~For Focus Issue -- Hotel --- Sunday --
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;JP
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\nHotel-business-Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta hotels offer more incentives to lure guests<\/p>\n
T. Sima Gunawan
\nContributor
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Some have desk jobs, but for others work entails travel --
\nboth domestic and international.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the optimum standards of service offered at many of
\nthe world's hotels, business travel can be a pleasurable
\nexperience.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, business travelers are the main targets of
\nhoteliers. Comfortable rooms, delicious food, good service and
\npremium facilities make it easier for businesspeople to keep up
\nwith their busy lifestyles.<\/p>\n
This is evident in the fact that many businesspeople, who
\nreside in the capital, book hotel suites for the weekend for no
\nother reason other than that the environment is conducive to
\nrecovery from the week's heavy workload.<\/p>\n
The hotel industry is doing well this year, even better than
\nlast year, as stated by a number of star-rated hotels contacted
\nby The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Many remember the dark years following the economic crisis
\nthat hit the country in 1997, changing the luck of so many
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Then, in 2002, tragedy hit the country with the Bali bombings,
\nin which 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, were killed.
\nHoteliers had to make every effort to survive.<\/p>\n
Slowly but surely, came the fruits of their hard work. An
\nimproved security situation and conducive political climate meant
\nthat tourists began to return last year. Compared to the time
\nbefore the crisis, business is still a bit slow, but there is
\nhope for a better future.<\/p>\n
Five-star hotels in Jakarta enjoyed a relatively high
\noccupancy rate this year. JW Marriot for, instance, has had an
\noccupancy rate of above 60 percent since a year ago, while Hotel
\nBorobudur and Hotel Nikko enjoyed a high occupancy rate of 70
\npercent and 80 percent, respectively.<\/p>\n
Four-star hotels like Ciputra, Santika and Salak, which is
\nlocated in Bogor, about an hour's drive from the city, have also
\nenjoyed robust business. Hotel Ciputra, Santika Group and Hotel
\nSalak in Bogor, whose main targets are local businesspeople, have
\noccupancy rates of 88 percent, 66 percent and 60 percent,
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
What is the secret of their success?<\/p>\n
\"We are committed to taking every opportunity to earn our
\nguests's loyalty by anticipating, understanding and serving their
\ntravel needs,\" said Mellani from JW Marriot.<\/p>\n
\"We continue to review our services and spend a lot of time
\nthinking about what guests will demand next. It's important to
\nkeep up with lifestyle trends,\" she added.<\/p>\n
The Santika Group, or Hotel Santika Indonesia, which has 12
\nhotels throughout the country, has a special sales promotion
\nprogram for corporate clients, a customer-loyalty reward program
\nand incentives for regular guests.<\/p>\n
\"For 10 check-ins or 30 room nights, the guest is entitled to
\na complimentary night in any of our hotels,\" said Vivi
\nHerlambang, promotion manager of the Santika Group.<\/p>\n
Gran Melia, which cooperates with travel agents and embassies
\nto reach out to its potential guests, offers competitive prices
\nand additional services through an upselling program.<\/p>\n
\"We are very aggressive in our marketing strategy. We offer
\nmore facilities -- but are still able to maintain our rates --
\nsuch as free pressing for laundry,\" said Hana Hoed, the PR
\nmanager of the hotel.<\/p>\n
\"Like Santika Group, Hotel Nikko also has a special promotion
\nprogram as well as cooperating with travel agencies and embassies
\nand offering various packages with special prices and benefits,
\naccording to Sugeng Purnomo, assistant public relations manager
\nof Hotel Nikko Jakarta<\/p>\n
Special packages with special prices and facilities are in
\nfact on offer at all hotels. Hotel Borobudur, for instance, has
\nthe so-termed Hot Summer Package, Premium Break Experience,
\nRamadhan package and Business package.<\/p>\n
Gran Melia has the Weekend Package, Rupiah Package, Royal
\nService Package and Meeting Package. The weekday rupiah package
\nis Rp 820,000 per night\/room, while the weekend package is Rp
\n720,000 per night\/room, including breakfast at Cafe Gran Via for
\ntwo persons. The packages are available for Indonesian citizens
\nand KIM\/KITAS (stay permit\/temporary stay permit) holders only.<\/p>\n
The Royal Service package is for the hotel's Executive Club
\nrooms, which have their own lounge and other extra facilities,
\nfor US$125 per night\/room. As for the meeting package, prices
\nvary according to the number of participants and how many days
\nthey stay.<\/p>\n
JW Marriot offers a Business Package at the rate of US$143 per
\nnight in the Deluxe Room, applicable during weekdays and for
\nsingle occupancy. Guests are entitled to breakfast, 20 percent
\ndiscount at the Business Center, free usage of the Alameda Spa &
\nHealth Club and a daily newspaper.<\/p>\n
A Cyber Package is available at Hotel Ciputra, where the rooms
\nare provided with broad brand and direct access to the Internet.<\/p>\n
In spite of these great offers, hoteliers must continue to
\nlift their standards in the face of new challenges.<\/p>\n
Negative travel advisories and the increasing number of hotel
\nrooms in Jakarta have become the biggest challenges for Hotel
\nBorobudur, said Francisca Kansil, the hotel public relations
\nmanager.<\/p>\n
\"There will always be competition -- wherever you are -- our
\nnumber one concern is to focus on our goals. But we are committed
\nto providing excellent service so that guests will return to our
\nhotel,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"Hotel Borobudur, with plans underway to renovate the rooms,
\nexpects to see more guests once the economy stabilizes.<\/p>\n
\"It's hard to predict the direction in which the hospitality
\nindustry is heading at the moment, but we have a positive outlook
\nfor the rest of this year,\" Francisca said.<\/p>\n
Hana of Gran Melia said she was quite optimistic this year,
\ndespite the economic and political difficulties experienced by
\nthe country. \"The market is there. What we need is just to work
\n'smarter' to ensure that more corporate clients will use our
\nfacilities and services.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/for-focus-issue-hotel-sunday-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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