Plush new hotel for historic Menteng site<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A city-owned developer plans to build a
\nluxurious hotel in a plush Central Jakarta area on the spot where
\nan old historic building now stands, it was revealed yesterday.<\/p>\n
The project on Jl. Probolinggo and Jl. Sutan Syahrir, Menteng,
\nwill begin next March, the director of PT Pulo Mas Jaya, Iman
\nSunario, said.<\/p>\n
The two-story building which is on the site now was built in
\n1930s during the colonial era.<\/p>\n
The city has leased it as apartment space since acquiring it
\nfrom the Dutch government.<\/p>\n
Tenants were evacuated in 1994 when the company began the
\nhotel project's blue prints, he said.<\/p>\n
A 1975 governor's decree states Menteng is preserved for its
\nhistorical significance and categorizes each building according
\nto its historical and architectural value.<\/p>\n
\"Since the building's significance falls into the lower
\ncategory, the City Arrangement and Renovation Agency has approved
\nthe plan,\" Iman said.<\/p>\n
A study conducted by the city shows the Menteng area needs
\nmore hotels in line with the government's goal to make Jakarta a
\nservice and tourist city, he said.<\/p>\n
Since the city's 2,558 square meter plot is not big enough to
\nbuild a four star hotel, the company will build a boutique hotel
\nthat still has international standard facilities.<\/p>\n
\"This kind of hotel is designed for those who want luxury but
\nare nevertheless financially constrained,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Iman said the city expected half of the hotel's guests to be
\nforeigners and the rest government officials from other regions
\nbecause the location is close to several foreign embassies and
\ngovernment offices.<\/p>\n
The nine-story hotel will have nine conference rooms, each big
\nenough for about 20 people. \"Such conference rooms are in great
\ndemand, nowadays,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The company will invest about Rp 40 billion (US$17 million).
\nIt will fund the project from its owns equity and a loan from the
\ncity-owned bank and foreign syndications.<\/p>\n
Iman said PT Pulo Mas Jaya has proposed four companies to
\noperate the hotel, with France's Accor Asia Pasific of France at
\nthe top of the list.<\/p>\n
\"We have yet to decide which company will operate the hotel,
\nit will depend on the results of our negotiations with all of the
\ncompanies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, who approved the plan, urged the
\ncompany to take cautious measures before signing any contract, to
\nensure investors did not lose their money.<\/p>\n
\"The hotel operator themselves should invest in the project so
\nas to encourage their participation in making profit,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, H.M. Zakiruddin, a councilor from Commission E in
\ncharge of public welfare, reminded the city government of the
\nneed to maintain the old building's artistic value.<\/p>\n
\"Keep the regional characteristic of Betawi (old Jakarta)
\nespecially to attract foreign visitors,\" Zakiruddin said. (02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/plush-new-hotel-for-historic-menteng-site-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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