From business meetings to social gatherings

From business meetings to social gatherings

Ari Darmawan
Contributor
Jakarta

One of the meetings rooms at The Park Lane hotel in Jakarta
was filled with some 30 marketing executives from a well-known
manufacturer of milk-based products in the country. They were
intently listening to an expatriate marketing expert explain
distribution strategies for such products in today's highly
competitive market. The meeting, which lasted until the late
evening, included meals and coffee breaks provided by the hotel
staff.

At another venue -- the largest meeting room at the Gran Melia
Hotel -- a meeting organized by a renowned car manufacturer was
attended by its distributors. The agenda was the launch of the
automaker's new model and the distributors were appropriately
briefed on how to achieve the best sales figures.

On other days these same rooms are used for other purposes,
such as weddings or birthday parties.

The above examples illustrate just how hectic the business of
multifunction rooms is in Jakarta and other major cities in
Indonesia. All five-star hotels have multifunction rooms, which
come complete with modern communications facilities for the
convenience of business executives conducting meetings, training
sessions or sales briefings.

Today, even some restaurants and cafes have similar
multifunction rooms -- generally called private rooms -- for
customers who, besides having lunch or dinner, wish to hold
private discussions with business partners. The size of these
rooms, of course, is not as large as those in hotels.

Facilities such as whiteboards, stationery and presentation
equipment -- sound system, projectors, computers, overhead
projectors and television sets -- are also made available in
these private rooms at restaurants and cafes. For the use of the
presentation equipment an extra charge is levied.

Holding meetings in private rooms of restaurants and cafes has
recently become a trend in most large Indonesian cities. Not only
are business executives using them, but other sorts of occasions
are also being held there, such as birthday parties, large family
gatherings, school reunions, gatherings of wives of foreign
diplomats and so forth.

Maria, the manager of TC Square restaurant in Kemang, South
Jakarta, said that because of the increased demand for private
rooms, her restaurant had made special rooms available.

"The TC Grill, which can be used for dining, has a capacity of
60 people. We also have another room, the Martini Lounge, where
alcoholic drinks are served," she said.

Using these private rooms is considered by many to be
practical and cost effective, as besides an air-conditioned venue
and excellent food one can also request live music. Compared to
using one's own office meeting room, of course, it costs more,
but most people do not mind the extra cost in return for all of
the convenience and comfort provided by private rooms in
restaurants and cafes.

"The atmosphere is also quite different. It is less formal
than having a meeting at your own office, so ideas and
discussions flow more freely. Often, we come back from these
meetings with lots of new and fresh ideas. I personally think it
is worth the extra cost because the meetings are more
productive," said the Dutch marketing director of the milk
products manufacturer.

A Japanese woman who regularly gathers with 15 friends in a
private room in a cafe in North Jakarta is also a fan. "Nothing
serious, we just chat and share our experiences at these
fortnightly meetings. We prefer this cafe because of its
atmosphere. There's history inside this cafe that is close to us
and it is also close to the Jakarta Museum. Well, all of us are
nostalgic and extremely romantic," she said.

Though not willing to go into detail, most restaurant and cafe
managers acknowledge that the private rooms contributed a great
deal to their revenue. They said that the rooms were used almost
daily for one occasion or another.

In contrast to the uncertain situation in the country, these
fully booked rooms give the image that business and social
activities are unaffected and continue as usual.