JAKARTA BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE

BusinessTravel Guide www.asiaoutlookmag.com

JAKARTA

A feast for the senses

J A K A R T A

JAKARTA Jakarta is establishing itself as a city of modern excellence, while developing its infrastructure in order to excel as a business travel hub in Indonesia Writer: Phoebe Calver Project Manager: Joe Palliser

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akarta is a city experiencing great change, building itself a new reputation as the perfect hub for business travellers and tourists alike.

As the current Chairman of Jakarta Hotels Association, Richard Mau explains: “Generally speaking, I would say that the vast majority of our members would define a large proportion of their guests at present as business travellers, and this is showing no signs of slowing down.”

Despite the fact that the city’s developments will bring about an incredibly exciting future, it is offering up some challenges to the current living conditions. At present the extensive construction work does not do Jakarta justice, however, if you take time to look beneath that you will see that the city offers up a plethora of surprises.

Access around the city and out to the slightly quieter outskirts is abundant, meaning that you can enjoy the best of both worlds during your time in Jakarta. Depending on

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ASIA the way in which you like to spend your downtime, you can seek out the colonial past within the old city. Alternatively, the newer and more confident side of Jakarta can be found in Merdeka Square, which provides you with the perfect insight into Indonesia’s future.

Whether you have an afternoon to spare or a few days, there is an endless supply of activities for you to enjoy and encapsulate the essence of Jakarta with; from the country’s top museums, to an abundance of restaurants and shopping that contends with the best in the world.

FACTS & FIGURES

Climate: Tropical monsoon climate Languages: Indonesian, English Area: 661.51 square kilometres Population (2016 estimate): 797,765 GDP (2017): 10,000,000 Currency: Indonesian Rupiah Time zone: UTC +7 Dialling code: +62 Internet TLD: .id

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The Business End the city, particularly in recent years.”

Other tourist attractions located around the city include Thousand Islands, Setu Babakan, Suda Kelapa, Ragunan Zoo, Atlantis Water Adventure and Dunia Fantasi.

The vast majority of renowned international hotel chains now have a prominent presence within the city, ensuring that Jakarta can easily cater for all the varied requirements of its guests.

W I T H T H A N K S T O apps such as Instagram, Jakarta is ranked the eighth most posted-about city in the world.

However, the city is yet to become a top international tourist destination, unlike its neighbouring Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

Despite that fact, Jakarta is still ranked as the fifth fastest growing destination among 132 cities published by the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index - last year. On average 59.1 percent was for business, while the remaining 40.9 percent were travelling there for leisure purposes.

Tourism is playing a huge role in the development of Jakarta, with an array of monuments, landmarks and museums located centrally around Merdeka Square and Jakarta Old

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IMAGE BY: GUNAWAN KARTAPRANATA

IMAGE BY: GUNAWAN KARTAPRANATA

Town, as Mau continues: “Jakarta has made tremendous improvements in the quality of hotels and general infrastructure developments within

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In the broader macro-economic sense, Indonesia is currently ranked in the top 20 for global economies, as Mau goes on to add: “In the next 30 years, I would be surprised if we didn’t move into the top five global economies behind China, the US and India.

“With this in mind, the future is bright for business travel accommodations and I believe that most hotel companies have long-term plans for the continuation of their growth and presence in Indonesia.

In short I would say that there are excellent prospects for economic viability in the future.”

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Out & About F R E E - T I M E S P E N T I N Jakarta will be like no other city you have experienced, providing you with an unforgettable feast for the senses.

The city really does have something for everyone, be that its extensive historical areas or the more modern regions that cater perfectly to the requirements of a busy business traveller.

There is an abundance of spectacular hotels to choose from that will make your stay as relaxing as possible, for example Hotel Borobudur, which is located only a short distance away from the busy business districts. You

will also find the majority of hotels catering to business clients will be able to provide you with a variety of dining options to suit every requirement.

If you have time to take in some of the older cultural aspects found in Jakarta, there are an abundance of museums which include Museum Bank Indonesia, Galeri Nasional and Museum Sejarah Jakarta.

In the modern Merdeka Square you will be treated to a glimpse of the future of Indonesia, with endless shops and restaurants that allow you to unwind and enjoy your free time in the middle of a truly cultural sensation.

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The Jakarta Hotels Association

THE JAKARTA HOTEL Association was established approximately 18 years ago, in a bid to bring together representatives from the various tourism-related industries in Jakarta, enabling them to network, exchange regulatory information that impacts their industry, gain updates on industry trends and pursue collaborative efforts in promotions, education and charitable initiatives.

Mau explains: “While the different leaderships may have gone about it in different ways over the years, I don’t believe that the vision for the Hotels Association has changed since inception.�

messages it tries to get across?

Richard Mau (RM): We have increased the number of leading Jakarta Hotels Association memberships and are optimistic that we will continue to see this rise, particularly with new properties coming onto the market.

We have become more engaged with the Government and tourism ministries, hoping to be able to form more of a collaborative relationship over time. Our educational development programmes have also improved, providing more of an impact by working with global organisations such as Cornell University and the leading Indonesian educational Asia Outlook (AsO): Since institutions. inception, how has Jakarta Hotels Our charitable efforts continue to Association developed and progressed allow the Association to give back to in terms of its key objectives and the the community, especially through the

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use of our Food Rescue programme where our members donated more than 30 tonnes of food in 2017. This enabled us to avoid food wastage, feeding more than 500,000 families with two million meals.

Through another of our initiatives named Habitat for Humanity, we have built homes for the less fortunate; however I would also like to point out that what we do as an association pales in comparison to the work that our members do on an individual hotel basis.

Asia Outlook (AsO): Taking a more general industry stance, how would you evaluate the tourism sector in Jakarta now compared to its condition when the Association began?

RM: Having been here for 10 years, I can say that Jakarta has made tremendous

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improvement in the quality of its hotels, staff skill, city-wide infrastructural developments and its attractions.

When I first came here there were crippling floods during the rainy seasons, whereas now it is less severe or not an issue at all. Secondly from our Government standpoint, they have started to really study leisure tourism as a viable source to attract more visitors.

Generally speaking, the vast majority of our members would define a large proportion of their guests as business travellers. Most of our resources and efforts for leisure tourism were dedicated to Bali, but I have seen a change with the current administration to develop Jakarta’s leisure travel. It will also serve as a short stopover as they develop the 10-key secondary tourism alternative destinations to

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Bali, as well as Lombok, Lake Toba, Belitung, Labuan Bajo Komodo Island and many others.

Asia Outlook (AsO): Finally, looking forward, if we were to speak again in three-five year’s time, what progress and development Asia Outlook (AsO): What is in would you hope and expect to be able store for Jakarta Hotels to report back, both in regards to the Association over the course of 2018 Jakarta Hotels Association as an entity, and beyond to continue the good work and in regards to the business travel already commenced and to enhance its industry in Jakarta as a whole? reputation as a tourism and business RM: I would hope that in five travel hub further in the future? year’s time our membership would RM: Recently we have installed our have grown by approximately 15-20 new Executive Committee, comprising percent, however, I would be a little a group of incredibly talented and more conservative when it comes to experienced group of hoteliers and I am business volume growth. The more honoured to serve as their chairperson. our number of hotels increase, the When you take into consideration more competition will grow and that we all have full-time roles on top subsequently I believe that some of this responsibility, we are focusing hotels will do better than others, our energy on improving what is but overall in the long-term the already being done. general demand will continue to grow.

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Outlook Recommends "Most of our resources and efforts for leisure tourism were dedicated to Bali, but I have seen a change with the current administration to develop Jakarta’s leisure travel." - Richard Mau, Chairman, Jakarta Hotels Association

HOTELS

Aloft Jakarta Wahid Hadyim

Hotel Borobudur

Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel

Hotel Borobudur Jakarta – owned and managed by Discovery Hotels and Resorts – holds a prime location in the centre of the city, only a short journey from the business districts, shopping malls, museums and government offices.

The Hotel provides the perfect place for you to sit back and relax after facing the hustle and bustle of a working day in the city, surrounded by 23 acres of tropical gardens with extensive recreational facilities, a conference centre with state-of-the-art meeting rooms, a brand-new wellness club, and seven varieties of dining outlets; all of which provide a relaxing oasis that enables you to escape the busy city.

The hotel has received numerous accolades over the years, including the Global Luxury Green Hotel, Leading City Hotel and Leading Business Hotel.

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Plaza Senayan

RESTAURANTS Amuz Gourmet

MONUMENTS Jakarta War Cemetery

Monumen Nasional Namaaz Dining Altitude at The Plaza Osel

Monumen Irian Jaya Pembebasan MUSEUMS

RETAIL

Museum Bank Indonesia

Senayan City

Galeri Nasional

Grand Indonesia

Museum Sejarah Jakarta

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JB AH KUATRATNA

Transport Links

IMAGE BY GUNAWAN KARTAPRANATA

W H E N I T C O M E S to entering the city, all international and most domestic flights will land at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, located at Tangerang, Banten. The airport has three terminals, all of which are located in the same building and easy to navigate upon arrival.

Jakarta itself is notoriously problematic when it comes to finding your way around, often falling prey to horrendous traffic jams that will slow the city down to a crawl during the various rush hours throughout the day. At present there is a big push to alleviate the prominent congestion within the city, utilising public transport, however it is still inadequate in completely revolutionising the issue.

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‘... the city is attempting to use technology to its advantage in making transportation more efficient and ordered' Despite its transportation issues, the city is attempting to use technology to its advantage in making transportation more efficient and ordered. When using your smartphone, you can pre-

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book a moto-taxi with a calculated price, as well as using UberMoto, UberPool, UberX, UberBlack and UberXL services across the city.

There are also equally popular local alternatives such as GoJek, which provides you with the option of a motorbike or car driver.

The option of a rental car is readily available, however, unless you are familiar with the local driving practices it is far more advisable to stick with reputable taxis.

Depending on your hotel destination, commuter trains are also a viable option, connecting the city centre with outlying regions such as Tangerang, Bekasi, Depok, Bojonggede and Bogor.

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Landmark Attractions

Museum National Indonesia

Merdeka Square

“The figurative if not the literal centre of Jakarta, Merdeka Square (merdeka means independence) is actually a trapezoid measuring almost one kilometres squared… It's always had an important role in local life. Today, once you've come to terms with the absurd fencing, you'll find a place where locals come to breathe.” – Lonely Planet

Istana Merdeka

“The National Museum of Indonesia houses prehistoric and historical items from all over Indonesia and Asia. Referred to locally as Museum Nasional, it is easily one of the must-visit stopovers for history buffs touring the large collection of historical sites spread throughout the capital city. It is hard to miss, just west of the ‘Monas’ national monument and right beside the Indonesian Ministry of Defence building.”

– Indonesia-holidays.com

“The presidential palace stands to the north of Merdeka Square. It was built in 1879 and was Sukamo's official residence during his reign, although Suharto spurned it. On 27 December 1949, the Dutch flag was lowered for the last time and the red-and-white flag of independent Indonesia was raised. Hundreds of thousands of Indonesians gathered to witness the event and chant merdeka (freedom).” - Lonely Planet

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Jin De Yuan

“This large Chinese Buddhist temple compound dates from 1755 and is one of the most important in the city. The main structure has an unusual roof crowned by two dragons eating pearls, while the interior is richly atmospheric: dense incense and candle smoke waft over Buddhist statues, ancient bells and drums, and some wonderful calligraphy.”

– Lonely Planet

Fatahillah Square

“Fatahillah Square, also known as Old Batavia, is the historical district of Jakarta located in Kotas. During Dutch Colonial times in the 16th century, this was the heart of the walled city. Home to attractions such as the Jakarta History Museum and many colonial buildings, this area fills up with artisans, jugglers, and tourists on the weekends.”

– TripAdvisor

Jakarta Planetarium and bservatory

“Planetarium and Observatory Jakarta is an educational tourism facility that presents performances / simulated show of astrology or celestial objects… Visitors are invited to wander in the universe to understand the conception of the universe.” – planetarium.jakarta

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BusinessTravel Guide joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 676

ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 672

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