JIHD picks local chain to manage Borobudur

JIHD picks local chain to manage Borobudur

JAKARTA (JP): PT Jakarta International Hotels and Development
(JIHD), the owner of Hotel Borobudur Intercontinental Jakarta,
has appointed Discovery Hotels & Resorts to replace
Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts in managing the five-star
hotel.

JIHD president Jusuf Indradewa said on Friday the management
arrangement for the hotel, to be renamed Hotel Borobudur Jakarta,
would commence on Jan. 1, 1999.

Jusuf said it was decided after considerable discussion not to
extend the management contract with Intercontinental when it
expires on Dec. 31.

Intercontinental managed the hotel for the past 25 years.

"As we approached the completion of the current management
contract with Intercontinental, we thoughtfully assessed the
alternative opportunities for managing our hotel property
entering the new millennium," Jusuf said.

"We feel confident that Discovery Hotels & Resorts' impressive
professional skills and commitment will deliver the kind of top
quality service that our respected customers expect."

Jusuf said that his company decided to seek an Asia-based
hotel operator which could offer the flexibility and service
awareness its customers expect.

JIHD, a major property developer, is a major shareholder in
Discovery Hotels & Resorts, which was established in Jakarta
early this year. The Hotel Borobudur will be the first hotel
under Discovery's management.

The recently established hotel operator plans to sign three
additional management contracts in Indonesia next year.

Jusuf said the public launch of Discovery Hotels and Resorts
in Indonesia, and the formal signing of the hotel management
contract and the introduction of the new management, were planned
for late January out of respect for the upcoming Christmas, New
Year and Ramadhan fasting month.

First opened in 1974, the Borobudur Intercontinental Jakarta
was relaunched in November last year after a 22-month, US$70
million renovation program. (gis)