Fully furnished accommodation with quality of hotel

Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Serviced apartments have become a flexible alternative to a hotel, offering guests not only fully furnished accommodation, but also a space for meeting clients or entertaining friends for a few days, months or even years.

Accommodation at an apartment generally offers all the advantages of a fully furnished apartment with all the conveniences of a hotel.

"Living in a serviced apartment frees me of the daily hassle of keeping house, because the apartment's service department takes care of it. This way, I can spend more time on my job and myself," said Jeff Wilson of the United Kingdom, a tenant of the Hilton Residence.

Wilson, a senior advisor at PT Senada Petroleum, has been living for eight years at the Hilton Residence, which is only several minutes by car from his workplace at S. Widjojo Center on Jl. Sudirman.

Like Wilson, tenants Noel Urmeneta and Robin Young also enjoy living in a serviced apartment because, apart from its safety and convenience, it provides more living space than a hotel and most importantly, more time to enjoy themselves.

Urmeneta, a Filipino, and Young, from Scotland, live in the Ascott Residence Jakarta on Jl. Kebon Kacang, Central Jakarta.

The rooms available in a single apartment unit, such as a living room, a family room, bedrooms and a kitchen, makes them feel as though they are living in a house.

"I like cooking different kinds of food, and I can cook by myself here," said Urmeneta, who works at PT Unocal as a reservoir engineer and has been living at the Ascott for over a year.

Young said he had more free time living in an apartment because it provided housekeeping, laundry and maintenance services. "I spend my free time playing tennis and going to the gym," said Young, who works as an engineer at PT Sparrow.

Wilson, Urmeneta and Young are among the hundreds of foreign businesspeople who live in serviced apartments in town, which suits their contract-based assignments here.

Unlike a traditional apartment, a serviced apartment is fully furnished, including an international direct dial (IDD) telephone with voice mail, broadband Internet service, cable or satellite TV, an entertainment center, cordless telephone, air-conditioners with individually controlled thermostat, crockery, cutlery and utensils, microwave, refrigerator, a washing machine and dryer.

Most serviced apartments provide the comfort and luxury of a starred hotel for tenants, with around-the-clock security and room service, as well as tennis courts, a fitness center, spa and swimming pool.

Among the popular serviced apartments in the capital include the Hilton Residence, Ascott Residence Jakarta, Somerset, Aston, Residential Suite at Mandarin Oriental Jakarta, the Allson Residence, Casablanca Mansion, Plaza Residence and Istana Sahid Apartment.

Many of their tenants are foreign executives working at multinationals, or at governmental and non-governmental organizations.

The average long-term lease ranges from one to three years. However, select apartments, such as the Mandarin's Residential Suite, also offer a short-term option with a minimum stay of 14 days. Serviced apartments are generally located at strategic points in the city, offering a comfortable home environment within proximity of downtown Jakarta, business districts and shopping centers.

Monthly rent ranges from US$3,000 to $5,000 per unit, depending on the type of apartment.

Serviced apartments focus on the importance of providing quality service, security, privacy and comfort for their tenants, and each has a unique way of making them feel at home.

The Hilton Residence, for instance, has a high-level security system and all entrances to the building is accessible only by magnetic card.

"For the sake of convenience, appropriate preventive and maintenance programs are conducted periodically by experienced engineers," said Hilton Residence Manager Hidayat Sarkawi.

"We are committed to delivering the best service as promised, for example, by responding any inquiries immediately," he said.

The residence also organizes various in-house leisure activities, such as flower arrangement and music classes, sport competitions and other programs.

"To encourage tenants and guests to get to know each other, we hold parties from time to time. Each party has different theme, such as a long-stay guest party and shows featuring traditional Indonesian performances," Hidayat said.

The Hilton Residence opened its doors in 1987, and has since upgraded its facilities and rooms gradually. The complex, comprising 256 apartment units in two towers, boasts a spacious, 32-acre tropical garden and athletic facilities, including 13 tennis courts, four squash courts, three swimming pools and a 500-meter jogging track. The Hilton also has 11 food and beverage outlets.

Like the Hilton, the Ascott Residence Jakarta also offers a personalized service and programs tailored to tenants' needs to make apartment life enjoyable, with social events such as Ladies' Club and Kid's Club.

"We also organize holiday activities, such as Christmas, Lunar New Year and Halloween," said Ascott Jakarta president director Avelyn P. Santiago.

Managed by the Ascott International, the residence comprises 198 studio and penthouse units.

The Residential Suite at the Mandarin Oriental Jakarta, which began operations in 1999, features 38 rooms and has a stunning view of either the Central Business District Skyline or the Welcome Monument fountain at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, due its location in the heart of the city.

The Mandarin residence has flexible lease terms, especially intended to accommodate tenants in town on a project basis and require some leeway, in case their contract terms are altered suddenly -- such as an unforeseen project cancellation.

"At the Mandarin Oriental, tenants can cancel their lease within a day's notice without forfeiting," said Mandarin Oriental public relations officer Dhaneswari Retnowardhani.

Guests and tenants at the Mandarin are also given an opportunity to meet and socialize through cocktail parties, private dinners, golf tournaments, weekend activities and fishing trips, all arranged at their convenience.

With such facilities and services, however, some tenants may find it difficult to return to the comparatively ordinary life in a suburban home.