Hotels gear up for year-end parties
Hotels gear up for year-end parties
I. Christianto, Contributor, Jakarta
It will be a very interesting couple of weeks in late
December. Life will brighten up across Indonesia, particularly in
the capital. People will hopefully forget the political turmoil
and economic woes as they celebrate Idul Fitri, Christmas and the
New Year.
Idul Fitri, which will fall on Dec. 16 and Dec. 17, could well
be considered the most important holiday in the country when
Muslims celebrate the end of their fasting month.
Although the capital is usually deserted during Idul Fitri --
as a great majority of the city's residents go to their hometowns
to celebrate the important occasion --- entertainment places and
hotels still offer special attractions.
The same thing will happen over Christmas. Hotels have
arranged special lunch and dinner menus. In celebrating the New
Year, recreation centers and hotels alike all will have their own
unique parties.
As usual, National Monument (Monas) square will be the center
of the New Year celebrations in the capital. Ancol Dreamland and
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah will also hold live musical
performances to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.
For many people, the year-end is usually a time to relax
that's why most hotels in the capital have prepared many
activities to celebrate the New Year.
"We are preparing various selections during Ramadhan as well
as for the Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year," said Uraini
Umarjadi of Kempinski Hotel Plaza in Jakarta.
She said Kempinski had prepared several buka puasa (breaking
of the fast) menus at its restaurants and lobby lounge during
Ramadhan and would serve an Indonesian buffet dinner at its Java
restaurant during Idul Fitri.
"The restaurant will also serve an extensive buffet of
international Christmas gourmet delights and seasonal specialties
on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For those seeking
entertainment on New Year's Eve, Kempinski will provide
entertainment in the restaurants, lobby lounge and Bacchus cafe,"
she said.
She said in spite of the current domestic economic and
political situation, people still needed to celebrate.
"New Year's Eve has always been a festive celebration and we
certainly hope it will be this year too. People still feel the
need and want to celebrate in one way or the other. Some people
may have to cancel their holiday travel plans due to security
concerns. It is one of our responsibilities to provide facilities
and create an atmosphere that will be enjoyed by all," she said.
The September tragedy in the U.S. has somehow forced people to
think again about taking a long haul flight. Therefore, it is
understandable that many people may prefer to stay home instead
of traveling abroad.
Uraini admitted the September tragedy in the U.S. had affected
all business sectors including the hospitality industry.
"Jakarta has never been a tourist city. Even if they do stop
over it is usually only in transit for a couple of nights only.
The Kempinski Hotel Plaza, like other hotels in Jakarta is a
business hotel and although business has been affected, the
impact is not as great as most of the hotel guests are from
Asia," she said.
She said that her hotel normally catered to the international
business traveler.
"For the year-end activities -- as most expatriates return to
their home country for the holiday season -- activities are more
directed toward the Indonesian market, business executives and so
on," she said.
Year-end activities are also prepared by other hotels in the
capital and its surrounding area including Hilton, Ciputra,
Borobudur, Ibis Mangga Dua, J.W. Marriott, Santika and Novotel.
The price? A buffet dinner at Kempinski's Java restaurant
costs about Rp 105,000 (approximately US$10) during Idul Fitri,
or Rp 250,000 (approximately $25) to enjoy an Asian international
buffet at Hilton's Peacock restaurant on Dec. 16 and Dec. 17.
Ciputra will offer a special Lebaran lunch on Dec. 16 and Dec.
17 at Rp 45,000 per person, and a special dinner for Rp 57,000
per person on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. The hotel will have a New
Year's Eve program for children, which includes dinner and a
puzzle and drawing competition.
The Grand Hyatt Jakarta will also offer a special lunch and
dinner menu for about Rp 300,000 per person during Christmas.
At the Grand Hyatt on New Year's Eve, an Australian musical
troupe will play a crescendo throughout the night starting with
specially picked songs from the 1960s to the present.
It's the end of the year. The party won't last long and it
will be time to start over again and to do everything right.
Well, it's a time for fun and to spend big. Those who want to
join the party should have a thick wallet.
But who really cares about money -- it's the festive season.