Hilton plans to focus on its three hotels

Hilton plans to focus on its three hotels

JAKARTA (JP): While many new international hotel management firms have been expanding their chains in Indonesia, the Hilton Hotels Corporation of the United States appears reluctant to follow suit.

Hilton began its hotel business in Indonesia in October 1976 by managing the Jakarta Hilton International, which is owned by PT Indobuilco.

Ria Leimaena, the public relations Manager for Hilton Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that there are currently three Hiltons in Indonesia. The other two are the Patra Surabaya Hilton in Surabaya, East Java, and the Bali Hilton International in Nusa Dua, Bali.

"Hilton will likely concentrate on the three hotels instead of operating new ones in other areas in the country," Ria said.

In the last few years, many foreign international hotel chains such as Sheraton, Accor, Shangri-La, Radisson, Melia-Sol and Holiday Inn have expanded their chains in the country.

However, Conrad, a subsidiary of Hilton Hotels, will open a five-star hotel in the Sudirman Central Business District on Jl. Sudirman, just in front of the Hilton Jakarta, and is still negotiating a management contract with another hotel in Surabaya.

The Surabaya Hilton is owned by PT Patra Indonesia and Bali Hilton by PT Bani Gati Betegak. The three owning-companies are controlled by the Sutowo family.

Bali Hilton's public relations Manager Joyce Luthe, told the Post that her hotel guests were mostly Japanese tourists supplied by overseas travel agents.

"There are many luxurious hotels in Nusa Dua, but we succeeded in increasing our occupancy rate from 79.46 percent in 1993 to 86 percent last year. In January we reached 81.65 percent," she said. (icn)