Bali’s tourism industry has lost another pioneering leader with the death of Ida Bagus Sura Kusuma, more popularly known as Ida Bagus Lolec.
Lolec died on Saturday, 01 July 2023, at 3:03 pm at the Surya Husadha Hospital, where he had been hospitalized for two weeks.
I.B. Lolec was born on 28 October 1949 at Geriya Telabah on Jalan Thamrin in Denpasar.
A talented man of many parts, Lolec worked as a young man in Australia before returning to Bali, where he worked in the hotel industry and as a journalist. He also worked as a guide before joining leading local travel companies, rising quickly to occupy top management positions.
A respected leader in the travel industry, in the recent past, he was a senior director of Pacific World Travel – a leading player in the meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition (MICE) sector and cruise ship shore facilitation across Indonesia.
He also served as the Honorary Consul for Poland in Bali before advancing the date of his diplomatic retirement in 2020 for health reasons.
In March 2020, Lolec retired from Pacific World Travel.
In the past, Lolec also served as the chairman of The Indonesia Congress and Convention Association (INCCA).
Bob Guy, Lolec’s associate from his time at Pacific World, recalled his friend and colleague with the following: “He was distinguished by representing his beloved Bali and Indonesia at countless trade events in London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Chicago, Las Vegas, Chicago Miami and more. He would attend in traditional Balinese dress and would often sketch a drawing of those he met. These drawings adorn the offices of industry leaders and practitioners all over the world.”
Much loved and respected, Lolec was a gregarious, charismatic person who drew large crowds at international travel events where he would mesmerize people by rendering outstanding caricature portraits of travel industry colleagues executed at lightning speed. Lolec’s son., Ida Bagus Indra, has become a well-known professional artist who has displayed and sold his paintings worldwide.
In 2006, Lolec acquired the Hotel Hadi Poetra in Kuta. He also owned a tourism transport company Lestari Budaya Bali.
Lolec is survived by his wife, Ida Ayu Wiratini Utari, three children, and thirteen grandchildren.
Lolec’s body lay in state at the family home on Jalan Thamrin Gg 1/No. 10A until his cremation on Monday, 10 July 2023.
Ida Bagus Lolec Surakusuma (IB Lolec)
1949 – 2023
RIP – Amor ring Acintya
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