The Answers With… Melanie Gibbs, the woman behind SHOWME Group, a Bali-based luxury experiences and concierge company redefining how to experience the island’s grandeur
When many people think of the perfect relaxing getaway, countless destinations come to mind—but best believe, Bali sits right at the top of the list. As a traveller with a preference for big cities (and shopping), I’m probably in the minority. I never quite understood the appeal. Having travelled to Bali a handful of times—including a couple of weeks ago for a bachelorette party—I’ve always returned feeling… meh. Speaking with Melanie Gibbs, founder of SHOWME Group, a luxury concierge company, I’ve sort of figured out why: I’ve been viewing Bali through the same one-dimensional lens.
Sitting between Java to the west and Lombok to the east, Bali is more than just a beach destination. “People often think that there is only one Bali, or that an online image tells the whole story,” Melanie notes. “Bali is constantly evolving, and every region—and each nearby island—has its own rhythm and character. What photographs beautifully may feel very different in person, so where you stay, when you go and whose local knowledge you trust can completely transform your experience.”
This is where her team steps in. Launched almost a year ago, SHOWME Group designs highly personalised experiences throughout Bali and its surrounding islands, spanning luxury accommodation, dining, wellness, culture, adventure, and entertainment. You can trust that your itinerary will include more than just the usual beach clubs and wellness experiences… unless that’s what you want, in which case, SHOWME is more than happy to recommend the right one. Think everything from helicopter tours to direct access to some of the most exclusive restaurants and clubs.
From the moment you land at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport until the day of departure, the team ensures you can be completely hands-free while enjoying a thoroughly considered, effortless experience. I’m talking airport pick-ups in a limousine and 24/7 service—you’re always just a text away from getting what you want. Through trusted local relationships and attentive behind-the-scenes service, the team provides each client with one point of contact for a seamless journey shaped entirely around them.
In this feature, Gibbs dives a little deeper into SHOWME Group’s offerings and the magic of Bali (that I’d somehow failed to see), as well as her own experiences as a traveller, this time from the other side.
What was the first moment in Bali that made you think, “I need to share this place with other people?”
When I returned to Bali in 2011, a friend who lived here told me that while the island had changed, it was still just as beautiful—you simply needed to know where to go and when. Through her local knowledge, and her understanding of what I was looking for, I experienced the Bali I had always hoped to find. That stayed with me and ultimately became the idea behind SHOWME.
Everyone knows the postcard version of Bali. What’s the side of the island that never fails to surprise you?
Its contrasts. Bali can be deeply spiritual and wonderfully indulgent, peaceful and exhilarating, ancient and contemporary—sometimes all in the same day. Beneath the postcard is a living, evolving culture, and that depth continues to surprise me.
Luxury means different things to different people. What does it mean to you?
Luxury is having an experience that feels entirely your own. It’s privacy, flexibility, and personalisation—with every detail quietly anticipated, so you can be fully present rather than worrying about what comes next.
What’s one travel experience that completely changed the way you see the world?
My first solo overseas trip to Singapore was a defining moment. I still remember the excitement of being somewhere so different and realising just how much of the world was out there—extraordinary places, people, and cultures waiting to be discovered. It sparked a curiosity about the world that has stayed with me ever since.
If you could bottle the feeling you want every SHOWME client to leave with, what would it be?
The feeling that their time in Bali could not have belonged to anyone else—that they felt surprised, deeply cared for, and already imagining their return.
If someone only had 24 hours on the island, how would you plan their itinerary?
I would create a day of contrasts: begin with an authentic Balinese cultural experience, then take a helicopter flight along the coast to Uluwatu for an afternoon by the ocean, followed by sunset drinks. After an exceptional dinner, I’d end the night dancing with friends in the VIP area of one of Bali’s most vibrant nightclubs, champagne in hand. To me, that captures Bali at its best—spiritual, spectacular, and wonderfully alive.
Running a concierge business means solving problems most people never see. What’s the most rewarding challenge you’ve overcome?
Honestly, there have been so many. The most rewarding challenges are often the ones the client never realises happened. Plans change, weather intervenes, and unexpected situations arise; our role is to respond calmly, reshape the experience, and preserve that sense of ease. Turning a potential disappointment into a memorable moment is incredibly satisfying.
How do you know when an experience feels truly special rather than simply expensive?
When it creates an emotional response. A special experience feels personal, effortless, and connected to its setting. Price may provide access, but thoughtfulness, timing, and human connection are what make something unforgettable.
Outside of work, what helps you slow down and reconnect with yourself?
I need variety: nature, wellness, time with family and friends, fine dining, and occasionally a great night out. But there is something about stopping to watch a Bali sunset that immediately brings me back to the present.
What’s one small luxury you think everyone deserves, whether they’re travelling or at home?
Unhurried time—whether it is watching a sunset, sharing a beautiful meal, or simply being somewhere without needing to think about what comes next.
If you could invite three people—living or not—to spend a weekend exploring Bali with you, who would they be?
Barack Obama, Vincent van Gogh and Richard Branson—because no great weekend should be without intelligent conversation, a little creative madness, and someone willing to turn an adventure into a business idea. I’d love to see Bali through van Gogh’s eyes, debate the world with Obama, and then see what unexpected adventure Branson talks us all into by sunset.
