When beauty counts<\/p>\n
By Grace Emilia<\/p>\n
Indonesia has both hell and paradise. There are places in
\nwreck and ruins due to violence, while there also places regarded
\nas the most beautiful on earth.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Over the years, many of Indonesia's resort
\nproperties -- mostly in Bali -- have received prestigious awards
\nfrom international travel magazines and tourism boards in the
\nbest of the best categories.<\/p>\n
The March 2001 edition of the New York-based Travel + Leisure,
\nfor instance, included three resorts in Bali in their "Top ten
\nbest value hotels in the world".<\/p>\n
While for "Top ten best value hotels in Asia", four resorts in
\nBali were chosen.<\/p>\n
In January 2001, the London-based Conde Nast Traveler gave a
\nresort in Jimbaran perfect score in the service and design
\ncategories among hotels in Asia, Australia and the Pacific.<\/p>\n
Twenty six thousand readers of the magazine voted for that
\nresort. Also in the latest Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
\nMart in Singapore few days ago, a resort in Ubud, Bali, received
\nthe "Best Individual Hotel" award.<\/p>\n
The list goes on as numerous resorts in Bali, Lombok and other
\nparts of the archipelago have received awards.<\/p>\n
"Like badminton, the chances of winning tourism awards are
\nalways there as basically Indonesia is very rich in beauty," says
\nPontjo Soetowo, chairman of Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant
\nAssociation.<\/p>\n
The resorts also offer good value for money as currently the
\nrupiah is weak against the U.S. dollar.<\/p>\n
What is a good resort?<\/p>\n
What differentiates a resort from an ordinary hotel and what
\ndoes good resorts have in store for its patrons?<\/p>\n
Michael Wandow, product manager of Pacto Tour, an inbound tour
\noperator, says the value of a resort is defined by the market
\nwhich buys it.<\/p>\n
"The domestic and Asian markets regard a good resort as one
\nwhich is close to entertainment and shopping centers, and has
\nwell-equipped facilities and amenities such as TVs, bath tubs,
\nhair dryers, refrigerators etc..<\/p>\n
But the market from Europe in general pay little attention to
\nsuch things. A beautiful beach, plenty of sun and tranquility are
\nmore important. Sometimes it does not even matter to this market
\nthat a resort has no TVs, though they would prefer to have such
\nstandard facilities," Wandow explained.<\/p>\n
However, location is a crucial factor for a resort.<\/p>\n
"Should it be located in a mountainous area, there should be a
\ngood view of the mountain. Should it be in the beach area,
\ndirect access to the beach will be of great value" Wandow
\ncontinued.<\/p>\n
According to Wando Suripto, director of sales and marketing of
\nSheraton Bandung Hotel and Towers, "The atmosphere at the resort
\nmust be relaxed as the guests are here for a holiday.<\/p>\n
There should be no need for formal attire. Even the staff's
\nuniforms should be informal to set a holiday mood."<\/p>\n
"But most important", Suripto went on, "is the architecture
\nand landscape of the resort. It should not be one towering
\nbuilding only, but include spacious gardens that reflect the
\nlocal culture."<\/p>\n
Knowing that having spacious gardens are most vital, Hotel
\nSantika Manado, which is the biggest diving resort in North
\nSulawesi, only built 101 rooms in its 10 hectares plot of land.<\/p>\n
"If it were a city hotel, we could have build more than 300
\nrooms on such a huge plot of land," commented Rosana Tamin,
\ncorporate sales manager of Hotel Santika Group.<\/p>\n
No wonder in the 1980s, world-class architects and garden
\nartists were in demand to design world-class resorts and gardens,
\nespecially in Bali.<\/p>\n
According to the book Great Hotels & Resorts of Indonesia,
\nPeter Muller was the architect who pioneered the design for
\nsmaller properties to blend with their natural and cultural
\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
His designs for the Oberoi Bali in Kuta and Amandari in Ubud
\nare now widely followed on the island.<\/p>\n
Another feature of importance to resorts are spas.<\/p>\n
Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gede Ardika said Indonesia
\nhad chosen "spa" as this year's marketing theme.<\/p>\n
"Spa and lulur are part of our tradition. As we are focusing
\non cultural tourism, this is one good product to sell." the
\nminister said recently.<\/p>\n
The minister may not have to work hard to encourage resorts to
\nsell attractive spa programs as many hotel operators in major
\ncities in the country are already offering such services.<\/p>\n
In Bali where spa houses are abundant, hotels are trying hard
\nto sell spa facilities, especially if they cater to the Japanese
\nmarket, which is the biggest in Bali.<\/p>\n
"To accommodate the many young Japanese ladies who visit our
\nhotel, we enlarged our spa facilities last July," said Craig
\nSenior, director of sales and marketing of The Ritz Carlton -
\nBali.<\/p>\n
He appears serious in promoting its spa facilities, paying
\nattention to even its design.<\/p>\n
The reception area, for example, is the foyer of an 1800's
\nJavanese teak wood house, which is believed to have belonged to
\nthe royal family of Demak. The house was dismantled and
\nreconstructed in Bali.<\/p>\n
The spa villas and five massage rooms feature outdoor baths
\nand showers set amid a private garden and lily ponds. Its
\ntropical design elements include alang-alang (thatched roof),
\nBalinese doors in traditional colors, limestone carvings, teak
\nwoodwork, colonial style terrazzo floors and Javanese antique
\nfurniture. They are all designed to create the atmosphere of
\nserenity.<\/p>\n
Yes, serenity is what people are looking for nowadays.<\/p>\n
"I spent my last holiday in Nusa Dua Beach Hotel. I enjoyed it
\nbecause the atmosphere was tranquil and the service was good."
\nsays Victor Indajang, a Jakarta-based banker.<\/p>\n
Sports<\/p>\n
Resorts lucky enough to be situated close to sporting
\nfacilities, will use sports as a marketing strategy.<\/p>\n
As Santika Manado is located near Bunaken, which is the dive
\nhaven in Indonesia, it cooperates with a diving company to
\npromote the hotel, and of course, Bunaken.<\/p>\n
"We offer a free boat service to take our guests to Siladen
\nIsle in Bunaken," explained Tamin of Santika Group.<\/p>\n
Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort and Spa recently launched a
\nnew package for golfers because it is located at the Merapi
\nCangkringan Golf Course.<\/p>\n
"I'm sure golfers will be interested in the package because we
\nhave the best golf course in Southeast Asia," said Emma Octaviona
\nof Sheraton Mustika.<\/p>\n
Novotel Bogor, which located near 10 golf courses, receive
\nmany golfers as its guests.<\/p>\n
Antonie Sirot, the general manager, said golfers account for
\nabout 60 percent of their guests.<\/p>\n
"They mostly come with their families. While the parents are
\nplaying golf, the children enjoy themselves in Dolfi Kid's Club,"
\nSirot said.<\/p>\n
In brief, beauty, service and tranquility are the key words
\nfor resort hotels to lure guests and survive.<\/p>",
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