Meet a planner

We spoke to Vidya Hermanto, Managing Director of Orange Incentive House from Panorama JTP Tours Indonesia about balancing the city energy of Sydney with natural connections in the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley. We also found out what it takes to make an event of this scale feel curated and personal.

Why was Australia chosen as the destination for rewarding this year’s Allianz Life Indonesia’s top-performing agencies?

Australia was a very natural choice for this program. From Indonesia, it offers relatively easy access to a completely different continent, with a distinct landscape, culture and four-season experience. For an incentive group, Australia also gave us a very good combination of accessibility and variety. Sydney is particularly accommodating for a large group of around 1,000 guests, with a wide choice of hotels, venues, restaurants and flight options.

Another important consideration was the visa process. The possibility of coordinating and supporting the visa applications on a group basis helped make the process much more manageable at this scale.

How did you find the pace of your itinerary, mixing Sydney city with regional New South Wales?

The balance was very important. Sydney gave us the energy, excitement and iconic Australian experience, while the regional programs allowed the delegates to slow down and experience a very different side of Australia. It created a good rhythm throughout the program.

What’s one key moment the delegates are still talking about?

For a group of approximately 1,000 people, creating moments that feel special and collective is not easy. The group photo at Sydney Opera and the special dinner at Royal Randwick were very memorable. What also stood out was seeing the delegates genuinely enjoying themselves and sharing the experience with their colleagues. That is ultimately what an incentive trip should achieve — creating memories that people continue to talk about long after they return home.

What was unmissable in the Blue Mountains?

The Blue Mountains themselves were the highlight — the dramatic landscape, the vast views and the feeling of being surrounded by Australian nature. For Indonesian travellers, it is quite different from the landscapes they are accustomed to seeing at home. It was also a good opportunity to introduce the group to the natural beauty of New South Wales without requiring a very long journey from Sydney.

What was a highlight in the Hunter Valley?

Hunter Valley was a wonderful contrast to Sydney. The vineyards, rolling landscapes and relaxed atmosphere gave the delegates the opportunity to experience Australia’s wine country and regional lifestyle. Good food, wine, scenery and social interaction created a relaxed atmosphere after the busy days in Sydney. It was a chance for delegates to slow down, enjoy the surroundings and spend quality time with their colleagues in a beautiful setting.

What venue in Sydney would you book again?

For a group of this scale, I would definitely look at venues that can combine capacity, accessibility and flexibility, rather than simply choosing a venue because it is famous. Sydney has a strong selection of venues that are capable of handling large corporate events, and that was one of the reasons the city worked so well for us. Sydney’s venue’s ability to manage arrivals, registration, dining, entertainment and transportation smoothly was particularly important when working at this scale.

What made your meals memorable?

The standout meals were the ones where the food became part of the experience rather than simply being a meal. For an Indonesian group, food is an important part of an incentive program. The delegates appreciated quality and variety, but they also enjoyed experiencing local Australian produce and cuisine. When you have 1,000 people dining together, the experience needs to feel special and well orchestrated — from the menu and service to the venue and entertainment.

What was your secret to keeping the experiences personal and premium, at this scale?

For a group of 1,000 people, the secret is very strong preparation and close collaboration with the Australian suppliers. We experienced local partners who understood the destination, understood large incentive groups and were able to work flexibly with us. For me, premium at this scale is not necessarily about making everything extravagant. It is about making everything feel seamless, well thought through and effortless for the guests.

What would you say to clients who are thinking about hosting an incentive program in Australia?

I would definitely recommend Australia for clients looking for a strong combination of accessibility, diversity and quality. From Indonesia, it is relatively close compared with many other long-haul destinations, but once you arrive, the experience feels completely different — different seasons, landscapes, cities, food, nature and culture.

Australia also has the infrastructure to support very large incentive groups, from accommodation and flights to venues, restaurants and professional local suppliers. Most importantly, Australia gives us the flexibility to design a program around the client’s objectives. You can combine city experiences with nature, wine, adventure, gastronomy and premium events within one destination.

For us, this Allianz Life Indonesia program was a very meaningful milestone because it was one of the largest Indonesian incentive groups travelling to Australia since 2019. It demonstrated that with the right destination, strong local partnerships and careful planning, Australia can deliver an incentive experience that is both operationally seamless and genuinely memorable.