Gajah Mada Plaza gets skating rink

Gajah Mada Plaza gets skating rink

JAKARTA (JP): Ponderosa Group, which holds the local
franchises for the Pizza Hut and Amigos restaurant chains, and
Putt-Putt Golf & Games from the United States, introduced
yesterday a facility for ice skating on synthetic ice.

Ponderosa was appointed by management consulting firm Grant
Thornton Byrindo. The facility at Gajah Mada Plaza, Central
Jakarta, called Super Ice and Cafe, is run by PT Putt-Putt
Indonesia.

With entry fees of Rp 6,000 (92 US cents) for the first hour
and Rp 2,000 for every hour thereafter, the management claims the
facility is cheaper than the capital's other skating rinks, in
Taman Anggrek Mall, West Jakarta, and Mega Mall Pluit in North
Jakarta.

Taman Anggrek, in contrast, charges Rp 10,000 every two hours.

The attraction at Gajah Mada Plaza in Jakarta, is the first of
its kind in Southeast Asia, James S. Kalaman of Ponderosa said.

"Japan and South Korea already have these facilities," Ron
Mullers, the chief executive officer of Ponderosa said of the new
ice 'rink,' the surface of which resembles ordinary tiles instead
of ice.

Mullers added the low charge was made possible by cheaper
maintenance expenses. The cost to install the facility on the
mall's first floor was US$50,000.

The Gajah Mada management said the plaza was chosen because of
its strategic location for its target market of youths and
families.

Other facilities will include a cafe, a video screen and putt-
putt golf.

"It's also for all those who do not like the wet and cold
aspect of normal ice skating," said Yulie Choo, the marketing
manager. (Monika W.)