DENPASAR, balitourismnow.com – The Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association (IHGMA) Bali has once again demonstrated the success of its flagship General Manager Laboratory (GM LAB) program, with the third cohort taking place from July 3 to 24, 2026.
Designed to enhance the competencies of aspiring and practicing General Managers in the hospitality industry, the program has continued its strong track record following its successful editions in 2024 and 2025. This year, all participants successfully completed the program without requiring any retake examinations.
A total of 11 participants, comprising Heads of Department, General Managers, and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from various hospitality companies, took part in the intensive learning program held at City of Aventus Denpasar.
“This program was specifically designed to prepare both aspiring and current General Managers through a comprehensive, practical, and industry-relevant learning approach that addresses today’s tourism challenges,” said Bagus Ngurah, Chairman of IHGMA Bali, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
The third GM LAB cohort featured nine masterclasses delivered by experienced proctors and senior hospitality professionals recognized for their leadership achievements and contributions to hospitality education.
The curriculum covered Hospitality Leadership Management, Human Capital Management, Risk and Strategic Management, Sustainable Management, Room Management, Revenue Management, Food and Beverage Management, Sales and Marketing Management, and Financial Management.
To evaluate participants’ mastery of the subjects, all attendees were required to complete a closed-book examination covering the entire curriculum. Participants were required to achieve a minimum passing score of 70 percent from a total of 180 examination questions.
“This year’s third GM LAB cohort is particularly remarkable because every participant exceeded the required passing grade,” Bagus Ngurah said.
According to him, the achievement reflects the participants’ strong commitment throughout the learning process while also demonstrating the effectiveness of the proctors in transferring their professional knowledge and industry experience.
The highest score of 88 percent was achieved by Wahyu Bayuaji, General Manager of Klapa Resort Bali. Second place went to Putu Adhiguna, CEO of ArkaCara Hospitality, who scored 84 percent, while Neva Pradnyawati, Junior Operation Manager of Morin Resort Lembongan, ranked third with a score of 82 percent.
In recognition of successfully completing the program and meeting the required competency standards, all participants will receive the professional designation Certified Hospitality Best Practice (CHBP) during the GM LAB Graduation Ceremony, which will be held as part of the International Tourism Leaders Summit (ITLS) 2026 on September 25–26, 2026, in Bali.
Made Dwijantara, Chairman of ITLS 2026, welcomed the successful completion of the program and congratulated all participants for completing the intensive learning process and meeting the graduation requirements.
“We look forward to welcoming all participants to the GM LAB Graduation Ceremony during ITLS 2026,” he said.
Dwijantara emphasized that the success of the third GM LAB cohort further reinforces IHGMA Bali’s commitment to developing competent, adaptive, and globally competitive hospitality leaders.
The 100 percent graduation rate achieved this year demonstrates the effectiveness of the program in strengthening the capabilities of hospitality professionals while supporting the development of high-quality and sustainable tourism human resources in Indonesia.
“We are confident that GM LAB will continue to serve as one of IHGMA Bali’s strategic programs in preparing the next generation of hospitality leaders who are ready to meet the evolving challenges of the tourism industry,” he concluded. [buda]