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."