MPR session brings windfall to hotels

MPR session brings windfall to hotels

By Emmy Fitri & Maria Endah Hulupi

JAKARTA (JP): The ongoing session of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) has brought a windfall to the hotel business in
the capital, since all 700 MPR members are staying at luxury
hotels in the run-up to the country's presidential election.

It is true that hotel occupancy rates have seen an increase
following the peaceful June general elections, but they have not
reached even 50 percent of the occupancy rate before the country
was hit by economic crisis two years ago.

The MPR secretary-general has set a budget of Rp 50 billion
for hotels during the session, which started on Oct. 1 and will
finish on Oct. 21.

A total of 550 of the 700 MPR members are staying at Hotel
Indonesia, one of the country's earliest luxury hotels, while the
remainder are staying at Sahid Jaya Hotel.

Hotel Indonesia charges Rp 350,000 (US$46) per night for a
standard room, while Sahid Jaya charges Rp 100,000 more because
it offers more modern facilities and conveniences.

Staff at both hotels strive to please their guests -- not only
the MPR members, who get extra services regarding their security,
telecommunications and transportation to and from the MPR
building in Senayan -- but also businesspeople and foreigners who
are staying at the hotels.

"Our guests are disturbed when they are entering or leaving
the hotel as most demonstrations are held right in front of the
hotel's entrance," Herni Sunarya, Hotel Indonesia's public
relation manager told The Jakarta Post.

Herni was referring to the reoccurring public demonstrations
in support of or against members of certain factions in the MPR
that often take place at the traffic circle in front of Hotel
Indonesia.

She said that, despite some complaints, most of the guests
could understand the situation as long as the protests remained
peaceful.

Noting that there was good cooperation between the hotel
security guards, the police and military personnel, she said that
the hotel management had anticipated what measures should be
taken to protect the safety of the guests should the
demonstrations become out of control.

Similar efforts have also been made by the management of Sahid
Jaya Hotel.

"Our hotel management and the organizers of the MPR sessions
have made contingency plans in case the protests turn ugly by
providing transportation and securing alternative routes from the
hotel to the MPR building," explained Shinta Langka, the hotel's
acting public relations manager.

Although the two hotels provide health service facilities for
guests, health services and communication facilities for the MPR
members are prepared by the MPR general secretariat which
operates around the clock in each of the hotels.

Starting from Wednesday, however, most MPR members have
checked out from the two hotels and moved to the Jakarta Hilton
International Hotel and Hotel Mulia Senayan. Both are only a few
minutes walk from the MPR building.

Some had moved after the swearing-in ceremony, but there was
no official announcement concerning their hotels. The room tariff
at the Hilton is Rp 605,000, while Hotel Mulia charges Rp
563,000.

"The decision to move the legislators to these two hotels is
simply as a result of security considerations, and to give more
time for the legislators to rest," said Moch. Arifin Achmad, head
of the health unit at the MPR secretariat general.

He said another reason for the moves was to provide the MPR
members with a more tranquil atmosphere -- far away from the
noisy demonstration spots -- as the legislators are becoming
increasingly busier.

For some MPR members, however, the current session is so
crucial that they are working hard to voice the aspirations of
the people which they represent.

Their target is the continuation of the reform process in the
country. Their motto is "listen to the people wherever you go and
wherever you stay".