No big bashes at hotels, but discounts aplenty<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Do not expect to dance the night away or count
\ndown the New Year, followed by a raucous rendition of auld lang
\nsyne, as it will be a subdued affair this year.<\/p>\n
This is not because of the weakening rupiah or the fallout
\nfrom the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
New Year's Eve is to fall on the same day as the start of the
\nannual Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan, prompting the Jakarta
\nmunicipality to ban all hotels, cafes and nightclubs from holding
\nparties.<\/p>\n
But New Year's celebrations are permitted here before Dec. 28.<\/p>\n
And there is no need to be disappointed because hotels
\nthroughout the city are offering attractive discounts on room
\nrates and tempting packages for both Christmas and New Year's
\nrevelers.<\/p>\n
The Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, which is promoting peace as its
\ntheme for this year's festive season, offers a two-for-one deal,
\nwhich means a guest pays US$125++ for one night and gets the next
\nnight free. The package is valid from Dec. 1 until Jan. 30.<\/p>\n
For those intending to celebrate Christmas, the hotel offers a
\nChristmas dinner buffet with prices ranging from Rp 47,500++
\n(US$10.65) to Rp 140,000++.<\/p>\n
For the New Year, the hotel will feature the Philippines'
\nFamily Cruz Band at the Pitstop on Dec. 26 and Dec. 27 with a Rp
\n50,000 cover charge, including snacks and first drinks.<\/p>\n
\"Initially, we planned to welcome the New Year by striking a
\nbedug (traditional drum) -- which marks the first day of Ramadhan
\n-- instead of blowing trumpets. But that's not allowed either, so
\nwe will celebrate New Year earlier,\" Sari's public relations
\nmanager, Satria Wira, said.<\/p>\n
He admitted that the economic downturn and the municipality's
\nban on holding parties would hurt the hotel.<\/p>\n
\"So this year, we cannot raise money by holding parties even
\nthough the economic situation is not on our side.\"<\/p>\n
Hotel Ciputra Jakarta on Jl. S. Parman in West Jakarta is to
\noffer a 30-percent discount on its published rates starting
\nMonday and running until Feb. 8.<\/p>\n
The package means that the hotel will charge $91++ per night
\nfor its deluxe rooms and $117++ per night for its executive club
\nrooms.<\/p>\n
\"At present, our occupancy rate is still about 25 percent or
\nso, but on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 we estimate it could reach 60
\npercent and increase to 90 percent on Dec. 31,\" the hotel's
\npublic relations manager Harti Hadisoemo said.<\/p>\n
The hotel anticipated the city's ban on the end-of-year
\ncelebrations and it has made no plans to stage any special
\nentertainment, she said.<\/p>\n
\"We are only holding a New Year's Eve dinner at the rate of Rp
\n55,000++ per person in the Gallery Restaurant.\"<\/p>\n
For Christmas the hotel will provide dinner for Rp 48,000++
\nper person and Santa Claus will be on hand to greet children and
\ngive them presents.<\/p>\n
Gran Melia hotel in Kuningan, South Jakarta, will feature a
\nchildren's choir and the halls will be adorned with glittering
\nChristmas trees for hotel patrons from tomorrow until New Year's
\nEve.<\/p>\n
\"We're currently offering special room packages at $125++ per
\nnight for the deluxe rooms until Jan. 15, except between Dec. 31
\nand Jan. 2, when the hotel will charge $199.80++ for its deluxe
\nrooms,\" Melia's public relations officer, Fitri R. Soe, said.<\/p>\n
\"For the New Year, we offer dinner at Rp 175,000++ per
\nperson.\"<\/p>\n
During the festive season, the Jakarta Hilton International
\nHotel will also offer attractive holiday rates from Dec. 20 to
\nMarch 31, 1998.<\/p>\n
Hotel guests need only pay $115++ to stay in the main tower,
\nor $135++ for a Garden Tower room. Its special package also
\nexcludes Dec. 31.<\/p>\n
On New Year's Eve, the hotel will charge Rp 375,000++ for the
\nmain tower, Rp 495,000++ for the Garden Tower, Rp 840,000++ for a
\nsuite and Rp 1,350,000++ for a penthouse.<\/p>\n
\"We won't hold any special events for New Year's Eve because
\nwe understand that it falls on the same day as the beginning of
\nRamadhan,\" Hilton's public relations manager, Ria Leimena, said.<\/p>\n
Bintang, Bulan dan Matahari (Star, Moon and Sun) is the
\nhotel's theme for the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
\"The star is to mark Christmas, the moon for Ramadhan and the
\nsun for the New Year.\"<\/p>\n
Like other hotels, the Shangri-La is offering a New Year's Eve
\npackage of $186++ per night or $170++ per night for stays of two
\nnights or more for its deluxe room, and a 30 percent discount for
\nthe Horizon Floor and suites.<\/p>\n
Shangri-La's Christmas package is $180++ per night for its
\ndeluxe room, including, among others, a complimentary buffet
\ndinner for two in the Coffee Garden and free entrance to B.A.T.S.
\npub.<\/p>\n
\"We don't plan anything special for New Year's Eve. But, we're
\nholding an end-of-year party on Dec. 27 featuring a cabaret group
\nfrom the Philippines,\" Shangri-La's public relations manager Romy
\nHerlambang said.<\/p>\n
Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Hotel on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South
\nJakarta has room rates of $98++ from Dec. 15 to Jan. 31 --
\nexcluding Dec. 31 when the price will be set at $198++.<\/p>\n
Christmas revelers can dine at Beranda Cafe for Rp 55,000++
\nper person, or enjoy brunch for Rp 50,000++.<\/p>\n
A dinner buffet on New Year's Eve will range from Rp 90,000++
\nto Rp 180,000++ per person. (ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-big-bashes-at-hotels-but-discounts-aplenty-1447893297",
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