Sahid Resort brings oasis of luxury into heart of Kuta

Wasti Atmodjo, The Jakarta Post, Kuta | Thu, 12/30/2010

An “oasis” will soon emerge in Bali’s most crowded tourist area offering holidaymakers a luxury hotel and lavish shopping paradise overlooking the pristine Kuta Beach.

World famous: Bali’s Kuta Beach, pictured here,
is a favorite spot for holidaymakers around the world:
Courtesy PT Indonesia Paradise Island /
Sahid Kuta Lifestyle Resort

“This will be a perfect blend of contemporary and traditional, translated into a world-class hotel and shopping mall,” explained Hariyadi B. Sukamdani, president of PT Indonesian Paradise Island (IPI).

The planned project is expected to be completed mid 2011. IPI invested Rp 600 billion (US$70 million) into the Sahid Kuta Lifestyle Resort. Haryadi, however, was quick to add the amount of capital invested might change depending on the project design.

“We are still altering some of the designs here and there and these could affect the amount of capital invested,” he said.

Some might wonder whether the already crowded and often traffic congested Kuta really needs another multi-billion project. People will certainly be curious about the project’s structure and design especially when it comes to ecological issues brought about by the rapid growth of tourist-related development projects and the increasing number of visitors besieging Kuta.

Sukamdani Sahid Gitosardjono, the patriarch of the Sahid family, said his old property, the Sahid Hotel, was one of the pioneer hotels in the area.

“In the past, Kuta was quiet and beautiful. Only a few small guesthouses and hotels were operating, catering for local and foreign tourists,” Sukamdani said.

“In the past, the development of any five-star hotel was allowed provided developers applied designs in line with the island’s nature,” he said.

His son Hariyadi decided to follow this philosophy by developing an eco-friendly resort on the 5.2 hectares of land on the former site of the old Sahid Hotel.

“My plan is to revitalize the Kuta area into a green and people-friendly area by constructing an-integrated luxury resort, office complex and high-end shopping complex using an eco-friendly architectural concept.”

The buildings have been designed with world-class architectural standard using as much local materials as possible.

Spacious and lust gardens, water ponds and hanging gardens will surround the buildings, which will be lined with wide sidewalks to enable visitors to enjoy their promenade. Nowadays, it is still difficult for people to walk along the narrow streets of Kuta because of the limited pedestrian facilities.

The planned hotel will consist of 200 lavish rooms facing the great waves of Kuta Beach and will be operated under the brand Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort.

A new oasis: PT Indonesian Paradise Island is planning to build a multi-billion
rupiah hotel project, currently designed to look like this picture, called the Sahid
Kuta Lifestyle Resort. The resort will be completed mid 2011. Courtesy PT Indonesia
Paradise Island/Sahid Kuta Lifestyle Resort

The shopping arcades, called the Beach Walk, will be designed in the Balinese traditional architectural style, adding a few touches to remind visitors of the daily lives of the Balinese agricultural society.

The project has been designed by architectural firm PT Enviro Tec Indonesia, according to Indonesia Design.

The Beach Walk will resemble the island’s rural landscape with its beautiful terraced contours and open-air walkways. It will house 200 top-notch boutiques and stores, restaurants, children playgrounds, music and dance stages.

“We will not cut any existing trees on this site and will use recycled wood and materials for the project,” said Hariyadi.

The company’s director of development, Patrick Rendradjaja, added that the company was also concerned about the existing traffic problems in Kuta.

“We have already incorporated a comprehensive parking site to ease traffic congestion,” Rendradjaja said.

Sahid Kuta Lifestyle Resort will have a two-level parking basement which can accommodate up to 1,000 vehicles at a time. The Sahid Kuta Lifestyle Resort will be next to the Harris Hotel, which also belongs to the Sahid family.

“They will complement each other. The Sheraton will cater to the high-end market, while the four-star Harris will continue to retain its own clientele,” Hariyadi said.

“I really expect the project will benefit hotels and businesses in this area as it will rejuvenate the area into a green and beautiful one,” he added.

Those eager to stay at this luxury and tranquil hotel in the hustle-bustle Kuta will have to wait until its completion, sometime in 2011.

Happy Holidays.

Banyan Tree Bintan hotel released sea turtle hatchlings to sea

Antara News, Tuesday, October 5, 2010 01:54 WIB

Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - A number of sea turtle hatchlings found their way to the open sea as released by the Banyan Tree Bintan Resort and Hotel of Riau Islands at Lagoi Beach, Bintan witnessed by hundreds of foreign tourists on Sunday evening.

"This campaign was conducted to preserve the ecosystem balance and to save the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) from extinction," the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Banyan Tree Bintan Resort and Hotel, Henry Ali Singer said here Monday.

"There were still 220 sea turtle eggs estimated to hatch in the mid-October 2010 in the hatchery," he said.

The last four months, banyan Tree Bintan had released 364 sea turtle hatchlings originated from eggs collected from Panjang Beach, Lagoi tourism spot in the nesting time in March-September, he said.

The Manager of Banyan Tree Bintan, Herman Puspa released the first hatchling to the sea witnessed by hundreds of enthusiastic foreign tourists, especially children.

The tourists documented the struggle of the hatchlings to reach the open sea from the shoreline.

The crowd was getting louder to encourage the hatchlings to reach the sea creating a blithe atmosphere in the campaign.

"The tourists were pleased to witness this rare moment. It was the first experience for most of the tourists, especially kids, and they will show their documentations of the rare occasion to their relatives and friends back in their countries," Henry said.

Each of the hatchling weigh around 15 gram at the day it born, much lighter than the egg itself that weigh 25 gram, he said, adding that the turtle eggs were buried 50 cm deep in sand until they hatch 50-60 days afterward.

A sea turtle could lay 150 eggs at a time in the nesting time, but it takes around 30 years and even decades for sea turtle to reach sexual maturity, he said.

According to the research, only one percent of the hatchlings could survive in the ocean, he said.

However, the management relocated the sea turtle eggs from the natural nesting ground to secure them from human threat as some people consume the eggs and sell them in the market.

"Some animals such as wild hogs and monitor lizards like to eat sea turtles," he said.

ILO organizes hotel training to support Sail Banda

Antara News, Wednesday, July 28, 2010 16:51 WIB

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Some 60 youths here are taking part in a three-month hotel training as part of the ongoing Sail Banda 2010.

The training is organized by the International Labor Organization (ILO) representative office in Maluku in its bid to support the international marine event of Sail Banda.

ILO organizes the hotel training in cooperation with six star hotels in Ambon, namely Aston, Swiss Bell, Amans, Manise, Amaris, and Mutiara which were officiated on Monday by local Manpower and Transmigration Office chief Jeri Uweubun.

ILO education and training program coordinator Lucky Lumingkewas said here on Wednesday there were as yet few trained horel workers in Maluku , and therefore the training was necessary.

Lumingkewas said the hotel training, organized by ILO in cooperation with the six star hotels here, was intended to create job opportunity and skilled workers for hotels.

"This three-month training in the form of theory and internships is expected to create skilled hotel workers because we use standard syllabus referring to Indonesian National Working Standard," Lumingkewas said.

Asked why such a training was carried out late while Sail Banda has already started hotel guests start trickling in, Lumingkewas said it was part of their contribution to make the international marine event a success.

"We know that hotel industry in Ambon has just grown following Sail Banda event, and therefore we will continue to contribute to make it a success," he added.

The 60 youngsters participating in the training are taking internship program at Aston Hotel, Swiss Bell Hotel, Amans Hotel, Manise Hotel, Amaris Hotel, and Mutiara Hotel.

Lumingkewas expressed hope that the training would yield skilled manpower in hotel affairs in Maluku, especially in the provincial city of Ambon.

Kupang Builds International Hotel

Tempo Interactive, Tuesday, 20 July, 2010 | 22:44 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Kupang:East Nusa Tenggara governor Frans Lebu Raya and the CEO of PT Dwi Pratama Sukses, Jusuf Sawurin, have signed an MoU on the construction of an international four-star hotel in Kupang.

The construction will be carried out by an international hotel network, Best Western, at Lasiana Beach in Kelapa Lima, Kupang City. The hotel will have 200 rooms, a ballroom, and an entertainment center.

Jusuf said the physical construction of the hotel will be done after his office has completed the architectural design. “The design will be finished within two months at the latest. Then we will immediately build the building,” he said.

Best Western selected Kupang because the capital city does not have a hotel with adequate facilities to hold regional events. “There are some three-star hotels here, but they are not internationally-rated,” he said.

Frans said the hotel can also hire local workers therefore it can reduce the number of unemployment in the area. “We will be promoted in 88 countries in Best Western’s network,” he said.

YOHANES SEO

Accor to open 16 new hotels in Indonesia by 2012

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 05/25/2010 10:41 AM | Business

International hotel operator Accor plans to open 16 new hotels across Indonesia by 2012 to support its expansion plan in the country’s growing hotel industry, says an executive of the hotel chain.

Accor chairman and CEO for the Asia Pacific, Michael Issenberg, said in Jakarta on Monday that one of the hotels would start operation in Bali by the end of this year, while another 15 would be launched between 2011 and 2012 in Jakarta, Banten, Central Java, East Java, Bali, East Kalimantan, Bangka Belitung, West Sumatra and North Sulawesi.

Issenberg said that Accor, which currently operates 39 hotels in Indonesia, focused its operations

in Indonesia on medium and economy classes, to ensure sustained network expansion in line with the growth in domestic and intra Asian travel.

As demand grows, he said, the market prospects for price sensitive segments would strengthen.

“With the opening of 16 new hotels, Indonesia will be at the forefront of the brands’ expansion in Asia,” said Accor’s vice president for Indonesia, Gerrard Guilloet.

Currently, Accor operates in Indonesia under several brands including Mercure, All Seasons, Ibis, Novotel and Formula 1. Pullman will make a debut this year.

The new hotels will include an All Seasons Hotel Bangka, Ibis Balikpapan, All Seasons Denpasar, Ibis Bali Kuta, All Seasons Gajah Mada (Jakarta), Ibis Manado, Mercure Padang, Ibis Surabaya Basuki Rahmat, Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana, Novotel Bangka, Mercure Simatupang (Jakarta), Mercure Bali Kuta Haverstland, Mercure Solo, Mercure Banjarmasin and All Seasons Yogyakarta.

Accor has been in Indonesia since 1993 when it developed a network across 17 cities throughout the county that employs more than 7,000 employees.

According to Issenberg, Indonesia contributes 10 percent of Accor’s network in the Asia Pacific region.

China is Accor’s top market with 93 hotels, followed by Thailand with 43 hotels.

Accor operates 4,100 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries. (not)

Bali hotels association: "green" for everyone

Antara News, Tuesday, May 25, 2010 00:30 WIB

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - The Bali Hotels Association (BHA),a group of over 100 star-rated hotels in Bali held an environment workshop at Kuta`s Hard Rock Hotel, as a part of series to provide a new concept of green for everyone.

"The workshop contributes to BHA`s endeavors to furthermore educate and train its employees as part of its social responsibility to provide a better and cleaner future for all local communities", Gareth Warne, BHA Director of Environment, and GM of Nusa Lembongan Resort & Sail Sensations Catamaran, said in Denpasar, Monday.

The workshop covered an unusually wide range of green subjects from solar water heating to biofuel production, from kitchen oil to consultancy on sustainable development.

During eight lectures over 100 participants had been informed of practical hands on solutions on saving energy, water management, recycling, carbon offset, and green corporate social responsibility programs.

The available choice of green technologies and solutions such as LED lighting run on just 20 percent of conventional energy consumption.

Also, biodegradable plastic products dissolving into virtually nothing after about one year amazed experts and laymen alike.

Certificates of appreciation were given out to 30 BHA hotels participating in EcoBali`s and Tetra Pak`s `Environmental Awareness and Recycling of Beverage Cartons Program`.

The very successful initiative is a major promoter of environmental good practice and education within Bali`s hotel industry.

An MoU signed between BHA, Tetra Pack Indonesia, and EcoBali is cementing future cooperation in the recycling and green education sector.

Presentations were given by Contained Energy, Caritas Switzerland, Plant a Tree Today (PATT), Little Tree, Eco-Leadership, Gadjah Tunggal Plastindo (OXO12), Tetra Pack Indonesia, as well as EcoBali. The event itself was sponsored by Gadjah Tunggal Plastindo and Tetra Pack Indonesia.

Another BHA workshop on energy and waste management is planned for the end of 2010.

The Bali Hotels Association is a professional organization star-rated hotels and resorts in Bali. Members include general managers from 100 hotels and resorts, representing 14,500 hotel rooms and 22,000 employees in Bali.

Beijing businessman to run hotels in Maluku

Antara News, Friday, May 21, 2010 03:20 WIB

Ambon (ANTARA News) - A Beijing investor is interested in running hotels in Maluku which has many interested tourist objects and destinations, and build a star-rated hotel in there.

He told the head of the Maluku investment coordination agency (BKPMD) Rahman Soumena here Thursday that the foreign investor planned to build a star-rated hotel in an area close to the Liang beach tourist site, Salahutu subdistrict (Ambon island), Central Maluku regency.

The prospective investor had visited Ambon last month along with the provincial administration group in a return visit of Maluku Governor to China on January 12, 2010.

Soumena said the Chinese businessman said he was keenly interested in investment in fisheries, agriculture and tourism in Maluku including the building of a star-rated hotel.

On June 6, 2010, the business group and Governor Henan will visit Maluku to the signing of an MoU with Gubernur Karel Albert Ralahalu.

Following the 2006 economic census, the hotels in Maluku totaled 138 consisting of 15 star-rated hotels and 123 ordinary hotels.

The average stay of foreign tourists at star-rated hotels in Maluku is 3.23 days, and local tourists only 2.29 days.

Hotel occupation of ordinary hotels reached less than 30 percent of the total number of hotel rooms available.

Sheraton and Mercure Hotels on Komodo Island

Tempo Interactive, Thursday, 01 April, 2010 | 16:26 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:For those who wants to enjoy five star hotel comforts on Komodo Island, two hotel Sheraton and Mercure in Komodo Island

The two hotels will complete existing hotels.

Currently, Right now there are two three stars hotels, Jayakarta Hotels, Bintang Flores and several small hotels, “said the Director General of Marketing, Sapta Nirwandar, after the "Round Table Discussion" Komodo in Wisma Antara, on Wednesday (31/3).

It is hoped that the two hotels will increase tourist numbers.

Sapto added that this is a large development, because previously, there were only small hostels.

Besides overnight facilities, the government and private entities also facilitate accessibility to Komodo Island, from the routes to facilities and quality of services.

Sapta added that now there is no need to transit in Bima or Ende to reach Komodo Island.

“So from Denpasar one can board a one hour and a half flight to Labuhan Bajo, then continue on a one an half hour ferry to Komodo Islands,” he said.

There are also other airlines companies flying to Labuhan Bajo.

“Lion Air and Trans Nusa just enter,” said the Director of Promotional Tools, Esthy Reko Astuty.

ARYANI KRISTANTI

Aston To Develop Two More favehotels In Bali

Hotelsmag.com, Press Release -- Hotels, 1/15/2010 6:59:53 AM

Jakarta, 14th January 2010 - Aston International has been awarded contracts to develop and manage two new premium select service hotels in Bali under the Aston group's trendy 2 star favehotel brand.

The two new favehotels will be in privileged locations in the heart of Legian on Jalan Raya Legian and Bali's fashionable Seminyak on Jalan Petitenget. Each hotel will offer around 100 stylish, comfortable and functional guest rooms at highly competitive room rates. Guests will benefit from the favehotel's hallmarks such as superior beddings, high speed internet access, LCD televisions and favehotel's accolade winning interior design.

Aston Internationals Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mr. Norbert Vas, said "These two new faves will bring the number of favehotels in Bali to three and compliment the already exiting favehotel Denpasar which is currently in its soft opening stage. The two locations in Legian and Seminyak are a perfect match for favehotel which aims to provide budget hotels that surprise and delight and bring style and great design to the otherwise predictable 2 star hotel segment."

In addition to the hotels in Bali the Aston Groups is currently developing favehotels in Jakarta, Surabaya and Ambon and is envisioning projects in literally every primary and secondary city in Indonesia, Malaysia and the region beyond.

About favehotel

favehotel is a new select service brand established by Aston International, Indonesia's largest Hotel Group, aiming to offer inexpensive, fresh, attractive and contemporary 2 star hotels to smart budget minded travelers.

Since its inception in July 2009 favehotel has been on the forefront of the budget hotel sector redefining the industry's standards for select service hotels thru imaginary design, mid market features such as high quality beddings and LCD televisions and a small environmental footprint.

About Aston International

Aston entered the Indonesian market in the late nineties and has an underlying portfolio consisting of 50 properties including hotels, condotels, resorts, serviced apartments and boutique villa resorts, of which 25 are operational and 25 under development due to open between now and 2011.

Aston properties currently operate under the 5 star Grand Aston, 4 star Aston, 3 star Aston City and 2 star fave Hotel brands but the company is also developing Luxury Villa resorts under the Royal Kamuela and Kamuela brands and 3 star hotels under the affordable lifestyle Quest Hotel label.

With a proven track record of success, Aston has a very definitive vision of the future - to be universally recognized as the preferred hospitality management company in Asia Pacific

Indonesia to take part in biggest tourism bourse in Netherlands

Antara News, Friday, January 8, 2010 11:25 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will take part in the biggest tourist bourse in the Netherlands, Vakantiebeurs on January 12-17, 2010.

"The Ministry of Culture and Tourism along with the Indonesian embassy in The Hague facilitate 20 tourism industries (hotels and travel agencies) will take part in Vakantiebeurs in Utrecht, the Netherlands," Marketing Director General of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Sapta Nirwandar said in Jakarta Thursday.

Sapta who will be leading the Indonesian delegation planned to bring along teams of artists from Maluku, West Sumatera, and East Nusa Tenggara.

They will hold a cultural performance and an Indonesia Night highlighted by singing legend Bob Tutupoli and a fashion show by Oscar Lawalata.

"Indonesia will be the host partner country at Vakantiebeurs 2010, for which the Indonesian delegation will not only occupay the largest pavilion covering 154 m2 at Island Location, but will also have the privilege in occupying 349 m2 at hall 2 (Indonesia Area) for cultural and artistic promotion or non-commercial activities," he said.

The organizers will also give Indonesia a time slot for cultural performances every day during the exhibition prime time of Vakantiebeurs.

"Indonesia`s participation in Vakantiebeurs 2010 is a very important momentum because starting June 1, 2010 Garuda Indonesia vill be flying the Jakarta-Amsterdam route via Dubai every day by Airbus A330-200," Sapta said.

Vakantiebeurs or Holiday Fair is the biggest tourist exhibition in Holland, and also a trade and consumer fair. Last year Vakantiebeurs was joined by 1,630 participants from 160 different countries, and attended by 132,961 visitors.

The Netherlands is an important market for Indonesia`s tourism for the European region. The number of Dutch tourists visiting Indonesia in 2008 reached 141,202, up by 26.21 percent compared to the 111,882 in 2007, while last year the projected number of Dutch tourists coming to Indonesia reached 135,000, and in the January-November 2009 period reached 132,184, up by 6.3 percent, compared to the same period last year.

The market of Dutch tourists is very promising, in which 10 percent or 1.6 million of the 16.7 million Dutch population has a historical bond with Indonesia, while the number of outbound Dutch tourists reached 6 million per year.

The Indonesian delegation to Vakantiebeurs will also provide information, hold awareness campaigns, press conferences, industrial gatherings, hospitality, batik and spa demonstrations, and coffee corners.

Twenty tourist industries taking part in the even are Panorama Destination (Jakarta), Bali Garden Beach Resort, Miracle Batik (Yogyakarta), Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa (Bali), Limbunan Tours and Travel Services (Sulawesi Selatan), Exotic Java Trails (W Java), Aerowisata International (Jakarta), Nikko Bali Resort & Spa , Synergi Ravelino Tours & Travel (North Sumatera, Daya Patal Tour and Travel ((Maluku), Deva Tour & Travel Reizen (Netherlands), Vista Ekspress (Jakarta), Smarag Reizen (Netherlands), Suita Tours and Travel (South Sulawesi), TA/TO of the Netherlands, Nusa Andika Tour and Travel (Bali), Nuansa Bali Tours and Travel (Bali), Trans Borneo Adventure, and Melia Bali (Bali).

Related Articles:

Taman Mini kicks off Museum Festival

Dutch tourist arrivals in Bali up 22 pct

Vakantiebeurs.nl

Fingers are crossed for a spirited New Year

Prodita Sabarini, THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA | Sun, 12/27/2009 2:05 PM

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) is optimistic booze will be flowing on New Year's Eve as shipments of alcoholic beverages are scheduled to be delivered to the Jakarta port this week, the association chairman said.

PHRI Jakarta chairman Khrisnadi said this week that hoteliers and restaurateurs were counting on the country's sole importer of wine and spirits, PT Sarinah, to deliver the alcohol soon.

He said they were experiencing shortages of wine and spirits and needed fresh supplies to meet increased end of year demand.

Earlier this month, custom officials detained 34 containers of wine and spirits in Tanjung Priok Port because Sarinah officials under-reported the value of the shipment.

The Finance Ministry's custom and excise office said Sarinah had to pay a fine equal to 1,000 percent of the total value of the goods.

"It was agreed that Sarinah would deliver the alcohol *after paying the fine*," Khrisnadi said.

PT Sarinah director Jimmy Gani said they were working to deliver the alcohol. "Some of the shipment is still being detained in the warehouse because of technicalities. We have to pay the fines and have not yet done so fully," he said.

He said the cost of the fine would not be passed on to consumers. "Most consumers are foreign tourists who will complain if the price goes up," he said.

Alcohol is heavily taxed at around 500 percent.

Khrisnadi said it would be disgraceful for Indonesia if the alcohol failed to be delivered.

"The alcohol shortage would not affect expatriates who have lived here for a while. We have had shortages previously so they understand the situation," Khrisnadi said. "But it will be a problem for foreign tourists who are here on vacation and want to celebrate New Year's Eve and find there's no alcohol."

Jimmy said Sarinah had imported 270,000 crates of alcohol this year, around "70 percent of our quota".

In 2008, PT Sarinah, reported only Rp 62 billion (US$5.8 million) in collected tax revenue from its alcoholic imports. The government has reported recently that up to 60 percent of alcohol consumption in Indonesia is supplied by the black market, causing annual losses about Rp 1.5 trillion in alcohol tax revenue.

The Customs and Excise Office has urged the Trade Ministry to allow more companies to import alcoholic beverages, instead of just Sarinah, to help curb smuggling.

Russian investors ready to build tourist resort in Indonesia

Antara News, Thursday, December 17, 2009 18:34 WIB

Tanjungpinang, Indonesia (ANTARA News/Asa Pulse) - Russian investors were ready to develop a tourist resort in Bintan, Riau Islands Province, Mardhiah, head of the integrated Bintan district licensing and investment promotion body, said here Wednesday.

"Russian investors` willingness to invest in this province has been expressed in a meeting with Mr. Oleg Gurbulen, a Russian representative, last Tuesday (Dec. 15)," Mardhiah said here on Wednesday.

Russian investors plan to build a tourist resort at a 55-hectare coastal area at Berakit village, Bintan District. The construction work is expected to start late December 2009 or early January 2010.

Source:

Business in Asia Today - Dec 17, 2009
published by Asia Pulse

Authorities to relocate residents in E. Lombok

Panca Nugraha, The Jakarta Post, Lombok | Wed, 12/09/2009 3:39 PM

PROJECT: Ocean Blue Suite Villas, Sunut Island, Lombok

HST Architects & Designers Associates

Authorities of East Lombok administration will relocate around 450 residents of Gili Sunut island in exchange for a planned tourism resort by a Singapore-based investment company.

The administration spokesperson Sujono said on Wednesday that the residents who did not have any official land ownership would be moved to Teranjah-Anjah, Pemongkong village or about 10 kilometers from the island.

“We expect they can still go to sea since the would-be new place is not too far from beach,” Sujono said.

He added that the investor from PT Blue Ocean would construct new houses and public facilities, such as a public health center and an elementary school, for the residents.

The 7.5-hectares island has lured the investors with its white sands and natural views, he said.

PROJECT: Ocean Blue Suite Villas, Sunut Island, Lombok

HST Architects & Designers Associates

Banyan Tree Ungasan unveils new villas in Bali, Indonesia

Travel Daily News, Monday, December 07, 2009

Located on the vibrant island of Bali, Banyan Tree Ungasan is scheduled to open on 1 January 2010. Boasting panoramic ocean views, the hotel will offer guests the largest infinity pools in Bali and award-winning spa treatments.

Just a short drive from the thriving beaches of Kuta, Seminyak and Sanur the luxury resort is designed to offer absolute privacy and seclusion. Perched 70 metres above sea level on the cliff-top of the island’s southernmost peninsula, the five star resort offers stunning vistas of the Indian Ocean. Each of the 73 pool villas is set in its own landscaped garden with a private infinity pool, marble bathroom with sunken baths, and a Balinese bale (outdoor pavilion).

Ideal for couples, families and friends, each of the 11 Sanctuary Villas and three triple-bedroom Presidential Villas features a 12-metre and 25-metre-long infinity pool respectively. The landscape gardens are perfect for private celebrations and the Presidential Villa even comes with a dedicated spa treatment room and dedicated fitness area.

Guests will be able to take their pick from three restaurants - Ju-Ma-Na restaurant will offer gourmet seafood menus where guests can watch the chefs at work in the display kitchen, or choose to dine overlooking dramatic cliff-edge scenery. The adjacent Ju-Ma-Na Bar offers sundowners along with Arabic finger food and Moroccan shishas (water pipes). Tamarind, set in the tranquil surroundings of the Banyan Tree Spa, will serve a variety of organic dishes, alongside a menu of Jamu herbal drinks, and Bambu will present popular international and local specialties.

For the ultimate relaxing getaway guests can treat themselves at the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa offering treatments delivered by professional spa therapists, trained at the exclusive Banyan Tree Spa Academy in Phuket, Thailand. Designed to reflect unique Indonesian healing traditions the treatments incorporate natural, indigenous ingredients. Signature treatments include Ayurvedic treatments and Rainmist therapies such as the 180-minute Javanese Lulur treatment, which includes the Serenity Massage, Lulur Scrub, and Honey Avocado Conditioner.

Indonesia warns state firms on Dubai fallout

www.chinaview.cn 2009-12-01 12:01:52

JAKARTA, Dec.1 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian State Enterprises Ministry has warned state firms engaging in business in Dubai to watch out for developments in the Dubai World's debt crisis and its impacts, before investing further, a paper said here Tuesday.

Global markets are tumbling after Dubai World, the conglomerate that has long been the chief engine behind Dubai's explosive growth, last Wednesday announced it needed at least a six-month reprieve from paying its debts.

Secretary to the State Minister for the ministry Said Didu quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying that several Indonesia's state construction firms, such as Adhi Karya, and Wijaya Karya have been working on infrastructure projects there.

"State construction companies should stop or postpone their plans to expand their businesses in Middle-East countries," Didu said in a hearing with lawmakers.

State firms, including construction firms PT Adhi Karya and PT Wijaya Karya, may have to temporarily put a brake on their expansion in the Middle East as it is feared the fallout of the Dubai World default could trigger a knock-on effect.

Adhi Karya, for instance, has just completed the construction of a 35-floor apartment at Al-Burj in Dubai, the world's highest tower complex.

It is eying several other projects in the region, including an 106 million U.S. dollars project in Oman, in cooperation with a local company, Adhi Oman.

Meanwhile, Wijaya Karya has two new projects that should be started by the end of the year. One of them is the construction of two power plants each having the capacity of 2 x 500 megawatts in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the development of a resort project in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara of Indonesia, to be largely financed by Dubai-based real estate developer Emaar Properties seems to have hit a snag with the Indonesian government now questioning the firms's commitment to the project.

Emaar, a subsidiary of Dubai World, signed a joint venture agreement with the Bali Tourism Development Corporation in 2008, under which it is committed to investing 600 million U.S. dollars to build a resort.

Aston Expands Further In Indonesia

Hotelsmag.com, Hotels, 11/25/2009 8:23:00 AM (PRESS RELEASE)

Jakarta, 24 November 2009 – Aston International expands further in Indonesia and is targeting a portfolio of 50 hotels under 6 distinguished brands by the end of 2011.

During Aston Fair in Surabaya, Aston International introduced 7 recently opened brand new hotels increasing the group’s total operating hotel portfolio to 20 properties. The new hotels are the “Aston Kuta Hotel & Residence”, the “Bali Kuta Resort by Aston”, the “100 Sunset Boutique Hotel by Aston”, the “Aston Natsepa Ambon Hotel and Conference Center”, the “Aston Samarinda Hotel and Convention Center”, the “Aston Manado City Hotel” and the “Aston Tanjung City Hotel”.

In addition Aston International announced that 14 more Aston Hotels are currently under construction with the first two opening in December 2009 in Medan and Cengkareng and the other 12 scheduled to open between January 2010 and mid 2011. These new Astons will range from 5 star Grand Astons such as the Grand Aston City Hall Medan which is due to open in December 2009 and the Grand Aston Yogyakarta Hotel & Convention Center which is scheduled to open in late 2010 to 4 star Aston Hotels in Balikpapan, Bandung, Bogor, Glodok-Jakarta, Manokwari, Menteng-Jakarta, Jayapura, Purwokerto and Serpong and 3 star Aston City Hotels in Cengkareng, Bangka Island and Bintan.

While continuing to expand the Grand Aston, Aston and Aston City hotel brands the group has also developed a new luxury boutique resort brand called Royal Kamuela and select service hotel brands such as the 3 star affordable lifestyle Quest Hotels and the hip and trendy 2 star favehotels.

Royal Kamuela is currently developing two boutique villa resorts, one with 38 villas in Nusa Dua and the other with 12 villas in Ubud.

Quest and favehotel are set to become Indonesia’s fastest growing select service hotels brands. Since the launch of the two brands just 5 months ago Aston International has been able to confirm a total of 9 new hotels consisting of 4 Quest hotels, the first of which will open early 2010 in Semarang and three more in Kuta, Legian and Menteng-Jakarta and 5 favehotels with the first one due to open this December in Denpasar and four more confirmed for Ambon, Legian, Seminyak and Surabaya.

Aston Internationals Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mr. Norbert Vas, said “We will continue to grow the 3 Aston hotel brands and are currently negotiating projects in Makassar, Palembang and Surabaya but our midterm strategy for Aston is to consolidate its leading position in Indonesia and start to export the Grand Aston, Aston and Aston City Hotel brands overseas. Quest and fave have been off to a very encouraging start and are so well conceptualized that developers are already rushing in to build them. We are confident that we will operate at least 50 if not more hotels between Aston, Quest, fave and Royal Kamuela by 2011 and predict substantial growth and demand for branded select service hotels such as Quest and fave for many years to come ."

About Aston International

Aston entered the Indonesian market in the late nineties and has an underlying portfolio consisting of 50 properties including hotels, condotels, resorts, serviced apartments and boutique villa resorts, of which 20 are operational and 30 under development due to open between now and 2011.

Aston properties currently operate under the 5 star Grand Aston, 4 star Aston and 3 star Aston City Hotel brands but the company is also developing Luxury Villa resorts under the Royal Kamuela and Kamuela brands and 3 star hotels under the affordable lifestyle Quest Hotel brand as well as 2 star favehotel.

With a proven track record of success, Aston has a very definitive vision of the future - to be universally recognized as the preferred hospitality management company in Asia Pacific.

Hotels and villas fully booked for Idul Fitri holidays

Wasti Atmodjo, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali |Thu, 09/17/2009 10:59 PM

Star hotels and luxury villas are likely to gain profits from the Idul Fitri long weekend as occupancy rates reach more than 90 percent, a hotel executive confirmed.

Djinaldi Gosana, executive director of the Bali Hotel Association (BHA), which overviews 100 members of four and five-star hotels in Bali, said that most clientele would check in this weekend (Sept.18) and spend the rest of the long holidays on the island.

“Most hotels especially those located in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Nusa Dua and Jimbaran resorts are already fully booked,” Gosana said.

Bali had just finished a robust holiday season, including national school holidays and summer holidays, which started ran from June to August.

Despite terrorist attacks in Jakarta’s J.W. Marriot and Ritz-Carlton hotels last July, Bali’s tourism industry has remained strong. From January to June this year, more than 1 million foreign tourists spent their holidays on the island.

Aloysius Purwa, chairman of the Association of Travel Agencies (ASITA), said that Bali would again host visitors, mostly domestic guests, during the Idul Fitri holidays.

New world-class theme park takes off in Makassar

Andi Hajramurni and Endy M. Bayuni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar | Thu, 09/10/2009 12:59 PM

Residents of South Sulawesi and neighboring provinces in eastern Indonesia will now not need to travel far to enjoy an international-class theme park, they can just head to Makassar.

The Trans Studio, named after the Trans TV network and billed the world's largest indoor theme park, was officially opened Wednesday.

"People need leisure once they've fulfilled their basic tasks," Vice President Jusuf Kalla said at the opening ceremony.

The outgoing Vice President's business group is a part owner of the 2.7-hectare park, along with Jakarta-based media mogul Chairul Tanjung.

Kalla underlined the economic impact of the theme park, which employs 1,000 workers to run the facility.

The Rp 3 trillion (US$300 million) park will eventually have two hotels and a large mall. It already has the largest car park in Indonesia.

The owners expect to get two million visitors each year, drawing not only residents of Makassar, but also visitors from across Indonesia.

Trans Studio boasts 21 different features and rides, including the SpongeBob film in 4-D, and a locally produced musical opera show in its Trans City Theatre.

The theme park is a reflection of the growing affluence of the South Sulawesi community, thanks largely to its huge agriculture industry.

The inauguration was scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. on Sept. 9, 2009 - nine being considered a lucky number by many Indonesians.

The date also marked the 60th birthday of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who had earlier turned down an invitation to inaugurate the park.

"We wish you a happy birthday, Mr. President," Kalla said in his speech.

Kalla, who has said he plans to return to live in his hometown of Makassar after his term in office ends Oct. 20, joked that he wanted to help run the Trans Studio theme park.

"I asked Pak Chairul if I could be the head of the cleaning service."

Businessman to develop Islamic resorts

Indra Harsaputra and Achmad Faisal, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya | Tue, 09/01/2009 5:45 PM

A Sumenep legislative council member confirmed reports that two islands off Madura had been sold to a businessman who intends to develop them into resorts.

Councilor Badrul Aini said Tuesday that businessman Zainal Seniya bought the islands and had leased them to Canadian and Singaporean investors.

“Both Sitabok and Seradeng islands will be developed into maritime resorts equaling Bunaken [North Sulawesi],” Badrul said.

Local cleric Dailami Abu Hurairah, who is close to the businessman, said the two islands would be Islamic resorts and target Middle East tourists.

“We have been involved in the project and will help operate the maritime resorts, which will follow an Islamic concept,” Dailami said.

He said many Middle East tourists felt uncomfortable with major tourist destinations like Bali, which do not promote Islamic values.

Deputy Sumenep Regent Mochammad Dahlan said the two islands belonged to the state and had not been sold to anyone.

Hard Rock to roll out more Asian hotels

Google/AFP

HONG KONG (AFP) — The head of Hard Rock International said Tuesday the leisure firm was looking to expand its rock-and-roll themed hotel franchise across Asia despite the financial crisis.

Hamish Dodds, president and chief executive officer of the US-based group, said it was working on deals to open Hard Rock Hotels in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok, Jakarta and Hong Kong over the next few years.

The group currently manages two hotels in Asia -- one in Pattaya, Thailand, and the other in Bali, Indonesia -- and it is launching three new hotels in Macau, Malaysia and Singapore later this year.

"We have a number of negotiations ongoing in Asia. It's a good time to be looking around," he told AFP in Hong Kong.

"We certainly have better bargaining power now because of the availability of distressed assets and better leases (amid the crisis)," he said.

Dodds said the company has stepped up its search for potential sites and franchise partners in Asia.

In June, the company will open a 300-room Hard Rock Hotel in the southern Chinese gaming hub of Macau.

The new hotel is part of the 2.1-billion-US-dollar entertainment resort complex run by Lawrence Ho, head of Melco Crown Entertainment and son of Macau gaming tycoon Stanley Ho.

Dodds said Hard Rock's parent company, Seminole Tribe of Florida, was one of the most successful gaming businesses in the world and its entry into the Macau market was logical.

"If we are in the gaming business, it makes sense to be in the biggest gaming market in the world, which is Macau," he said.

Hard Rock International owns 124 Hard Rock Cafes and nine Hard Rock Hotels around the world.