Hotels gearing up for year-end festivities

Hotels gearing up for year-end festivities

Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Looking for somewhere to celebrate Christmas and new year?

With only two weeks to go, people are starting to plan where they want to be to celebrate Christmas and to welcome 2006.

Some like to go out with friends and flock to amusement centers where they can join a lively New Year's Eve party. Others prefer to wait for the countdown with their family at home.

But for those seeking entertainment and a memorable dining experience, celebrating the new year at a star-rated hotel is an option.

Most star-rated hotels in Jakarta and outside the capital have prepared a variety of entertainment packages for those who like to spend the last night of the year with their family, partner or friends. Such packages usually comprise of live music, a gala dinner, door prizes, games, dancing and balloon drop.

At InterContinental MidPlaza Jakarta, guests will be treated to non-stop music played by local young and energetic band, Karua until countdown time at the hotel's lobby.

The lobby will be transformed into a fiesta, with the hotel's employees and staff wearing bright costumes, to provide a joyous and unforgettable evening, said InterContinental MidPlaza Jakarta's public relations director Prissilia Pangemanan.

With a door charge of Rp 150,000 per person, the lobby party will be the center of the hotel's festivities. The countdown hosted by popular MC Ivy Batuta and Jonathan White will be enlivened by renowned DJs Edwin and Faiz. "They will demonstrate their skill in energizing the party," she said.

The guests will be included in a lucky draw after the countdown. The lucky winners will get a round-trip ticket to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The hotel will also provide special package for those wishing to stay and enjoy a special dinner while counting down the hours until midnight. Guests can enjoy luxury and comfort at a special price. A Deluxe Room is priced at Rp 1.6 million for two persons. The package includes New Year's Eve buffet dinner at the hotel's Java Restaurant.

Shangri-La Jakarta will offer a special year-end break package for families or couples who want to welcome the new year at the hotel's Lobby Lounge. The package inclusive of a two-night stay and a buffet dinner for two costs Rp 1.7 million ++ for a Deluxe room, Rp 1.9 million ++ for an Executive Room, Rp 2.1 million ++ for a Horizon Club room and Rp 10 million for the Presidential Suite.

The guests will be entitled to enter a door prize comprising of a hotel voucher for a two-night stay at one of Shangri-La's sister hotels overseas, in Malaysia, Singapore and China, said Shangri-La Jakarta's communication manager Ratna Sjamsiar Idris.

The hotel's Lobby Lounge will be decorated with colorful balloons in various shapes to create a joyful and memorable atmosphere.

The hotel also offers entrance tickets for guests who want to join the year-end party without having to stay the night. Entrance tickets are priced at Rp 388 ++ for adults and Rp 195,000 ++ for children. With the ticket, the guests can enjoy dinner at the Lobby Lounge while being entertained by live music featuring local bands, Accoustica and Nocturne.

Accoustica with acoustic musical instruments will open the party with their soft and mellow tunes prior to the appearance of Nocturne. With electric musical instruments, Nocturne will entertain the audience with lively and dynamic numbers when the countdown is approaching.

The hotel's other restaurants, such as SATOO, Shang Palace and Margaux also offer special prices for guests at New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile, Hotel Borobudur Jakarta also offers a New Year's Eve room package at a special rate. The room package inclusive of dinner at Miyama Japanese Restaurant or Singosari Poolside Restaurant and American buffet breakfast for two at Bogor cafe is priced at Rp 1.9 million for the Deluxe Room, Rp 2.5 million for Club Deluxe, Rp 2.6 million for Junior Suite and Rp 3 million for the Club Suite.

To usher in the new year, the hotel offers special activities for children at the lobby, such as face painting, temporary tattoo application, magic balloons, a fortuneteller and competitions with attractive prizes. "With children taking part in the activities, hopefully, the evening will be more relaxing for parents," said Hotel Borobudur Jakarta's public relations manager Fransisca Kansil.

To enliven the dining atmosphere while awaiting the New Year, the hotel's restaurants will present a musical performance featuring a local band.

Guests who celebrate the year-end festivity at the hotel's lobby will be entitled to enter a door prize comprising of a hotel voucher for a one-night stay at Hotel Borobudur Jakarta, a ticket for breakfast and dinner for two, and a voucher for shopping.

The door prizes will be put inside around 200 balloons of the 1000 hung on the lobby's ceiling. "The balloon drop party will start at 12 midnight sharp and the guests are expected to catch the balloons to find the door prizes," she said, adding that one guest is allowed to catch more than one balloon.

Embracing the theme Exotic New Year Fiesta 2006, Hotel Salak in Bogor, West Java will offer various kinds of entertainment, with live music, dance shows and games. There will be a door prize comprising of a hotel voucher, a DVD player and CDs.

The fiesta will be centralized at the hotel's Kinanti Music Cafe known for its exotic decoration.

Tickets are Rp 60,000 for the cafe.

A new year package at Hotel Salak is priced at Rp 700,000 ++. The package is inclusive of one-night stay, special fiesta breakfast for two, a special fiesta gift, a special welcome drink, free consultation at the hotel's Herbal Information Center and free participation in Exotic New Year Fiesta 2006.

Guests who choose the package are also entitled to a 10 percent discount on food and beverages at Kanari Cafe and Rafflesia Lounge.