travel such a lot. You have to, it took you 30 hours or 24 to 30 hours to get to Bali. So people don't go to Bali as often from the States as they do from Australia. It's like three to six hours.
So it's like, so I go to Mexico for the weekend. Right. So I strategically went to build my brand, especially in the US because I know that there's, you know, they see that as an aspirational place that would love to go there one day. And yeah, that's really sort of focused on that a bit of Europe as well.
Yeah, it's been, it's been awesome being able to use the power of social media and be able to leverage that to network. It's, it's amazing. You know, by the way, I mean, I've been here only for four days and I'm loving it. We've seen monkeys everywhere, like the users, the people, the whole thing is just paradise.
But obviously for you that you've been coming here for so long. What's your favorite thing about Bali? Favorite thing are it's so the people have to be because the people are so humble. So, you know, it's, it really puts you, gets you grounded from wherever you're coming from and shows you how lucky you are where, what we do.
And where we live. And that is probably the best thing. Kitchy grounded. Another thing I love about Bali is the gastronomy, the foodiest second to hand.
So you can have your $5.00 in the other road on the beach or you can have a $80.00 steak at a chef-hatted restaurant. There's so many world-class chefs coming to Bali, opening restaurants and just letting loose, you know, just, you know, being able to show in the flair and it's incredible. And the best thing is every time I come to Bali, there's like 10 new restaurants at open. And that's, you know, able to go and try all these beautiful, you know, these amazing restaurants from international world-class chefs, which is a big foodie.
So I love that. And the food is good in Sydney or Melbourne. So, so yeah, that's, that's what I like. I'm definitely going to be gaining some extra kilos.
I think we will. I can confirm that will be correct. So if you've got a good app, say it can make you look a little skittier filtering, that will work. I can gain some weight.
I've been doing too many of these guidelines and super good and racist. So this is good. This is good. I need to put some weight on.
But that is also in regards to experiences, obviously Bali, you know, it's one of the provinces of Indonesia. It's one of the many, many islands in the country. But it's so big at the same time. Like there's so many things you could be doing.
So, Oubud, Oubud, there's so many different spots. What would be your number one spot recommended for somebody coming for the first time in Bali? Number one. Oh, wow.
It's, it's really, that's a good question. It really depends on what type of holiday you're after. So whenever I come over with the family, I, I, I move around to different places because I want to experience a bit of everything. So I'll go to Mississippi with just the chill out and do nothing, you know, by the beach.
Then I'll go to Oubud for a few nights to get that jungle experience. And then I'll go to Oubud for that cliff top luxury villa overlooking the ocean to where I feel. And then I'll go to Stain Seminyak where all the best restaurants are. And all the clubs.
So I like to have a bit. So there's no real, I suppose if I had to pick one, I would say probably Oubud, because I love that beautiful view of the ocean. Peaceful tranquility. The sass is, I mean, we were at the rock.
Oh, yeah. Unbelievable. I'm telling you, that's a great choice. Thank you for the recommendation.
Incredible. You pick the, yeah, that's the perfect place for some sets. Like, it's incredible in, in where you are now at Ayana. I rock.
Look, I wanted to ask you because we always have the same question as the lower guests and the word luxury. It comes in so many different shapes and forms. But what is it for you? Oh, that's a very good question.
For me, luxury is, luxury is that in terms of Bali is that I look at that over water cliff top villa. For me, that is, that for me is pure luxury. But it comes in so many different forms, right? And I can give him in Bali.
There's so many incredible hotels that you can choose from in so many different locations that you can, luxury can be defined as anything. It could be just being comfortable in your own home. You know, it's such a, such a, you know, it's such a, it can be interpreted in so many ways. But for me, when I think luxury, Bali, I think over water villa, you know, cliff top.
It's unbelievable. I didn't know it. It's so big. You can have an elevator that takes you from the top all the way to the beach.
It's amazing. I love that. Wait, wait, wait till you go to the edge. So you're going to be staying at the edge.
Yeah, we're going to be there in one week. So that pool is a hologram for me. Like in terms of this pool is in the world, that's one of the best. So, and I know you've been around the world and seen some of the best, the best hotels.
And that's definitely, definitely one of them. Now, a more personal question, Jason, in terms of being an entrepreneur, you know, being in the luxury space for so many years, what's been one of the turning points in your career? One of the things that you've done that has really transformed yourself to the person that you're today. So for me, being an entrepreneur, it's about pivoting, being able to pivot into different categories or different genres or different, you know, I mean, the luxury, bringing the luxury travel space for 10 years now, but COVID here, you know, so years ago, so we couldn't travel.
So it's like, okay, well, I can sit on my hands and wench about this, or I can find out what is, you know, I can look at it and go find out where's the opportunity. So I looked and tried to find opportunity and decided to take a couple years off and educate myself about the crypto and NFT and Web3 space and, you know, I've been doing that for the last couple of years. Sorry, that's a pool filter going on. I've been doing that for the last couple of years and really trying to educate myself and learn about the whole space and seeing that, you know, we're so early into a industry that's going to boom.
So, so yes, so I've been advising on different projects, part of different projects, and that's been just incredible. Being your own boss for me is has been refreshing and being, it's just open my eyes to just so many things. It's, you know, working for people is great as well. But being your boss is nothing like it.
And you know, we'll have to have another conversation about bridge versus because I really love what you're doing. And you were really talking about it on the phone the other day. I believe that's what you said. This is the evolution.
And whenever you are doing something and you can bring these new tendencies or trends into what you do, I think that's where really something clicks the same way in our world. We're doing it with real estate. You're doing it also with the luxury space we're traveling and vice versa. So very excited about all the things that Leah had for you.
I just want you to enjoy your beautiful Saturday in Sydney. We're going to be missing you here in Bali. Hopefully you can come visit us towards the end of the month because we love it so much. We're not leaving with a few weeks ahead.
I'm so glad that you're having a good time and I can't wait for you to, I can't wait to faster me. I've been in the States next month as well. I know you'll be traveling a bit too, but it's going to be great when we can finally meet in person and have a and celebrate our friendship. Definitely.
But we've got to get you back to Bali as well. We've got to start planning that trip next. Well, we're now really excited. I love it.
Well, thank you so much Jason for your time for the great insight also for the super amazing help. And obviously for everybody that is watching or listening this right now or later, follow the boss of Bali, not only his side, amazing person, but also very inspirational individual that will put all the content together to really take yourself from where you are to the best experience. So thanks again, Jason. I don't know if you want to add anything else.
No, no, I really appreciate your time and it's great to, always great to chat with successful people in the world doing different things and massive respect to you. And really looking forward to building our friendship and seeing what the future holds. Well, thanks again for your time and I look forward to seeing you soon. Enjoy your week.
Thanks, my friend. You too. Bye-bye. And thanks again for everybody tuning in today.
We hope you enjoyed it. I remember embracing beautiful success in life. My name is Alvaro and I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.