Modern enters tourism business

Modern enters tourism business

JAKARTA (JP): The Modern Group, one of the country's leading
business conglomerates, officially launched yesterday a new
subsidiary, PT Awani Modern Hotels, which is to carry out medium-
scale tourist projects worth US$300 million.

Modern's chairman, Samadikun Hartono, said the new company
will develop and manage a number of three-star hotels, golf
courses and other tourist-related businesses in several
Indonesian tourist destinations.

"We have been preparing the businesses for five years. We
realize that the tourist industry will be a major sector in the
country," he said.

He said the company also has plans to operate overseas hotels
under the Awani brand name.

Awani will build and manage six hotels in Manado, North
Sulawesi; Nusa Dua, Bali; Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara; Trawas,
East Java; Parangtritis, Yogyakarta; and Cariu, West Java,
Samadikun said.

"We have prepared a total of Rp 700 billion (approximately
US$300 million) for these projects. In the first phase, we will
develop three hotels and golf courses in Trawas, Parangtritis and
Cariu," he said.

He added that the projects would target both domestic and
foreign visitors.

Awani director Julius Slamet said that the first three
projects will be completed by 1997.

In addition to the leisure resorts, Awani also plans to
operate a cruise ship that will travel throughout the country's
islands.

"We acquired the ship, which is now under refurbishment, from
a Greek firm. It will be commence operations in December under a
Panamanian flag for easy registration," Samadikun said, adding
that his company paid Rp 80 billion for the 550-passenger ship.

Its planned destinations are Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya,
Semarang, Manado and Lombok.

'Supertruck'

Samadikun said that the new company is offering a membership
program called Klub Awani.

"We are designing the projects to enable typical Indonesian
businesspeople and their families to enjoy leisure accommodation
and activities at an affordable price.

"Under our membership program, a member has to pay only
between $8,000 and $20,000 for a 30-year membership which offers
a seven-day holiday each year at any Awani hotel. Members will
also be able to play on any golf course owned by Awani."

The Modern Group also unveiled yesterday a sales center on
wheels to promote Klub Awani, called "Supertruck".

Samadikun said that the fully self-contained truck, the first
such sales promotion device to be used in Indonesia, can
accommodate 40 people.

The truck is designed for conversion into an 80-square-meter
exhibition space. Custom-designed and built in Australia as a
high-tech mobile sales center, the Supertruck will be used by
Modern Group to promote Klub Awani all over Indonesia. (icn)