Plaza Premium Group (PPG) operates pay-per-entry airport lounges in Southeast Asia (SEA).
In Singapore, PPG operates a lounge in Terminal 1 where travellers pay $117 for five hours, inclusive of a 30-minute shower.
Since opening its first lounge in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in 1998, the group has been at the forefront of airport hospitality.
As SEA continues to grow as a travel hub, PPG is leveraging its expertise and innovative approach to expand its services, cater- ing to the region’s growing demand for premium airport experiences.
In SEA, PPG operates 30 outlets, in Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, The Philippines and Thailand.
Plans for the future
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PPG has ambitious plans to double those 30 lounges to 60 in the next three years.
Steven Lim, regional general manager for SEA, says: “We plan to add another 30 lounges to our portfolio in the region, focusing on markets like Indonesia, while exploring new opportunities in Brunei.”
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The group’s recent collaborations illustrate this commitment to growth.
For example, PPG entered a strategic partnership with InJourney Aviation Services in Indonesia, targeting airports in key cities like Jakarta, Bali, Medan, and Makassar.
This partnership will enable PPG to manage lounges across 30 airports, positioning the company for rapid expansion in one of SEA’s most populous nations.
“We are focusing on Indonesia and covering different provinces.
Indonesia offers vast potential for growth, and through our collaboration with InJourney Aviation, we can introduce our premium services to millions of travellers,” says Lim.
The group’s expansion strategy is a careful one, with various factors influencing the selection of new markets.
The general manager notes that airport traffic and passenger volumes play a critical role in identifying potential locations.
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He adds: “High-traffic airports with significant international and domestic passenger flow offer greater potential for lounge and service utilisation.”
Major SEA airports, such as Singapore’s Changi Airport and Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, are key transit hubs that align perfectly with PPG’s growth objectives.
Another key consideration is the region’s rapid economic growth, which fuels demand for premium services.
“The rising middle class and growing tourism sector create immense opportunities for PPG.
Southeast Asia’s economic momentum, with countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines showing robust growth, is driving travel and creating demand for premium airport services,” says Lim.
Adapting to local markets with huge potential
SEA is a vital transit hub, connecting Asia with Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world.
Major airports such as Changi, Suvarnabhumi, and KLIA are among the busiest globally, providing PPG with a robust flow of human traffic in the form of millions of international travellers.
Lim adds that the region’s booming travel and tourism sector is expected to grow significantly, with a projected market volume of US$39.97 billion ($52.1 billion) by 2029.
“SEA is not only geographically important but also offers tremendous potential for growth due to its rising middle class and growing demand for premium services,” says Lim.
To succeed in new markets, PPG tailors its services to meet the specific needs and preferences of local travellers.
In Malaysia, for instance, the group has expanded its offerings beyond lounges to include airport dining, with several new restaurant concepts launched at KLIA Terminal 1.
Lim explains: “We have opened four airport dining restaurants in Malaysia, catering to a range of tastes and preferences. This diversification aligns with our goal of offering comprehensive airport services.”
In Indonesia, PPG is focusing on elevating lounge experiences by incorporating global standards and technological innovations into its services, such as through its partnership with InJourney.
Among its most ambitious projects is the mega lounge at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Spanning over 3,000 sqm, it is the largest lounge in PPG’s portfolio, housing both Plaza Premium Lounge and Plaza Premium First under one roof.
“This project reflects our commitment to delivering world-class experiences for travellers. The size and scale of the lounge allow us to offer a wide range of amenities and services, catering to both business and leisure travellers,” says Lim.
He adds that operating the largest lounge in its portfolio will position PPG as a leader in premium airport services, helping to attract and retain high-value travellers and strengthen its market position.
Service excellence
PPG’s success also stems from its focus on maintaining high standards of service.
The group has consistently won Skytrax awards for the Best Independent Airport Lounge Operator for eight consecutive years.
“We are proud of the recognition we’ve received, and we continually refine our services based on cus- tomer feedback and industry trends,” says Lim.
PPG has introduced a travel experience ecosystem, oneTECO, that integrates all PPG services into a single platform, streamlining the booking process and enhancing the cus- tomer experience.
This includes an omnichannel booking engine that enables worldwide sales and distribution, a customer engagement centre with customer profiling and personalisation capabilities, as well as a service delivery platform for dispatch and real-time incident management.
As PPG expands, its focus remains on delivering premium services that meet the evolving needs of modern travellers.
With plans to double its presence in the region over the next three years, the group seems well-positioned to capitalise on the opportunities presented by SEA’s growing travel industry.
Lim concludes: “Our commitment to making travel better drives everything we do. We are excited about the future and look forward to continuing to innovate and expand our services in this dynamic region.”
