Accor sees hotel, apartment demand surging<\/p>\n
By Sylvia Gratia M. Nirang<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): French-based international hotel chain Accor
\nAsia Pacific expects the demand for hotel and serviced apartment
\naccommodation in Indonesia to pick up again next year, after a
\nsevere setback in the last two years.<\/p>\n
General Manager of Accor's newly-opened Mercure Puri Imperium
\napartment hotel Francois Dupuis said signs of economic recovery
\nin a number of business sectors would certainly have a positive
\nimpact on the hotel and apartment industry.<\/p>\n
But Dupuis believed that the demand for apartments would be
\nhigher than that of hotels because expatriates, in addition to a
\n\"particular\" group of tourists, now preferred to stay in
\napartments.<\/p>\n
\"With the improving economy, multinational companies will
\nexpand their operations here. A lot of expatriate employees and
\nlocal executives are seeking residences not far from their
\noffices, where they can enjoy a convenient lifestyle,\" he told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"Staying in an apartment hotel with two or three bedrooms will
\nbe more economical for international tourist who bring their
\nfamilies here rather than booking two or three rooms in a hotel,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
An escalating crime rate in Jakarta has also created an
\nopportunity for apartment business, since people look for a safe
\nand secure place to live.<\/p>\n
\"People are seeking a place which can guarantee the security
\nof their families and their belongings. Living in an apartment,
\nwhich offers 24-hour security, is more secure than living in a
\nhouse,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Last month, Accor opened a new serviced apartment hotel in
\nJakarta, its 27th property in Indonesia, to tap into the growing
\ndemand of serviced apartment.<\/p>\n
Mercure Puri Imperium, the new serviced apartment hotel,
\noffers apartments complete with full four-star hotel services and
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
The hotel is located in the city's premier business district
\nof Kuningan, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
It currently operates 69 furnished two- and three-bedroom
\napartments complete with fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms in
\nits 32-story Tower 2.<\/p>\n
Dupuis said that 90 percent of the 69 apartments had been
\nrented, most of them by expatriate families.<\/p>\n
\"It is really a good start because we can get a 90 percent
\noccupancy rate during our first month in operation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the hotel would operate 96 apartments by March
\nor April next year.<\/p>\n
Tower 1, also with 32 floors, will be finished by the middle
\nor the end of next year. There will be a total of 180 apartments
\nin the two towers.<\/p>\n
Facilities include a health club, a free-form landscaped
\nswimming pool, recreational and sport facilities, including
\ntennis courts, fitness center, sauna, Jacuzzi and spa, children
\nplayground and car parking. Unlike other serviced apartments,
\nMercure offers four-star hotel facilities, including breakfast
\nand housekeeping.<\/p>\n
Dupuis said that after completion of the second tower, the
\nhotel would offer not only two- and three-bedroom apartments, but
\nalso suites and a penthouse.<\/p>\n
\"We target an at least 60 percent occupancy rate in the
\nbeginning of next year,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to the hotel chain's Product and Marketing Services
\nManager for Indonesia and Malaysia Fabrice Burtin, Accor is
\naggressively seeking opportunities to expand its operations in
\nIndonesia at a time when many other tourist ventures are wilting
\nin the heat of the economic meltdown and simmering political
\ntension.<\/p>\n
\"We are confident that tourist destinations and business areas
\nwill see increases in international visitors as the country's
\neconomy and political condition continues to stabilize,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that Accor planned to manage more properties in
\nIndonesia next year.<\/p>\n
\"We are glad that we could operate this new hotel on schedule.
\nIt has proven that we are confident in the country's potential
\nand continue our expansion here while everybody are still
\nsleeping,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that the hotel is Accor's 12th hotel in Jakarta and
\nits fifth apartment hotel in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Accor, partly owned by Paris-based hotel management giant
\nAccor SA, is currently the leading international hotel chain in
\nIndonesia, running 30 hotels and apartments, with more than 4,600
\nrooms, under several names, including Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure
\nand Ibis.<\/p>",
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