Managing a business and pursuing an education is no easy feat. However, at just 22 years old, Candramaya Pool & Resort CEO Muhamad Rangga Atmaja has proven that it is possible to do both without compromising either.

When met by the Suar.id team at a shopping center in South Jakarta on Tuesday (12/16/2025), Rangga admitted that his activities on campus did not prevent him from being fully involved in the management of Candramaya Pool & Resort.

As a seventh-semester student in the undergraduate program of the Department of International Relations at the University of Indonesia, Rangga said that running a business while attending college is a challenge in itself.

Located in Tulung, Klaten, Central Java, this inn, which was founded in 2021, brings the atmosphere of Ubud to the heart of Java. One of its highlights is the view of three mountains: Merapi, Merbabu, and Lawu.

He has been entrusted with managing the family business since the pandemic hit. At that time, there were very few tourists in Yogyakarta due to social distancing restrictions, travel bans, quarantines, and the closure of international arrivals.

Rangga used several plots of land belonging to his family in Dalangan Village, Tulung, Klaten, to build a resort similar to those found on the Island of the Gods.

"My family really loves Balinese culture, enjoys eating, and loves swimming. That's why the Candramaya concept combines all three: there is a swimming pool, a restaurant, and private villas. Coincidentally, my family owns land in Tulung, Klaten, so we built Candramaya there," Rangga began his story.

These social restrictions have caused people to become more curious about their need to travel. Therefore, as social restrictions began to ease, Rangga chose to optimize his marketing strategy through social media.

"We really utilized social media after social restrictions were imposed. The timing was right. People who were bored after being isolated at home were looking for vacation spots that were close by and where they could take their families, and it ended up booming. Our seven promotional videos at that time were viewed up to 5 million times," he said.

Learning by doing

Rangga recounted that his life at that time, as both a CEO and a student, required him to divide his attention between Jakarta and Klaten.

Striving to be fully involved in Candramaya's strategic development, intensive Zoom teleconference meetings are held two to three times a month, while on-site visits and evaluations are conducted every three months.

Beyond that, all operational activities have been delegated to the manager in charge.

Rangga's limited knowledge at the time did not discourage him. He simply relied on his experience in managing Candramaya. From the interior design concept of the villa, guest services, to operational procedures that were reviewed every two months, he did it all by learning by doing.

"Incidentally, several owners of large villas and resorts from Magelang and Yogyakarta have stayed at Candramaya. From them, I gained insights into the world of hospitality . Their feedback and criticism were valuable lessons, especially regarding staff hospitality," said Rangga.

Important guests often stay at Candramaya, ranging from Klaten Regent Hamenang Wajar Ismoyo, Member of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives Muhammad Hatta, prominent entrepreneur and motivational speaker Tung Desem Waringin, CEO of Lurik Prasojo Maharani Setyawan, to Vice President of New Ventures at Pertamina Hulu Energi Bintoro Wibowo.

"The SOPs that we always adhere to, guest service, food taste, and marketing strategies on social media are what, thank God, have made Candramaya go beyond to this day," he said.

Not only does he control things remotely and create strategies, but every time he visits, Rangga has a unique habit of staying at the employee dormitory and holding bonding sessions that are open to all employees. According to him, this method is effective for building closeness with employees, as well as listening to and addressing their complaints.

"I never miss the bonding event every time I come home. I realize that I am far away from them, so when I come home, I always want to bond with all the employees. The heavy burden is not in routine technical matters, but in paying attention to employees as a big family," added Rangga.

No weekends

As an active student, Rangga's main priority remains his education.

"There are always sacrifices. Sometimes I miss classes because I have to go to Candramaya. One thing is certain: every year on Candramaya's anniversary, no matter how important an event in Jakarta is, I always make sure to attend," he said.

The effort to divide his time in a disciplined manner did not always present Rangga with a dilemma, such as when there was a problem that required him to go to Klaten, while there were exams or presentations that could not be missed at the university. A scale of priorities was created to divide his time so that nothing was left behind.

"If there is an exam and urgent matters in Klaten, I will still prioritize the exam. But as soon as the exam is over, I will immediately book a plane ticket. God forbid if the urgent matters come first, then I will be forced to take a make-up exam," said Rangga.

His extremely busy schedule meant that Rangga used every spare moment for productive activities, including sports such as golf, tennis, swimming, running, or horse riding.

Often, golf and tennis provide opportunities to meet business partners and build networks with entrepreneurs, especially in the hospitality industry. Swimming and running are activities enjoyed with family and close friends.

"I never have weekends for sports. If I have free time, I go right away. Sometimes Monday nights, Wednesday nights, or Tuesday mornings when I don't have classes. Basically, I go right away, because weekends are often taken up with business matters," he said.

Looking ahead, Rangga has prepared various plans for Candramaya to execute, ranging from a new villa to a mini zoo. In addition to continuing to innovate and strengthen his social media marketing strategy, Rangga also does not forget to maintain relationships with loyal customers, including a number of CEOs and top officials who are regular visitors.

"Building close relationships with loyal customers means we often get referrals. A few weeks after they stay with us, their relatives or friends come. Of course, we pay close attention to their feedback, because if they are not impressed even once, they will not come back," he explained.

As a player in the hospitality industry, Rangga believes that the momentum of the first quarter of 2026, with its various long weekends, needs to be maximized, especially with the improving economy and recovering purchasing power of the people. According to Rangga, the recent increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Candramaya is a sign that government support for promotion is still very much needed.

"We hope to become one of the leading accommodations in the Borobudur and Yogyakarta destination package, as we are still within the radius and reach, and we have successfully built a reputation among tourists, not only domestic but also international," he said.

When we asked him who his role model was in navigating the hospitality business , Rangga replied spontaneously, "One day, I want to be like Plataran CEO Yozua Makes."