Overseas firms eye HI renovation

Overseas firms eye HI renovation

JAKARTA: A number of international investors had expressed
their readiness to become strategic partners in the renovation of
the country's first star-rated hotel, the Hotel Indonesia, an
official said on Monday.

"There are nine international bidders from Singapore, Hong
Kong, Brunei and the United States who are interested in the
renovation project," said marketing director of the Hotel
Indonesia-Natour (Inna) Group, Tjuk Sumarsono, as quoted by
Antara.

"The name 'Hotel Indonesia' will be changed to 'Grand
Indonesia' once the project is complete. Despite the change in
name, the design of the building will remain unchanged because
the hotel is a historical place," he said.

The official said the investors would renovate the rooms,
ballroom and other facilities and equip the hotel with modern
information technology, including an online reservation system
and Internet capabilities.

He also said that the Inna Group planned to renovate the
neighboring Hotel Wisata as well.

"We will develop Hotel Wisata into a business hotel and
convention center because of its strategic location. We may even
unite Hotel Indonesia and Hotel Wisata," he said.

Inna Group, a state enterprise, manages 16 old hotels in
Jakarta, Sukabumi in West Java, Yogyakarta and Semarang in
Central Java, Surabaya and Tretes in East Java, Bali, Padang in
West Sumatra and Medan in North Sumatra.

The group saw a net profit of Rp 18.5 billion (US$1.85
million) last year, which is expected to rise to Rp 25.5 billion
this year. -- JP