Hotels gear up for year-end festivities<\/p>\n
T.Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Idul Fitri festivities are now over and people are already
\nback to their usual routine. Life in the city is back to normal,
\nas some two million residents who celebrated the holiday in their
\nhometowns have returned.<\/p>\n
Many hotels in the city enjoyed good business during the
\nholiday, with an increase in their occupancy rates. Special
\nprices were offered for guests who came from various parts of the
\nworld, not to mention Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Even though the Idul Fitri or Lebaran holiday is now over,
\npeople can still enjoy special rates, as the hotels are gearing
\nup for year-end festivities.<\/p>\n
The rates in most hotels, however, are subject to a 21 percent
\ntax and service charge.<\/p>\n
The hotels are targeting both Indonesians and foreigners.
\nLocals expected to spend time at the hotel are not only those
\nfrom out of town but also Jakarta residents, who prefer to spend
\nthe holiday with their family in the city.<\/p>\n
From Dec. 1 through Dec. 30, Hotel Borobudur is offering a
\nChristmas Executive Treat package at a price that starts from Rp
\n550,000 (US$65), or Rp 100,000 less than the normal price.<\/p>\n
Breakfast, of course, is included. Children under four years
\nold will get a complimentary breakfast; if the children are
\nbetween four and 12 years old, the hotel will charge them half
\nprice. Other offers include a 25 percent discount on Reflexology
\nat the Klub & Spa Borobudur. The package is valid for all guests
\n-- both Indonesians and overseas citizens.<\/p>\n
\"We have a full lineup of children's activities, both for
\nChristmas and New Year's Eve, which has always been an attraction
\nfor mums and dads. We also have professional childminders on
\nhand,\" said hotel director of communications Grace Alvier<\/p>\n
\"During Lebaran we did very well. We have positive
\nexpectations for this holiday season,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Between 60 percent and 70 percent of our guests during the
\nIdul Fitri holiday were Indonesians from Jakarta, Bandung,
\nSurabaya and Medan. The rest were foreigners, mostly Singaporeans
\nand Australians.<\/p>\n
The hotel's average occupancy rate this year has been about 40
\npercent, but during the Idul Fitri holiday it increased to 50
\npercent to 60 percent. Asked about her expectations for the
\nholiday season, Grace said: \"We are definitely expecting a 100
\npercent occupancy rate.\" All rooms are expected to be fully
\nbooked on New Year's Eve, even though rates will start at Rp
\n1,500,000.<\/p>\n
A festive season package at Jakarta Hilton International is on
\noffer from Dec. 8 through Dec. 29 and from Jan. 5 through Jan.
\n10, at prices ranging from Rp 510,000 to Rp 810,000.<\/p>\n
The offer is valid only for Indonesian citizens and foreigners
\nwho hold temporary stay permits (KIMS\/KITAS).<\/p>\n
Its New Year package starts at Rp 2 million for the period
\nfrom Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, with a minimum stay of two nights. For
\nadditional nights the hotel will charge Rp 665,000 for the room
\nand give the guest a free room on the next visit.<\/p>\n
Another five-star hotel, J.W. Marriott, is offering its year-
\nend package from Dec.19 through Dec.30.<\/p>\n
\"It starts at Rp 780,000 per night, but if you spend two
\nnights or more, it is only Rp 500,000 per night,\" hotel public
\nrelations manager Mellani Solagratia said.<\/p>\n
She added that the price was on offer to Indonesian citizens
\nand foreigners who hold a KIMS\/KITAS. Others have to pay the
\npublished rate, which is US$135. On New Year's Eve, the
\ndiscounted rate will start at Rp 1.2 million.<\/p>\n
Even though the Marriott is a business hotel, it also targets
\nfamilies, especially at the weekend, said Mellani.<\/p>\n
During the Idul Fitri holiday, the hotel's occupancy rate
\nincreased from around 30 percent to 40 percent and the hotel
\nexpected a similar increase during the coming holiday season.<\/p>\n
JW Marriott, which was targeted in a deadly bomb attack
\nearlier this year, has been successful in maintaining its guests,
\nthanks to its hard work.<\/p>\n
\"We are doing our best to provide a feeling both of security
\nand comfort for our guests,\" Mellani said.<\/p>\n
Like JW Marriott, other hotels also paying serious attention
\nto security, which is of great concern to many hotel guests.<\/p>\n
Hana Hoed from Gran Melia said that people who wanted to stay
\nat the hotel during the holiday season used to book a room three
\nweeks or a month ahead.<\/p>\n
\"But for two years now, many make the booking a week or just
\nthree days beforehand. Many locals even make one at the last
\nminute,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She acknowledged that during Idul Fitri, the business hotel
\nsaw a drop in occupancy rate from around 50 percent to 55 percent
\nto around 35 percent to 40 percent.<\/p>\n
\"But now that business (in general) is back to normal our
\ncorporate guests have returned,\" she said, adding that most of
\nthe hotel's guests were foreigners from Asian countries.<\/p>\n
The hotel offers a rupiah package for Indonesians and
\nexpatriates who hold a temporary stay permit at a price of Rp
\n688,000, per room per night from Monday to Thursday, while at the
\nweekend the price is Rp 588,000.<\/p>\n
From Dec.20 through Jan.2, Gran Melia offers a school holiday
\npackage at price of Rp 588,000.<\/p>\n
For New Year's Eve, the hotel is offering three packages
\npriced at Rp 988,000, Rp 1.3 million and Rp 1.8 million. Guests
\nwho take the last two packages are entitled not only to
\nbreakfast, but also a gala dinner.<\/p>\n
\"Last year, we were fully booked and we expect the same for
\nthis year,\" she said.<\/p>",
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