Mariott upbeat about new operation
JAKARTA (JP): 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 manages 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)