Keeping up with the Jonses: HI undergoes renovation

Keeping up with the Jonses: HI undergoes renovation

By Jim Plouffe

JAKARTA (JP): The long neglected grandmother of Jakartan hotels has undergone some much needed surgery.

One wing of rooms, a restaurant and a business section have been totally redone at Hotel Indonesia in the center of the city. More renovations will follow in order to allow the 33-year-old hotel to compete with her siblings in Jakarta's crowded hotel market.

The hotel was constructed in 1962 under the order of Indonesia's first president Sukarno. He envisioned a hotel run by Indonesians for Indonesians. And this is what it has become.

The Ramayana wing was first renovated in 1982, but it was not until the most recent renovation, completed last week, that the hotel touched anything in the five-star range.

The 60 remodeled rooms are very comfortable and very functional. They have the standard beds, wardrobes and TV cabinet. The bathrooms are tastefully done in teak and green marble and include all the toiletries you would need, including combs, razors and aftershave. There is also a hair-dryer.

What makes the rooms special is the price. For the same comfort found in any double room in Jakarta, you pay Rp 416,250 a night. Singles cost Rp 393,750, not including the various taxes.

The only comfort that you give up is marble lined elevators and soothing hallways, although the halls in the renovated wing have been done in pastels in an attempt to lessen the drone of the traffic on Jl. Sudirman below.

A small executive club has been added on the fourth floor. Here business people can relax over an American breakfast while watching TV, surprisingly set below ear shattering levels. The club offers coffee, tea and snacks all day. Next door is a small meeting room equipped with overhead projectors, a fax machine and an electronic white board.

Although a first time visitor to Jakarta may not appreciate the Indonesian ambience of the hotel, it truly reflects the country.

From the large murals in the Ramayana terrace to its somewhat ancient elevators, Hotel Indonesia prepares visitors for their stay in its namesake.

The only thing that is not a true reflection is the staff. They are all very courteous, while remaining relaxed, and they all know the hotel inside out. This may be due to the fact that most of them have worked their way up in the government run organization.

The public relations person, Meriem Roy, has worked at the hotel for 19 years. She started out as a waitress and has worked in every branch of the hotel, from reception, to administration to personnel. Roy knows every detail, unlike staff in other hotels who check in and out quicker than the guests.

Only the decor in the Nirwana supper club has been around longer than the staff. The 12th floor restaurant's bubble windows, overlooking the Hyatt across the street, illuminate the 1970s velour covered walls and funky lighting. It's like a club travel writer Paul Therioux would happily whine about. Although my host assured me that they did a booming business on Wednesday nights when their house band, Flashback, belted out hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s, I couldn't help thinking, "if this is heaven, I would hate to see hell."

On Saturday night a large number of regulars come to dine on the very good food and reminisce about when the supper club was the only thing going in Jakarta. The hotels administration officer pointed out one couple who had come every Saturday night for thirty years. Many other regulars where getting down on the dance floor to an out of tune cover band.

The other restaurants offer relaxed dinning in very elegant surroundings. The Nusantara restaurant on the eighth floor offers Indonesian delicacies enhanced with custom made, soon to be antique Hotel Indonesia plates and serving vessels. A real touch of class. Each week a different Indonesian province is featured and traditional dancers from Taman Mini Indonesia perform at 8:00 p.m.

There is a good Japanese restaurant called Yamazato in the lobby. It offers quite good food, and has wonderfully presented set lunches at reasonable prices.

To ensure a steady flow of business travelers, Hotel Indonesia has established a preferred guest group, called the Heritage Club. For a Rp 250,000 joining fee, club members receive a complimentary night in the hotel, drink vouchers and a 40 percent saving on future stays. The club also offers up to 50 percent off rooms at other government hotels, including Samudra Beach Hotel in Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi, West Java and the Manado Beach Hotel in North Sulawesi. Members receive 15 percent off meals when dining alone, or get their meal free when entertaining guests.

Hotel Indonesia has taken the right steps toward attracting more guests. The rooms are comfortable, the food is good and the staff are outstanding. Now that the internal surgery has been completed it may be time for a exterior facelift. As General Manager Ismojo Martokoesoemo says: "Its the little things that count."