Lexington's soft brand, Lexington Legacy, is starting 2013 strong with the addition of the beautiful New Kuta Hotel, located in the Pecatu Indah Resort in Bali, Indonesia. Just minutes from the popular white "Dreamland Beach" of New Kuta and surrounded by an 18-hole championship golf course, the five tower, 266-room hotel boasts beautiful views of the ocean and golf course.
Originally from Indonesia, Ms. Thio has over 20 years’ experience in international hospitality. Prior to joining Regent Bali, Ms. Thio was Area Director of Sales and Marketing for Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts. During her tenure, she oversaw the 2012 opening of the Banyan Tree Lang Co in Central Vietnam, managed PR and advertising for the brand throughout Southeast Asia, and expanded the sales network in Vietnam. A graduate of the University of Amsterdam where she earned a Master’s Degree in Economics and Marketing, Ms. Thio first gained insight into the international travel scene in the Netherlands before moving to Asia in 1996. Throughout her career Ms. Thio has held senior positions at such prestigious regional properties as Raffles Grand d’Angkor Hotel Siem Reap, COMO Hotels and Resorts Singapore, and Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta.
The new corporate legal entity will serve as the group's umbrella organization and be the name of the hotel management company behind all of its existing and upcoming hotels and resorts.
Agus is Indonesian and has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He graduated from the Hotel and Tourism Training Institute of BPLP Nusa Dua Bali and started his first career at The Oberoi, working in front office and sales. After three years he moved to the Risata Bali Resort in Kuta, and in 1996 joined WakaNusa Resort as Operations Manager, becoming General Manager two years later.
International visitor arrivals to Indonesia in the first nine months of 2012 rose by 5% to 5.9 million from 5.6 million visitors during the same period of 2011. The growth in visitor arrivals amid the current global economic uncertainties indicates that Indonesia remains one of Asia's popular destinations. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy remains confident that its target of receiving 8 million visitors in 2012 can be achieved. With foreign investments in the tourism sector in Indonesia reaching US$7.3 billion for the first nine months of 2012, compared to US$2.5 billion for the same period in 2011, Indonesia has now become a destination which provides hotel developers and chains with significant opportunities for growth.
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay announces the appointment of Jan-Peer Lehfeldt as General Manager of Sundara Restaurant, the new beachfront showpiece that is making waves across Bali.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, has announced the signing of InterContinental Jakarta Pondok Indah Hotel & Residences, in partnership with PT Pondok Indah Hotel, a subsidiary of public listed PT Metropolitan Kentjana Tbk.Scheduled to open in 2015, the 480-key property will be IHG's inaugural mixed-use development in Indonesia and will join a list of prestigious hotel and residence properties that the group has across the region, including InterContinental Asiana Saigon, InterContinental Dubai Festival City, InterContinental Doha The City, and the upcoming InterContinental Osaka in 2013.Currently under construction, the InterContinental Jakarta Pondok Indah Hotel & Residences comprises approximately 300 hotel rooms and 180 serviced residences. Centrally located in the affluent Pondok Indah district of South Jakarta, which also adjoins the Pondok Indah Mall 2, the property will have convenient access to up-market shopping malls, growing commercial office towers, international schools, hospitals, a waterpark and world-class championship golf facilities. The neighbouring area will also welcome a convention and exhibition centre in the future.Commented Husin Widjajakusuma, President Director of the PT Metropolitan Kentjana Tbk, "We are thrilled to work with IHG to introduce its maiden hotel and residences project in Indonesia. Located in one of the most sought after addresses in the city where there is a strong pent up demand for upscale accommodation, we are positive that InterContinental Jakarta Pondok Indah Hotel & Residences will cater to this growing segment and stimulate the hospitality industry in the country.""The signing of InterContinental Jakarta Pondok Indah Hotel & Residences is a perfect addition to our growing portfolio and will drive forward our expansion in this key growth market." said Jan Smits, Chief Executive Office, IHG Asia, Middle East and Africa. "With the country's exponential growth and infrastructure development, we see considerable potential for our hotel group and are delighted to partner with leading property developer PT Metropolitan Kentjana Tbk in bringing yet another deluxe accommodation to the region."The brand will also see a second InterContinental open in Bali in the same year with the InterContinental Bali Canggu Resort.
SEBASTIEN MENESGUEN has been appointed General Manager of Tauzia Hotel Management’s upcoming Bali property, the Eden Hotel Kuta. Since 2008, Menesguen has served as GM of another Tauzia hotel in Bali, the Harris Hotel & Residences Riverview Kuta.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts today announced a new development on the southern coast of Bali, Indonesia scheduled to open in 2016. Perched on a 'bukit', or bluff, on the spectacular Balinese coastline with a spectacular and unobstructed view of the Indian Ocean, Fairmont Bali will offer guests 170 luxurious guest rooms and suites as well as branded residences. Denniston International, one of the industry's leading hospitality design and planning firms, will oversee the project with their trademark approach of translating local culture into contemporary design.
India’s hotel industry has reported year-to-date decreases in the three key performance metrics, according to STR Global, the leading provider of market information in the hotel industry. For the period January-to-October 2012 YTD, India’s hotels on an average saw occupancy fall 0.8 percent to 57.7 percent, average daily rate drop 4.0 percent to INR6,117.72 and revenue per available room decrease 4.8 percent to INR3,532.54.
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), today announced the opening of the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort on Kuta Beach, one of world's renowned surfer's paradise in Bali. The hotel is located directly at the heart of Kuta beach with pristine Indian Ocean scenery. Owned by PT. Indonesian Paradise Island, the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort is part of a luxurious shopping destination, presenting over 200 retail outlets in an open-air style and designed architecture inspired by the design of Bali's rice paddy field. Centrally located at the heart of Pantai Kuta and just 5 kilometers away from Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), the resort's elevated position on the island provides amazing ocean and beach views.
CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has clinched a management contract for its first Ascott-branded serviced residence in Surabaya. The premier Ascott Waterplace Surabaya will offer 181 apartments when it opens in 2014. It will be Ascott's third property in Surabaya, after Citadines Marvell Surabaya and Somerset Surabaya Hotel & Serviced Residence. This also reinforces Ascott's position as the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in Indonesia, with over 2,200 apartment units across 10 properties.
StayWell Hospitality Group (StayWell), the owner and operator of the Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands today announced a new agreement to operate a 4 star hotel in Bali, Indonesia. The property will be branded as Park Regis Kuta with a proposed opening in early 2013 and will be StayWell Hospitality Group’s first hotel to officially open in Indonesia.
KOP Hospitality, a subsidiary of KOP Properties, has appointed Aloysius Michael as General Manager of Montigo Resorts, Nongsa, a sprawling 12-hectare property located on the exclusive north-east shore of Batam Island, Indonesia. Aloysius, in his new role, will be responsible for all operations, sales and marketing aspects of the five-star resort. Michael has an extensive background in the hospitality industry and was most recently with Dusit International as Corporate Director of Rooms and was instrumental in the opening of the Dusit Thani Maldives. During his tenure with Dusit, he also held various leadership roles as Resident Manager for the company’s hotel apartment in Dubai Marina, and as Resident Manager for the 457-room Dusit Thani Pattaya. Aloysius started his career in hospitality as Guest Services Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, where he also assumed management roles such as Communications Manager, Rooms Division.
Swiss-born Paul Linder comes to COMO with a wealth of experience managing distinguished hotels and wellness resorts all over the world. His previous role was with Chiva-Som in Thailand, where he was General Manager for over 10 years.Paul, who has also held senior management positions at The Shilla Hotel Seoul, The Oriental in Bangkok and Badrutt’s Palace in St Moritz, will divide his duties between COMO’s two properties, in central Bali. Although distinct in what they offer–Uma Ubud is an intimate retreat with a focus on discovery and active pursuits, while the Estate concentrates on privacy, wellbeing, nutrition and yoga–the two share COMO’s holistic ethos and commitment to understated luxury. Many guests often choose to divide their Balinese experience between the two COMO properties when they visit the island.
Best Western International – the World’s Largest Hotel Chain® – is on track to quintuple its portfolio in Indonesia with the opening of 25 new hotels in the next three years. The new developments, which encompass nine unique destinations and two of Best Western's brand tiers - midscale BEST WESTERN and luxury BEST WESTERN PREMIER - will expand the company's nationwide inventory from just over 600 rooms today to almost 3,500 by the beginning of 2015.
Autograph Collection, Marriott International's (NYSE: MAR) exclusive portfolio of independent hotels, continues its global growth with the opening of its first property in Asia Pacific. Newly opened, The Stones Legian, Bali, in Indonesia, represents the debut of Autograph Collection in the region. This new luxury hotel, located in one of the world's most idyllic destinations, continues to position Autograph Collection as the premium collection for the independent-minded traveler.
Drange, a 43-year old Norwegian national, brings over 20 years of extensive cooking experience with postings throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle-east with a recent stint at the prestigious Torch hotel in Doha.
With eight years in hotel sales and brand positioning with such international chains as the Marriott, Hilton and Sheraton hotels, Hotmida Petra Sari brings a set of fresh skills and industry knowledge to the Alila Jakarta. “Joining the team is a thrill for me as I have forever admired the property for its abstract-minimalist interiors and functional office space, fabulous spa and restaurants, and location,” said Sari.
Swiss-Belhotel International Chairman and President, Mr. Gavin M. Faull and Senior Vice President Operations and Development, Mr. Emmanuel Guillard recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Titan Property President Director, Mr. Abraham Sentosa Budiman and PT Megapolitan Developments Tbk Business Unit Director, Mr. Totonafo Lase, for Swiss-Belinn Karawaci, Tangerang. Taking place on 12 October 2012 in Jakarta - Indonesia, the signing ceremony was also attended by President Director of PT Megapolitan Developments Tbk, Mrs. Lora Melani Lowas Barak Rimba.