No domestic help, better rent a room<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani and Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Hundreds, possibly thousands of families living in the
\nmetropolis whose housemaids joined the Idul Fitri exodus, spent
\ntheir holiday in upmarket hotels throughout Jakarta, avoiding
\ndaily household chores and enjoying the hotels' facilities like
\nswimming pools and fitness centers.<\/p>\n
\"Every Idul Fitri holiday our hotel is half-packed by families
\nfrom Jakarta who want to enjoy the facilities here,\" Noni, public
\nrelation officer at Hotel Dusit Mangga Dua in North Jakarta, said
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
She added that usually children enjoyed the hotel's swimming
\npool, while their fathers exercised in the fitness center and
\ntheir mothers relaxed in the hotel's beauty parlor.<\/p>\n
During the holiday, particularly on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26, the
\noccupancy rate at the hotel stood at about 65 percent with
\nfamilies from Jakarta accounting for 50 percent of the guests.<\/p>\n
Middle-income to high-income families in cities here usually
\nemploy housemaids to complete daily chores, like washing,
\ncooking, cleaning and babysitting.<\/p>\n
During the Idul Fitri holiday, the maids, who mostly come from
\nrural areas across Java, return to their hometowns, apparently
\nleaving their employers quite helpless.<\/p>\n
Benefiting from the annual habits of upmarket families, Dusit
\nMangga Dua, which has 350 rooms, offers the Idul Fitri package
\nconsisting of two free tickets to the Sea World sea aquarium in
\nAncol, North Jakarta and a gift for the children. The hotel that
\nis located in North Jakarta's Mangga Dua shopping area also
\noffers discounts at several nearby shops.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, one day after Idul Fitri, families were seen
\nhanging around in the hotel's lobby. In one corner there was a
\npile of baggage including bolsters that were probably brought
\nfrom home.<\/p>\n
J.W. Marriott hotel in South Jakarta, actually a high-class
\nhotel targeting business guests, also hosts Jakartan families
\nduring the holiday.<\/p>\n
\"Usually, they come here because there is no maid to assist
\nwith chores at home,\" said Mellani Solagratia, the hotel's public
\nrelations manager.<\/p>\n
She said that on Idul Fitri the hotel's occupancy rate stood
\nat around 30 percent, with an estimated 40 percent of the guests
\nbeing families from around the city.<\/p>\n
Sheraton Hotel claims to reap a windfall profit during the
\nholiday as occupancy soars.<\/p>\n
Ria Ariyanie, the hotel's public relation manager, said the
\noccupancy rate, which normally stands at about 90 percent, is
\nexpected to reach 100 percent this weekend. Most of the guests
\nare families seeking to enjoy the benefits and discounts offered
\nby the hotel.<\/p>\n
However, several hotels in Jakarta said, despite the surge in
\nthe number of families checking in, business was not as good as
\nusual, when the city is alive with business activity and guests
\non work-related trips are plentiful.<\/p>\n
Hotel Aston Atrium's occupancy rate dropped to 40 percent,
\nfrom 65 percent on normal days, according to public relations
\nofficer Iin Harun.<\/p>\n
Hotels in West Java, including North Bandung, Ciater, Subang,
\nPuncak and Cianjur -- all major destinations for holidaymakers
\nfrom Jakarta -- were fully booked throughout the holiday.<\/p>\n
Given that not all hotels in the city recorded a high surge in
\noccupancy rates, while those outside the town were often fully
\nbooked, it can be assumed that most Jakartans prefer to leave the
\ncity for the holiday.<\/p>\n
Regardless, many will certainly be thankful when their
\nhousehold staff return later in the week.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-domestic-help-better-rent-a-room-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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