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New Artotel Group Flagship Store on Agoda spotlights Indonesia's homegrown, culture-forward hotels, as hoteliers cater to meet the evolving needs of travelers
SINGAPORE, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda is expanding its Flagship Store initiative with the launch of Artotel Group's first branded flagship store. This dedicated digital storefront enhances brand visibility and global marketing opportunities for Artotel Group, the leading Indonesian hospitality company, while providing travelers easy discovery to over 100 properties across Indonesia.
The Artotel Group Flagship Store serves as a single, curated hub that makes it easier for travelers to discover Artotel Group's Indonesia-rooted portfolio and culture-forward stays. Agoda's Flagship Store offering supports leading hotel groups to promote their brands and engage customers through customized visuals, exclusive promotions, and tailored marketing support.
"This partnership is about more than just visibility; it's about a shared philosophy of localization," said Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President, Supply, Agoda. "Artotel Group provides a unique Indonesian experience through art and lifestyle. By launching their first branded flagship store on Agoda, we are combining Artotel Group's local expertise with our global reach and data insights. Our goal is to help Artotel Group customize for the 'Asian traveler' by tailoring engagement—from payment preferences to regional marketing—ensuring their art-inspired hospitality resonates with every guest, whether they are from Surabaya or Sydney."
This strategic move comes as Asia hits its stride as the fastest-growing engine of global travel, according to Mabrian, with Indonesia emerging as a leading destination for both domestic and international travelers. According to Agoda's 2026 Travel Outlook Report, the top international visitors for Indonesia include Malaysia, Singapore and Australia whilst 57% of Indonesians are planning to explore more locally this year.
"As more travelers come from nearby markets, meeting diverse expectations becomes a differentiator," said Erastus Radjimin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Artotel Group. "Thanks to Agoda, we are making it easier for travelers worldwide to discover Artotel Group and experience Indonesia through our art, culinary, and lifestyle-led hotels."
As hotels compete for travelers across diverse source markets, localization is becoming an increasingly important levers across marketing and outreach, booking and payments, and on-property experiences. Designed with these priorities in mind, the Artotel Group Flagship Store on Agoda helps travelers to discover the properties, strengthen Artotel Group's presence across markets and enable more effective merchandizing throughout the customer journey.
Agoda search data shows that travelers are looking beyond the primary hotspots. The top searched destinations in Indonesia include Bali, Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Malang and Surabaya. Puncak (156%), Yogyakarta (117%) and Semarang (110%) saw the fastest growth in year-on-year searches, highlighting opportunities for hotel brands in secondary destinations as well. With properties across a majority of these locations and a strong presence in Jakarta, Artotel Group is positioned to meet travelers where demand is expanding.
Through this partnership, Artotel Group will leverage Agoda's reach, guest insights, and promotional programs to accelerate its strategies and capture demand across domestic and regional markets.
Travelers can visit the Artotel Group Flagship Store on Agoda at www.agoda.com/flagship_artotel.
-ENDS-
New Artotel Group Flagship Store on Agoda spotlights Indonesia's homegrown, culture-forward hotels, as hoteliers cater to meet the evolving needs of travelers
SINGAPORE, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda is expanding its Flagship Store initiative with the launch of Artotel Group's first branded flagship store. This dedicated digital storefront enhances brand visibility and global marketing opportunities for Artotel Group, the leading Indonesian hospitality company, while providing travelers easy discovery to over 100 properties across Indonesia.
The Artotel Group Flagship Store serves as a single, curated hub that makes it easier for travelers to discover Artotel Group's Indonesia-rooted portfolio and culture-forward stays. Agoda's Flagship Store offering supports leading hotel groups to promote their brands and engage customers through customized visuals, exclusive promotions, and tailored marketing support.
"This partnership is about more than just visibility; it's about a shared philosophy of localization," said Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President, Supply, Agoda. "Artotel Group provides a unique Indonesian experience through art and lifestyle. By launching their first branded flagship store on Agoda, we are combining Artotel Group's local expertise with our global reach and data insights. Our goal is to help Artotel Group customize for the 'Asian traveler' by tailoring engagement—from payment preferences to regional marketing—ensuring their art-inspired hospitality resonates with every guest, whether they are from Surabaya or Sydney."
This strategic move comes as Asia hits its stride as the fastest-growing engine of global travel, according to Mabrian, with Indonesia emerging as a leading destination for both domestic and international travelers. According to Agoda's 2026 Travel Outlook Report, the top international visitors for Indonesia include Malaysia, Singapore and Australia whilst 57% of Indonesians are planning to explore more locally this year.
"As more travelers come from nearby markets, meeting diverse expectations becomes a differentiator," said Erastus Radjimin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Artotel Group. "Thanks to Agoda, we are making it easier for travelers worldwide to discover Artotel Group and experience Indonesia through our art, culinary, and lifestyle-led hotels."
As hotels compete for travelers across diverse source markets, localization is becoming an increasingly important levers across marketing and outreach, booking and payments, and on-property experiences. Designed with these priorities in mind, the Artotel Group Flagship Store on Agoda helps travelers to discover the properties, strengthen Artotel Group's presence across markets and enable more effective merchandizing throughout the customer journey.
Agoda search data shows that travelers are looking beyond the primary hotspots. The top searched destinations in Indonesia include Bali, Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Malang and Surabaya. Puncak (156%), Yogyakarta (117%) and Semarang (110%) saw the fastest growth in year-on-year searches, highlighting opportunities for hotel brands in secondary destinations as well. With properties across a majority of these locations and a strong presence in Jakarta, Artotel Group is positioned to meet travelers where demand is expanding.
Through this partnership, Artotel Group will leverage Agoda's reach, guest insights, and promotional programs to accelerate its strategies and capture demand across domestic and regional markets.
Travelers can visit the Artotel Group Flagship Store on Agoda at www.agoda.com/flagship_artotel.
-ENDS-
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Agoda and Artotel Group Launch Dedicated Flagship Store to Capitalize on Intra-Asia Travel Momentum
Agoda and Artotel Group Launch Dedicated Flagship Store to Capitalize on Intra-Asia Travel Momentum
SaaS, gaming, and online education are expected to grow at annual rates of up to 30% in emerging markets such as Nigeria, Brazil, Costa Rica, and the Philippines, EBANX finds
CURITIBA, Brazil, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital services are emerging as one of the most resilient sources of growth as elevated uncertainty reshapes global trade. While AI-driven innovation is accelerating adoption in verticals such as Software as a Service (SaaS), shifting trade patterns are opening new pathways for expansion—particularly across South-South corridors, according to an analysis of United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) data and Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence (PCMI) forecasts made by EBANX, a global technology company specializing in payment services for e-commerce across emerging markets like Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Data from the UN body shows that service exports are projected to have grown 9% in 2025, well above the global expansion estimate of 2.6%, and now account for 27% of global trade. Digitally deliverable services represent 56% of these exports, and growth in developing economies is outpacing that of developed ones—8.4% vs. 6.7% on average between 2015 and 2024.
Rising access to digital tools is also increasing economic activity and, in turn, demand for digital services. In the U.S., for example, 44% of new businesses that accept cards as a payment method were online-only in 2024—an increase of 20 percentage points since 2019—according to the Mastercard Economics Institute.
According to Sean Yu, VP of Commercial, APAC at EBANX, Latin America has become a priority region for Asian merchants as they look for growth beyond uncertain developed markets. "We've talked to some of our top merchants, and they mentioned that LatAm will be a major focus for them in 2026," Yu said.
Even as regional GDP is expected to grow around 2% in 2026, EBANX analysis indicates that digital commerce in Latin America is poised to expand 12% versus 2025 levels.
Alyson Grosshandler, Director of Country Growth, Northern Latin America at EBANX, notes that mobile usage in the region is among the highest in the world, helping explain the rapid expansion of SaaS and gaming in these markets. "As AI adoption accelerates and technology advances, these companies are at the forefront, providing relevant global services and solutions," Grosshandler said.
In Brazil, SaaS is expected to expand at a 17% annual rate from 2024 to 2028, according to PCMI. Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic are projected at 18% annual growth, while Mexico and Chile are expected to reach 11% and 12%, respectively.
"Latin America's digital economy is being built on an innovative payment infrastructure, where rising mobile access and financial inclusion are converging. With deep local expertise, we see how this integrated ecosystem is enabling digital services to scale faster and reach consumers who were previously excluded from the formal economy," adds Juliana Etcheverry, Director of Country Growth, Southern Latin America at EBANX.
A similar pattern is emerging in Sub-Saharan Africa, observes Wiza Jalakasi, Director of Africa Market Development at EBANX. "Even amid global volatility, we continue to see steady growth in locally driven digital consumption across the region—particularly for everyday digital services rather than discretionary luxury spending."
In Nigeria, gaming is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 30% through 2028, based on PCMI data sourced by EBANX. Online education and SaaS are also expected to grow at 25% and 15%, respectively.
South-South trade and growing competition
As global tensions intensify, companies are searching for new growth opportunities—strengthening South-South ties and opening pathways for new partnerships, UNCTAD notes.
Jalakasi adds that this shift is accelerating digital trade between Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. "For Sub-Saharan African markets, this means less reliance on traditional U.S. and EU-centric trade corridors, increased relevance of regional and emerging-market platforms, and greater demand for localized payment acceptance and settlement," Jalakasi said.
This consolidation of new trade corridors comes as South and East Asia are projected to show resilience, supported by disinflation, monetary easing, and fiscal expansion, according to UNCTAD. The region is projected to grow above 4% this year, while the global economy is expected to slow to 2.6%.
In the Philippines, SaaS is projected to grow at a 19% compound annual rate through 2028, while online education is expected to expand at 17%, according to PCMI. In India, these figures are projected at 23% and 14%, respectively.
A new world for SaaS
While emerging markets have not traditionally been a top priority for many SaaS companies, that is changing—driven not only by economic uncertainty, but also by intensifying competition in developed markets, particularly for AI-related services, Yu added. "We're seeing more of these companies diversify revenue across Latin America."
As digital services expand across emerging markets, growth increasingly depends on executing local-market fundamentals—particularly in payments. Acceptance rates, preferred payment methods, currency and settlement needs, and fraud and risk dynamics vary significantly by country. "For global SaaS, gaming, and online education companies, the ability to localize how customers pay—and how revenue is collected and settled—has become a core lever for conversion and sustainable expansion," said Yu.
ABOUT EBANX
EBANX is the leading payments platform connecting global businesses to the world's fastest-growing digital markets. Founded in 2012 in Brazil, EBANX was built with a mission to expand access to international digital commerce. Leveraging proprietary technology, deep market expertise, and robust infrastructure, EBANX enables global companies to offer hundreds of local payment methods across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. More than just payments, EBANX drives growth, enhances sales, and delivers seamless purchase experiences for businesses and end-users alike.
For further information, please visit:
Website: https://www.ebanx.com/en/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebanx
Media Contact:
Shan Huang
shan.huang@ahgstrategies.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Digital services power cross-border trade as companies pivot beyond traditional corridors
