City hotels offer religious spirit, relaxing moments

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): Most people would prefer to break their fast at home with their families, but there are times when they cannot make it.

This is where hotels step in, offering guests home-style dishes or special menus. The fasting month and Idul Fitri are opportunities for the hotel industry to be innovative in attracting a Moslem clientele.

Special services including sahur, the predawn meal, and refreshments for breaking the fast, are becoming standard offer in the fasting month, as are special meals for Idul Fitri.

Some hotels go even further.

A unique program is offered by the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, which gives snacks and refreshments to all passing drivers at breaking of the fast time.

"The drivers are far from home and buying food at hotels is very expensive for them," said Satria Wira, the hotel's communication director.

The hotel has decorated its lobby with a miniature 40-kilogram styrofoam mosque, covered with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mace, and pepper. Staples like rice, dried corn, millet, green and red beans add color to the mosque.

"Our country was famous for spices, but not everyone knows what the spices in their food look like," Satria said.

The Shangri-La Hotel's lobby also sports a miniature mosque, this one a 300-kilogram cake 12 meters square. It took the kitchen staff 24 days to make the cake which is molded in the shape of the Istiqlal, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

At the Sahid Jaya Hotel, the Nela Group plays qasidah, Arabic- influenced music, daily to guests breaking their fast in the hotel's Solo Cafe.

Most guests who break their fast at the Sahid are Indonesians, said Ade Pristie Wahyu, the Sahid's assistant public relations manager.

During Ramadhan, the Sahid offers single or double room rates of Rp 235,000 (US$98) per day compared to the usual $175. For Idul Fitri, rooms are Rp 250,000 with special menu,ketupat lebaran (rice cake) included.

The Ramadhan rates include two children under 12.

The special rates and services are designed to lure visitors as occupancy usually decline during the Ramadhan and Idul Fitri holiday.

Ade said occupancy rates were likely to pick up only after the general election in May.

The Regent promises "a fun family weekend" by offering two rooms -- one for parents and one for their under-14-year-old children for $195 until from Feb. 1 to Feb. 16. Regular rates are $265.

"Jakartans are hardworking people; the program has been designed for parents who need a break from the kids," said the hotel's public relations executive, Hana Hoed.

She said children can play in their toy-filled "romper room" in the care of a friendly and professional tutor. They can also go swimming or watch a magician.

Parents can enjoy badminton, volley ball, snorkling, or cooking demonstrations.

The Ciputra Hotel in West Jakarta gives a 30 percent discount on rooms until Feb. 15, and for breaking the fast refreshments in the hotel's Gallery restaurant.

For Idul Fitri, room rates range from Rp 210,000 to Rp 237,000 per night, including a special breakfast for two.

Ciputra's public relations manager Harti Hadisoemo said the discount was expected to attract guests who do not want to be bothered with the housework while their servants were on holiday.

She said most guests last year stayed three to four days. "This year we expect more guests as Idul Fitri falls close to Chinese New Year (on Feb.7)," Harti said.

Room rates at The Jakarta Hilton International Hotel are $145 in the main tower and $160 in the Lagoon and Garden Tower until Feb. 15. Rates include sahur, a buffet breakfast, and a breaking the fast, or dinner, for two.

The Ancol Travelodge Hotel in North Jakarta offers a 50 percent discount to Feb. 7 for guests staying at least two days.

On hotel menus for Ramadhan and Idul Fitri are traditional dishes from throughout the country. Popular sweet recipes are used for breaking the fast snacks.

Breaking the fast snacks at Travelodge include kolak pisang, bananas simmered in coconut milk with brown sugar.

Southeast Asian dishes can be found at the Lemon Grass and La Brasserie restaurants at the Le Meridien Hotel, priced from Rp 42,00 to Rp 45,000 per person.

Cafe Sirih at the Millennium Hotel also provides traditional cuisine priced at Rp 32,000 for breaking the fast, and Rp 22,000 for sahur per person.