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Mariott Hotel upbeat about new local operation
JP/12/Mariot

Mariott Hotel upbeat about new local operation
TANTRI YULIANDINI
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Jakarta's newest five-star hotel, JW Mariott Hotel, was
optimistic that it would be able to grab a sufficient market
despite tight competition from existing hotels in the capital, a
senior executive said.

JW Mariott's general manager John J. Jaskula said on Tuesday
that he was optimistic that the hotel would be able to meet the
30 percent to 40 percent occupancy rate that was currently the
norm for Jakarta hotels.

"We are optimistic that the business will continue to grow and
improve in the future," he told The Jakarta Post.

The current downturn in the global economy and the impending
recession in the tourism business had not deterred the hotel's
opening, Jaskula said, explaining that its investors were looking
at the long term potential.

Jaskula said that he saw great potential in Jakarta as a
business and convention destination, as well as a tourist
destination, and that this potential would improve over time.

"Where else can you find so many golf courses at one place,
and the shopping, compared with Singapore, Jakarta's a bargain,"
he said, adding that whatever happened to destabilize the
country, Indonesia has proven that it could bounce back.

Mariott's director of marketing Andreas Kohn said that the
hotel was focusing on attracting local corporate customers by a
direct selling approach.

He said that Mariott expected local companies to bring their
guests to stay and to organize functions at the hotel.

"That's why for two days prior to our soft opening, we are
inviting secretaries from local companies and business people to
come and sample our services here," Kohn said, adding that the
hotel would begin its operations on Wednesday.

Kohn admitted that grabbing an already established market from
giant names such as the Regent, Shangri-La, and Hilton, would be
difficult, but Mariott's international network would make it all
possible.

"We have 2,200 hotels spread across the world, and every one
of them will help us bring customers to our hotel here in
Jakarta. Even the Regent doesn't have that kind of marketing
power," he said.

JW Mariott in Jakarta is part of the Mariott Corporation Inc.
based in the United States, which operates and franchises hotels
under The Ritz-Carlton, Mariott, Renaissance, Residence Inn,
TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites, Courtyard,
and Ramada International brand names.

In Indonesia, Mariott owns the Ritz Carlton Bali and the JW
Mariott Hotel Jakarta.

The JW Mariott Jakarta is owned by PT Permata Birama Sakti of
the Dua Mutiara Group, which in turn is owned by Tan Kian.

By the end of next year Mariott International will have 88
hotels in the region.(tnt)