Hotels told to be more professional

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja urged hotel staff to increase their professionalism yesterday and prove they are as good as expatriates, particularly in managing star-rated hotels.

At the opening of the city-owned four-star Cempaka Hotel Surjadi said he was proud that the hotel was managed by local staff, which he said is rare among similarly rated hotels.

"But the management must also... erase the image that Indonesians are often considered wasteful, undisciplined and incompetent in planning."

Or, he said, planning may be excellent, but implementation and supervision are lacking. Other shortcomings are inappropriate tolerance and hesitancy when correction and criticism is needed of peers or superiors.

The Cempaka Hotel on Jl. Jend. Suprapto in the Cempaka Putih district was built by the city-owned tourism firm, PD Wisata Niaga Jaya.

The 17-story hotel with 221 rooms and around 1,000 employees expects a return of its Rp 55 billion (US$ 23.5 million) investment in eight years, Gito Bantas, the director said. (anr)