Raid threat affects Puncak hotels

JAKARTA, (JP): Despite the long weekend due to Independence Day which fell on Friday, not all hotels in Puncak holiday resort in West Java were fully booked as expected.

A number of hotel operators said they were usually booked out a few days ahead of a long weekend.

Desy Susanti, a reservation staffer at Novus hotel in Cipanas, Puncak, said that this long weekend only 50 percent of the hotel's 110 rooms had been reserved as of Thursday.

But she was optimistic the hotel would be full by the weekend. "Most people usually come without a reservation," Desy told The Jakarta Post by phone.

Similarly, Oce from Ciloto Indah Permai hotel said that 80 percent of hotel's 170 rooms had been reserved since two weeks ago, but only time would tell if all the guests showed up.

She declined to comment whether it had something to do with security.

A city resident told the Post that he preferred to stay at home with his family this weekend, following reports that a group of civilians would raid nightspots in the Puncak area. (07)