Yogyakarta hotels gear up for year-end festivities
Yogyakarta hotels gear up for year-end festivities
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
As the new year, 2004, is looming, star-rated hotels in Yogyakarta are busy preparing programs for year-end festivities, hoping to attract as many guests as possible during the holiday season.
Five-star rated Yogyakarta Hyatt Regency on Jl. Palagan Tentara Pelajar, for example, is offering a selection of New Year celebration programs for the whole week, ahead and after New Year's day, under the theme Touches of Flowers.
"We will decorate every corner of the hotel with glorious colorful fresh flowers for the whole week, starting from Dec. 29, 2003 until the end of the first week of 2004," the hotel's public relations officer Jeni Handayani Ratnasari said.
To make the decorations around the hotel unique, imported flowers Point Sentiak and Kastuba from the Netherlands will be included in their arrangements.
Special themes, according to Jeni, have also been prepared for the buffet menus from Dec. 29, 2003 to Jan. 4, 2004. They include Sumatra Food Fair, Taste of Asia Buffet, New Year's Buffet, International Buffet, Mongolian Buffet, Night Market with Touches of Flowers, and Spice Route of Java-Bali.
Yogyakarta Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa, similarly, is offering a special gala dinner and entertainment under the central theme of Sense of Zen at its Grand Mataram Ballroom with Ferrari red and black as the dominating colors for the celebration.
Unlike Hyatt, the flower decorations at Sheraton will be pulled back to a minimum during the New Year's Eve celebration.
According to Sheraton Mustika's public relations manager Bambang WS, the simplicity of the arrangements will in fact match the celebration's central theme that incorporates elements of purity, harmony, simplicity, serenity, and peace.
Other New Year's Eve programs at Sheraton Mustika include the Midnight Countdown program at Sasono Suko Lounge from 10 p.m. to 1.30 p.m., and New Year's Eve dinner at Sasono Hondrowino Restaurant offering an international style buffet. The former is offered for Rp 45,000++ per person (plus a free soft drink or draught beer), while the later is offered for Rp 175,000++ per adult or Rp 99,000 per child (under 12 years of age).
A Vegetarian Buffet Corner will also be available at the Sasono Hondrowino for Rp 100,000++ per person.
A New Year's Eve celebration of a different nature is on offer at the city's four-star rated Yogyakarta Saphir Hotel. Located on Jl. Laksda Adisucipto, the hotel is offering a New Year's celebration program under the theme of Let's Get the Soul of Country on Country Fiesta.
"What we offer is completely different from other hotels because everything, including the venue, the food, the band, the boot-dancers, and the decorations, are all to be arranged to match with the very soul of country music," Yogyakarta Saphir's public relations officer Ike Wahyu said.
The venue, for example, which is the hotel's Malioboro Ballroom, will be turned into a cowboy bar.
Upon entering the venue guests will be given the opportunity to engage in various cowboy-style activities like panco (arm-wrestling), pinball, "shoot the sheriff", or getting a temporary tattoo.
For the gala dinner, which will be served at the Promenade Coffee Shop, the hotel will prepare a Mexican style buffet. The dishes on offer, according to Ike, will include Sopa de tortilla, Holy Guacamole, Mexican rice, Chicken enchiladas with chile conguesto, Steak ranchero, and Chili Con carne.
Novotel, another four-star rated hotel on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, has also prepared a special program to celebrate the coming of the 2004 new year titled Pirates of the Caribbean.
According to Yogyakarta Novotel's public relations manager Erny Kusmastuti, the entertainment program would be held on a stage set up over the hotel's swimming pool to create Caribbean scenery, along with its tropical garden, "exotic sea and pirates". Dynamic music will enhance the atmosphere with noted local master of ceremonies Gareng Rakasiwi to ensure that the party is a roaring success.
Novotel is also offering a special package of Rp 1,550,000 for two people, including two-night's stay at its Superior Room, breakfast, gala dinner, and the New Year's Eve party. Another package of Rp 735,000 is also offered for two people. The package will include one-night's stay at the hotel's Superior Room, breakfast, and gala dinner.