Escape urban grime, crime at Novotel

French-based hotel management giant Accor Asia Pacific recently invited The Jakarta Post reporter Sylvia Gratia M.N to Novotel Bogor to attend the grand final of its Miss Novotel tourism ambassador contest 1998.

BOGOR, West Java (JP): Tired of being trapped in Jakarta's horrendous traffic gridlock on streets where armed soldiers lurk in anticipation of demonstrations?

Many agree on the various inconveniences of living in the capital and other major urban centers.

Want to get away from harried urban environs, to wake up in the morning to the finer things in life, hearing the birds sing and watching flowers bloom from your window?

With the onslaught of the economic crisis and busy schedules, vacations in Bali or Lombok are probably out of the question.

Closer to home is Bogor, a green and cool town about 60 kilometers south Jakarta, internationally famed for Indonesia's first botanical garden established a century ago.

Accommodation should be no problem as the tourist sector is developed. Among the newest choices is the Novotel Bogor.

As you arrive in Bogor from Jakarta via the Jagorawi toll road, turn left on Jalan Bina Marga. Follow the signpost to Novotel Bogor to find a relaxing sojourn awaiting you.

"People want to escape from the sweltering heat and high tension of Jakarta, but not far away from the capital. Bogor is cool and green and only 45 minutes from Jakarta by toll road," said Antoine Sirot, the hotel's general manager.

Novotel Coralia Bogor is low rise and features the traditional Sundanese design of West Java throughout the hotel. Each of the 180 rooms and suites boasts views of the tastefully landscaped garden.

Built with Accor's Coralia concept, the resort hotel stands in the midst of an 18-hole golf course.

"Our concept for the hotel is both natural and cultural. We want you to feel as close as possible to nature," said Sirot.

"With characteristically shaped buildings and a selection of top-quality materials, together with unusual landscaping, the place will give guests the instantaneous feeling of being transported to a timeless village, equipped with all the expected comforts and amenities of a four-star property."

All interiors have been meticulously furnished and decorated with the predominant use of coconut wood and local crafts, such as pottery, to reflect the touch of the nature and highlight Sundanese cultural traditions and natural surroundings.

The hotel offers 32 standard rooms, 10 superior rooms, 44 deluxe rooms and two deluxe and duplex suites each. Each of its deluxe rooms is complete with an outdoor bathroom.

Amenities include a uniquely designed swimming pool, elegantly simple raised bastion which is uniquely designed to overflow on all four sides, giving the sensation of swimming. The swimming pool, complete with a children's pool, are located by the golf course.

The Gecko Club, Accor's international children's club, provides supervised care and activities for children aged five to 12 years.

Other sports and recreational facilities include a health track, tennis court, fitness center, table tennis, and driving range.

Those who want to complete their vacation with adventure activities, such as trekking, mountain biking, white water rafting and a diversion called paint ball war, may arrange it at the KulKul tour desk. The desk can also set you on your way for excursions and cultural visits.

The shopping arcade includes a store specializing in local arts and crafts and a boutique.

The banquet and meeting rooms pavilion is set off by a deep terrace lined with carved pillars. The conference center can be used as six different meeting or function rooms, or as a combined hall for up to 800 people. There are three supplementary meeting rooms, each 29 square meters in size, and a well-stocked library with books on art and culture.

The Novotel Bogor offers its guests a choice of open air restaurants and bars harmoniously set up to enjoy the cool, breezy atmosphere.

The Meranti Restaurant provides varied buffet breakfasts, lunch and dinners, and international a la carte dining. The Mahoni Cocktail bar is an airy lobby lounge, which offers two happy hours, one before and one after dinner. The Jati Pool Lounge is a thatch-roofed pavilion on raised pilings at the edge of the pool, which enables the guests to quench their thirst on fresh coconut ice and other refreshments after splashing around.

The hotel, owned by Aspac Group and managed by international giant hotel chain Accor, was opened in June 1997.

Accor, partly owned by Paris-based hotel management giant Accor SA, operates hotels under several brand names, including Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure and Ibis. The company operates 26 star- rated hotels, with 4,595 rooms and five apartments with 476 units, throughout Indonesia.

Sirot said that his hotel was targeted equally at three market segments -- business, leisure and long-staying guests.

"That's why we focus on providing a perfect blend of business and leisure needs."

Sirot said many companies and institutions preferred to hold their meetings and seminars outside the capital to ensure that their activities would not be disturbed by street demonstrations.

He added that his hotel recently received many long-staying guests afraid to stay in Jakarta. Most are foreign technicians or executives of multinational companies whose plants are in Bogor or nearby towns in Greater Jakarta.

Sirot said the average occupancy rate of Novotel Bogor could be considered high amid the crisis.

"Our average monthly occupancy rate this year is over 50 percent. Last month, our occupancy rate was over 55 percent. It sometimes reaches 100 percent during weekends."

He was optimistic business prospects would be better next year although he admitted it was still hard to predict. "But I set a target for Novotel Bogor's average monthly occupancy rate of at least 55 percent next year."

Miss Novotel

Earlier this month, Novotel Bogor hosted the grand final of Miss Novotel Bogor tourism ambassador contest 1998. The contest, jointly organized by Accor and the Let's Go Indonesia marketing and promotion campaign, selected a tourism ambassador to get the message out about Indonesian tourism potential.

Accor Regional Vice President Asia Pacific Marc A. Steinmeyer said the contest was aimed to highlight Indonesian tourism prospects overseas, enhance awareness and revitalize the country's tourism and travel industry.

Appointed ambassador was Aretha Aprila, a 19-year-old student from Yogyakarta. She will be actively involved in promoting Indonesia in France through several programs organized by Accor and the Let's Go Indonesia campaign.

"The winner will attend a press conference and meet France's tourist industry (representatives) in Paris to convince the French public that not all of Indonesia is bad," Steinmeyer said.