Friday, March 30, 2012
ALOFT CONTINUES STYLISH GLOBAL EXPANSION; STARWOOD’S DESIGN-LED BRAND AIMS TO OPEN 70TH HOTEL IN 2013
Conversions and Adaptive Reuse Projects Enhance Global Growth
As Aloft Brand Spreads “Style At a Steal” to New Markets Worldwide
STAMFORD, Conn., March 27, 2012 – The world can’t get enough of “style at a steal.”
Aloft, the design-led brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:HOT), today unveiled a burgeoning global pipeline expected to bring the brand to 70 hotels around the world in 2013. A game-changer since its 2008 debut, Aloft will also continue blazing a trail by making conversions and adaptive-reuse projects a stronger part of its global growth.
Pioneering initiatives in music, design, and technology have positioned Aloft as a must-have living-social brand for Gen Y travelers. Aloft has reported consistently high guest satisfaction scores since launch, reflecting the success of its modern and vibrant design at an affordable price point. The brand’s social guest experience, with the buzzing re:mix lounge and w xyz bar, has earned select hotels within the portfolio designations in TripAdvisor's 2012 "Top 25 Trendiest Hotels in the US" rankings.
“With 55+ properties now open on four continents, the “style at a steal” brand also continues to make powerful gains in market share,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President for Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “Because of Aloft’s fiercely loyal following, and its well-deserved halo around design and technology, Aloft properties have quickly grabbed market share wherever they’ve opened. Aloft’s been embraced wholeheartedly by the next generation of traveler and a broad range of travelers continue to discover the brand.”
Conversions, Adaptive-Reuse Projects to Enhance Aloft’s Global Growth
Conversions and adaptive-reuse projects will help Aloft meet demand from partners and developers to bring more properties online, according to Simon Turner, Starwood’s President of Global Development. “Adaptive reuse projects aren’t just an expedient way to bring more Aloft properties online quickly; they’re also a way to expand sustainably, and merge Aloft’s urban aesthetic with historic structures in a way that appeals to guests, partners, and developers,” he said. “For the next generation of traveler, how we grow Aloft is just as important as where we grow Aloft. And we are just beginning to tap the brand’s potential.”
Aloft recently announced its first conversion project, Aloft San Francisco Airport; once a Clarion, it will undergo significant renovation before opening as an Aloft in fall of 2012. A new adaptive-reuse project, Aloft Detroit Downtown, is slated to open July 2014; it will transform part of Detroit’s majestic David Whitney Building into a singular Aloft property. Aloft’s first adaptive-reuse project, Aloft Dallas Downtown, won acclaim and awards after its 2009 debut, including a special “Green” award from Preservation Dallas.
Aloft Expands Latin America Presence; China Footprint Grows
Nearly every corner of the globe will see new Aloft hotels opening in 2012-2013.
China: Aloft’s portfolio will grow with the opening of Aloft Zhengzhou Zhengdong New District, Aloft Yancheng, Aloft Dalian.
India: The brand’s Indian presence will expand with new properties including Aloft Ahmedabad, Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park, and Aloft Chandigarh Zirakpur.
Malaysia: Aloft will debut in Malaysia when Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral opens its doors.
Latin America: Aloft San Jose, the brand’s first hotel in Costa Rica, opened in February. And Aloft Panama will debut in Panama City next year as Aloft’s first Panama property.
North America: U.S. properties set to open in 2012-2013 include Aloft Cupertino (CA); Aloft Miami-Brickell (FL); Aloft Doral (FL); Aloft Orlando (FL); Aloft Asheville (NC); Aloft Cleveland (OH); Aloft Oklahoma City (OK); and Aloft Tulsa (OK). Canada will see openings for Aloft Calgary University (AB) and Aloft Vaughan Mills (ON).
In 2011, the brand’s stylish new properties included Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 (Thailand), Aloft Bogota Airport (Colombia), Aloft London Excel (UK), and Aloft New York Brooklyn.
About Aloft Hotels
With more than 55 hotels open in the three years since Aloft first arrived on the scene, Aloft has changed the hotel landscape offering “style at a steal” from Baltimore to Beijing to Bogota to Brussels and everywhere in between. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com
Aloft, like all brands within Starwood's portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,090 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com
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Press Contact:
Alethea Lam
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Alethea.Lam@starwoodhotels.com
Punnee Bunma
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Punnee.Bunma@starwoodhotels.com
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Luxury Collection Hotel Prepares to Open in Jakarta
Source: World Propety Channel
http://www.worldpropertychannel.com/asia-pacific-vacation-news/the-keraton-at-the-plaza-starwood-hotels-resorts-luxury-collection-hotel-indonesian-hotels-downtown-jakarta-jakarta-hotels-plaza-indonesia-5464.php
Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced this week that The Keraton at The Plaza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, will soon open to the world in late April 2012.
Located in the heart of Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta, The Keraton at The Plaza is an iconic oasis of quiet luxury on the Jalan Thamrin, one of Jakarta's most prestigious streets. With its unique modern ambiance reflective of Jakarta's rich indigenous culture, a luxury spa and a full suite of distinctive amenities and epicurean experiences, The Keraton at the Plaza is an inimitable focal point for distinguished business and leisure travelers.
"We are delighted to introduce the world to The Keraton at The Plaza - the latest Luxury Collection offering," said Klaus Woizik, general manager of the hotel. "The Keraton will be a unique urban oasis in downtown Jakarta. We offer world-wise travelers renowned Indonesian hospitality in a distinct, contemporary setting that is infused with Indonesian culture, their luxurious home away from home."
Inspired by the Javanese word for "palace", The Keraton at The Plaza is a distinct and intimate luxury hotel offering a unique, modern interpretation of the rich Indonesian culture. Rising from the 8th to the 22nd floors of the Keraton building, The Keraton is ideally located in the heart of Jakarta on Jalan Thamrin, a prestigious address that includes embassies, corporate headquarters, museums and Jakarta's high-end shopping and entertainment complex, Plaza Indonesia. It is the perfect locale and setting for hosting corporate visitors and board meetings, intimate celebrations or a romantic getaway.
The Keraton at The Plaza offers 140 spacious guest rooms and suites, including four sumptuous Keraton suites more than 135sqm each. Ranging in size from 61 - 140sqm, each guest room and suite is a haven of Javanese luxury, offering an open floor design with spectacular views of downtown Jakarta through floor-to-ceiling windows. With interior design by SCDA Singapore and the Burega Farnell, the sleek décor of The Keraton at The Plaza is inspired by the diversity of Indonesia's geography and culture, with splashes of color, rich woods, and intricate Batik floral patterns. Artworks displayed throughout the hotel are commissioned to Hadiprana, a famous Indonesian interior designer. Each room offers state of the art in-room technology, including a 42-inch LCD Television with cable, as well as a 22-inch LCD television in the study with iPad, iPod and PC connectivity. Finally, each suite comes with personal, 24-hour butler service which includes a nightly turn-down.
The immersive indigenous experience at The Keraton at The Plaza includes Bengawan, an authentic five-star Indonesian restaurant featuring a customized menu of Indonesian cuisine that incorporates the local flavors and ingredients of the islands. Located on the seventh floor, Bengawan is a spacious indoor-outdoor restaurant with spectacular views of Jakarta below. The restaurant has a natural open feel with lush green foliage, soothing water features and outdoor seating on the balcony. At The Keraton Lounge, guests can spend the afternoon enjoying traditional Indonesian High Tea featuring a menu of local teas and delicacies. In the evenings, The Keraton Lounge offers classic cocktails and signature Luxury Collection favorites.
The Keraton at The Plaza is perfectly situated in the heart of downtown Jakarta, in the middle of the Plaza Indonesian, Jakarta's most luxurious shopping and entertainment complex, with a thriving mix of restaurants, night clubs, theaters and high-end retail. A dynamic and cosmopolitan capitol city, Jakarta is home to some of Indonesia's most important cultural treasures - many of which are located just steps from the hotel. The famous Selamat Datang monument, which welcomes visitors to Indonesia, is located adjacent to the Plaza. Other nearby cultural treasures includes the Museum Fatahillah, Museum Gajah and the National Monument in the center of Merdeka Square.
Golfers will love the close proximity to world-class championship golf courses including the Pondok Indah Golf Course, which seamlessly blends in with the indigenous foliage; and the prestigious Klub Golf Sanayan inside the Senayan Sport Center Complex.
http://www.worldpropertychannel.com/asia-pacific-vacation-news/the-keraton-at-the-plaza-starwood-hotels-resorts-luxury-collection-hotel-indonesian-hotels-downtown-jakarta-jakarta-hotels-plaza-indonesia-5464.php
Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced this week that The Keraton at The Plaza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, will soon open to the world in late April 2012.
Located in the heart of Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta, The Keraton at The Plaza is an iconic oasis of quiet luxury on the Jalan Thamrin, one of Jakarta's most prestigious streets. With its unique modern ambiance reflective of Jakarta's rich indigenous culture, a luxury spa and a full suite of distinctive amenities and epicurean experiences, The Keraton at the Plaza is an inimitable focal point for distinguished business and leisure travelers.
"We are delighted to introduce the world to The Keraton at The Plaza - the latest Luxury Collection offering," said Klaus Woizik, general manager of the hotel. "The Keraton will be a unique urban oasis in downtown Jakarta. We offer world-wise travelers renowned Indonesian hospitality in a distinct, contemporary setting that is infused with Indonesian culture, their luxurious home away from home."
Inspired by the Javanese word for "palace", The Keraton at The Plaza is a distinct and intimate luxury hotel offering a unique, modern interpretation of the rich Indonesian culture. Rising from the 8th to the 22nd floors of the Keraton building, The Keraton is ideally located in the heart of Jakarta on Jalan Thamrin, a prestigious address that includes embassies, corporate headquarters, museums and Jakarta's high-end shopping and entertainment complex, Plaza Indonesia. It is the perfect locale and setting for hosting corporate visitors and board meetings, intimate celebrations or a romantic getaway.
The Keraton at The Plaza offers 140 spacious guest rooms and suites, including four sumptuous Keraton suites more than 135sqm each. Ranging in size from 61 - 140sqm, each guest room and suite is a haven of Javanese luxury, offering an open floor design with spectacular views of downtown Jakarta through floor-to-ceiling windows. With interior design by SCDA Singapore and the Burega Farnell, the sleek décor of The Keraton at The Plaza is inspired by the diversity of Indonesia's geography and culture, with splashes of color, rich woods, and intricate Batik floral patterns. Artworks displayed throughout the hotel are commissioned to Hadiprana, a famous Indonesian interior designer. Each room offers state of the art in-room technology, including a 42-inch LCD Television with cable, as well as a 22-inch LCD television in the study with iPad, iPod and PC connectivity. Finally, each suite comes with personal, 24-hour butler service which includes a nightly turn-down.
The immersive indigenous experience at The Keraton at The Plaza includes Bengawan, an authentic five-star Indonesian restaurant featuring a customized menu of Indonesian cuisine that incorporates the local flavors and ingredients of the islands. Located on the seventh floor, Bengawan is a spacious indoor-outdoor restaurant with spectacular views of Jakarta below. The restaurant has a natural open feel with lush green foliage, soothing water features and outdoor seating on the balcony. At The Keraton Lounge, guests can spend the afternoon enjoying traditional Indonesian High Tea featuring a menu of local teas and delicacies. In the evenings, The Keraton Lounge offers classic cocktails and signature Luxury Collection favorites.
The Keraton at The Plaza is perfectly situated in the heart of downtown Jakarta, in the middle of the Plaza Indonesian, Jakarta's most luxurious shopping and entertainment complex, with a thriving mix of restaurants, night clubs, theaters and high-end retail. A dynamic and cosmopolitan capitol city, Jakarta is home to some of Indonesia's most important cultural treasures - many of which are located just steps from the hotel. The famous Selamat Datang monument, which welcomes visitors to Indonesia, is located adjacent to the Plaza. Other nearby cultural treasures includes the Museum Fatahillah, Museum Gajah and the National Monument in the center of Merdeka Square.
Keraton at the Plaza, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS ANNOUNCES AN EXCITING COLLECTION OF NEW CULINARY BENEFITS INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE SPG MEMBER DISCOUNTS AT OVER 500 RESTAURANTS AND BARS WORLDWIDE
Starwood Preferred Guest Launches a New Website, SPG.com/restaurantsandbars, that Offers SPG Members Access to Exclusive Discounts, VIP Culinary Experiences with World Renowned Chefs and the Opportunity to Win an Around the World Culinary Journey in a Global Sweepstakes – ‘Around the World in 5 Meals’
Stamford, CT – March 27, 2012 –Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and its award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) loyalty program announced a mix of new culinary benefits at over 500 restaurants and bars for SPG members globally to enjoy at home and on the road. In conjunction with this announcement, SPG launched a new website, www.SPG.com/restaurantsandbars, where SPG members can take advantage of these exclusive discounts at more than 500 restaurants and bars worldwide. The website will also feature an opportunity to register and win an around the world VIP culinary journey with an SPG member only sweepstakes ‘Around the World in 5 Meals’. Members can earn Starpoints for these dining experiences and turn a night out into a weekend getaway. Through the SPG Moments program, SPG members will have access to VIP culinary experiences with world-renowned chefs such as Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud and Masaharu Morimoto.
“We are thrilled to present a platform that showcases our award-winning portfolio of restaurants and chefs from around the world, said Jean Luc Barone, Vice President of Global Food & Beverage for Starwood. “Through proprietary programming, content, special access and discounts, we’ve created a resource that is ideal for the mobile traveler.”
SPG Members will have the opportunity to explore new restaurants and bars in their home market, or discover new venues to experience while traveling. SPG members can receive discounts ranging from 10% to 30% at over 500 participating restaurants and bars globally as well as continue to earn Starpoints on all eligible food & beverage spend to get even closer to their next dream vacation. As part of SPG’s continued commitment to providing one of a kind experiences for its members, SPG.com/restaurantsandbars will also feature chef cooking classes and videos with SPG chefs demonstrating how to create their signature dishes.
“In addition to uniting an amazing collection of chefs and cuisine with SPG members, our dining Moments provide members with the opportunity to indulge in memorable culinary experiences with some of the best chefs in the world,” said Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President of Starwood Preferred Guest.
Recognizing the importance of allowing SPG members to access restaurant and bar content while on the move, SPG.com/restaurantsandbars is mobile optimized, has Google Maps and online booking integration. This exclusive content is readily available to make it even easier for members to explore and book participating restaurants and bars. Other website features include access to venue event calendars, menus and exclusive SPG member promotions, videos and more. To learn more about this exciting program, please visit www.SPG.com/restaurantsandbars
Around the World in 5 Meals Sweepstakes – Win an Around the World Food Journey
To celebrate the launch of the new culinary benefits, SPG is launching an exclusive SPG member only, global sweepstakes, ‘Around the World in 5 Meals.’ SPG members are invited to create a tailor made ‘around the world’ food experience by selecting five destinations from all participating venues on a world map. SPG members submit their journey to be entered into a sweepstakes and one lucky member will then win their around the world culinary experience. To reward those SPG members that dine in participating restaurants and bars on an ongoing basis, every meal in a participating venue represents an extra entry to the sweepstakes. Register at www.SPG.com/aroundtheworld
About Starwood Preferred Guest
The SPG program’s breakthrough policy of No Blackout Dates at the world’s most sought after collection of hotels reinvented the hospitality loyalty program when it launched in 1999. By creating a program centered on its members, SPG has developed the most passionate and knowledgeable membership base in the hotel loyalty space. Through its use of new technologies and innovative channels such as SPG.com, SPG.com/stayconnected, SPG.com/flights and others, SPG continues to innovate and lead the industry. By offering No Blackouts on standard rooms at 1,090 hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries, No Blackouts on hundreds of airlines, the introduction of Your24 and SPG Lifetime, and once in a lifetime experiences available through SPG Moments at SPG.com/moments, the program has proven to be a big draw for the world’s most frequent travelers, and a significant competitive advantage for Starwood. For more information about Starwood Preferred Guest please visit www.SPG.com
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1090 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com
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Press Contact:
Alethea Lam
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Alethea.Lam@starwoodhotels.com
Punnee Bunma
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Punnee.Bunma@starwoodhotels.com
Monday, March 26, 2012
WESTIN HOTELS ON TRACK TO HIT 200TH HOTEL MILESTONE
Stamford, Conn. – March 22, 2012 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced its Westin brand is on track to open its 200th hotel in the next 12 months, propelled by strong growth across Asia Pacific. Westin will open 11 new hotels this year, all but three outside the United States. More than half will open in China, the brand’s strongest growth market. Westin will also add new hotels in Indonesia, Panama City, New York and Snowmass, Colorado.
“A long-time developer favorite in the U.S., Westin has emerged as a global market leader as witnessed by our surge of new hotel development in Asia Pacific, as well as continued momentum in Latin America,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. “Westin has been the brand to beat in the developed world for the better part of a decade now, with brand awareness well ahead of its competitive set despite a footprint one third the size.”
Westin Extends Reach in Latin America
Westin is picking up the pace of development in Latin America where the brand has doubled its footprint over the last 18 months. Following this year’s opening of The Westin Panama, the brand will boast 11 hotels in Latin America, spanning five countries: Mexico, Panama, Peru, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
“The Westin brand’s emphasis on well-being has struck a chord with travelers worldwide and helped propel us forward in both established and emerging markets,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts. “One of our most promising growth markets is Latin America, where demand for new hotels is building momentum.”
Key openings in 2011 included the first Westin in South America in Lima, Peru, the sixth Starwood hotel in Panama, which is emerging as a key financial hub in Latin America, and Starwood’s first all-inclusive resort – The Westin Playa Conchal Resort & Spa in Costa Rica.
Asia Pacific Demand Fuels the Westin Brand’s Global Growth
Westin will add six new hotels in China in 2012, resulting in a portfolio of 19 properties in this key market by year’s end, extending the brand’s reach in second and third tier cities. The new Westin hotels will open in fast-growing cities across China including Ningbo, Xiamen, Changbaishan, Taiyuan, Qingdao and Xian. These openings will be followed by four more Westin hotels in China by the end of 2013.
Indonesia will welcome its second Westin in 2012 – The Westin Ubud Resort & Spa, a highly anticipated addition to the brand’s growing resorts portfolio. Westin has also signed deals to debut in both Vietnam and Singapore by 2015.
About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts makes the healthiest choices irresistibly appealing, so guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. With more than 186 hotels and resorts in over 36 countries and territories, Westin is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,090 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and ElementSM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com/
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Press Contact:
Alethea Lam
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Alethea.Lam@starwoodhotels.com
Punnee Bunma
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Punnee.Bunma@starwoodhotels.com
STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS TAPS LUXURY MARKETER VINCENT GILLET TO LEAD W HOTELS AND LE MERIDIEN BRANDS
NEW YORK – March 21, 2012 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that it has named Vincent Gillet the Global Brand Leader for W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts. With more than 20 years of luxury lifestyle brand management and global expertise with companies such as LVMH, Chanel and Pernod Ricard, Gillet has spent the past three years as Chief Marketing Officer for Six Senses Resorts & Spas, based in Bangkok, Thailand. Gillet, 40, will report to Phil McAveety, Starwood’s Chief Brand Officer. He replaces Eva Ziegler, who has chosen to leave Starwood and return to Europe after a remarkable six years with the company.
“We believe that Vincent’s experience working with global luxury lifestyle brands in key markets will be especially valuable for W Hotels and Le Méridien,” said Phil McAveety, Chief Brand Officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “Vincent’s extensive brand knowledge will no doubt be crucial as we further develop and grow these two great brands.”
As Global Brand Leader for W Hotels and Le Méridien, Gillet will oversee the strategic direction of the brands and their combined portfolio of more than 140 hotels around the world. In his new role, he will lead the development and execution of the W and Le Méridien brands’ global marketing strategy, guest experience, standards and communications programs and help drive hotel development opportunities.
While at Six Senses, Gillet led the company’s marketing team and was the architect of its brand and sales strategy, resulting in market share gains in emerging markets such as China, Russia and India. He also spearheaded efforts to align and simplify the Six Senses brand portfolio and developed the strategy to launch a central reservations system as well as an incentive affinity program. He also had dotted line responsibility for the company’s sales, residential and retail teams.
Prior to joining Six Senses, Gillet worked in senior positions in the luxury beverage and fashion industries, based primarily in London. He spent six years with the Chanel Group in a variety of marketing communications roles. From there he spent another six years leading key champagne brands, initially with LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton S.A. working on the Moet & Chandon brand in the UK. In a move to Pernod Ricard, Vincent took on a Country Manager role for the Mumm and Perrier Jouet champagnes. From there he moved within Pernod Ricard to serve as Global Brand Director for the Stolichnaya brand. The growth of the ‘Stoli’ brand during his four year tenure was exceptional, both in core markets (United States and Europe) and through market introductions (Asian developing markets). In this role he was responsible for global brand positioning, advertising, packaging, brand visual identity, public relations, events and the brand’s innovation pipeline.
Gillet is an M.A graduate of ISC Business School in Paris and will reside with his family in New York.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1090 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com
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Press Contact:
Alethea Lam
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Alethea.Lam@starwoodhotels.com
Punnee Bunma
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Punnee.Bunma@starwoodhotels.com
SHERATON BRIGHTENS GUEST DIETS WITH LAUNCH OF COLOR YOUR PLATE™ BY SHERATON FITNESS BY CORE PERFORMANCE™
Hotel Giant Introduces Simple Approach to Eating Right by Adding Colorful Foods And Well-Balanced Options to Menus across its Global Portfolio
STAMFORD, Conn. March 20, 2012 – Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is encouraging guests to get ready for summer by adding a little color to their diet. Starwood’s global powerhouse today announced its new approach to nutrition with Color Your Plate by Sheraton Fitness, a dining program that makes it easy for travelers to eat healthy on the road. All it takes is adding three colors from fruits and vegetables to your plate to help stay in shape and increase energy while travelling. The new menus are also great for your waistline – all featured items are 500 calories or less. The program is the latest extension of Sheraton Fitness programmed by Core Performance and is now available at more than 400 hotels worldwide.
“Traveling used to be an excuse for poor nutrition,” said Core Performance Founder, Mark Verstegen whose nutrition and research team developed the new program. “Sheraton is now offering an innovative and easy way for guests to enjoy healthy, delicious meals on the road.”
Color Your Way to a Healthier Diet
The Color Your Plate initiative incorporates Core Performance’s “Nutrition Color Code” to educate Sheraton guests about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. All menu items feature colorful, key nutrients from fruits and vegetables to ensure all meals represent the perfect dietary balance.
• Yellow foods: optimize brain functions
• Green foods: rejuvenate musculature and bone
• Orange foods: support skin and eye health
• Red foods: support heart and circulatory health
• White foods: enhance immune system, lymph system and cellular recovery
• Purple foods: promote microcirculation
The branded menus also follow the Core Performance philosophy by offering well-balanced meals that provide proper fuel for the body. With the new menus available at restaurants and in-room dining, guests now have access to a global library of nutritious, tasteful dishes no matter where their travels take them.
In 2007, Sheraton partnered with renowned training experts Core Performance to develop Sheraton Fitness Programmed by Core Performance – the brand’s signature fitness offering that lets guests use the strategies developed by the leading experts in pro-athlete training to become the ultimate road warrior. This alliance marked the first time that Core Performance partnered with a hotel company to create customized training and nutrition programs for travelers. Color Your Plate is the newest extension of Sheraton Fitness and the brand’s approach to nutrition.
“The last thing people have time to think about on the road is getting the nutrients they need,” adds Amanda Carlson-Phillips, MS, RD, CSSD, Vice President of Nutrition and Research at Core Performance. “By brightening their plates with colorful fruits and vegetables, we hope the program encourages travelers to re-think their nutrient needs while still enjoying the tasty menu items they have come to expect from Sheraton chefs.”
Color Your Plate offers a variety of flavorsome, well-balanced menu options, including: Skirt Steak Chimichurri, Shrimp Tacos, Portobello Burger and All-Natural Roasted Turkey BLT with lemon mustard aioli. For more information please visit www.sheraton.com/fitness.
Starwood has spent the last few years renovating and rebuilding one of the hotel industry’s most iconic brands and Sheraton now stands better than ever with the strongest portfolio in its history. The brand is gaining market share, RevPAR continues to rise, guest satisfaction scores are the highest in the brand’s history and likelihood to return, likelihood to recommend and meeting planner and associate engagement scores are also at all-time highs – signaling that guests are taking notice and rediscovering the new Sheraton, and increasing the brand’s appeal to owners and developers.
About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 properties in 70 countries around the world and recently completed a $6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of a $5 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1090 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com
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Press Contact:
Alethea Lam
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Punnee Bunma
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST’S NEW, ‘GO-TO’ APP UNITES ALL STARWOOD BRANDS USING INNOVATIVE STATE-AWARE INTERFACE
Latest SPG app for iPhone® employs state-aware technology to provide personalized customer service, recommendations, bookings and travel information for a seamless, guest-centric experience across the company’s nine distinct brands
Stamford, Conn. – March 2012 – Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), the award-winning loyalty program from Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), today introduces its new application for iPhone and iPod Touch, which utilizes state-aware technology to create personalized guest experiences across Starwood’s nine distinct brands. The latest development is part of Starwood’s ongoing commitment to tech innovation to meet the needs of today’s connected global traveler—for example, Starwood was the first in the industry to offer FaceTime customer service, a feature that’s built into the new SPG app. The app also includes fully integrated booking, member information, comprehensive hotel searches and travel details, customer service and social media.
Meeting the Needs of Today’s Mobile Traveler
A still-growing trend in the hospitality industry, Starwood’s mobile revenue has increased by more than 300 percent year-over-year, and the company has found that the patterns of travelers using mobile devices to book rooms are markedly different from those of more traditional web bookers. For instance, two-thirds of mobile bookings are within 24 hours of the stay, triple that of web bookings.
“Mobile is a vital part of our business’s future, and it’s fast becoming the preferred way to book travel in both established and emerging markets around the world, such as the United States and China,” said Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President of Starwood Preferred Guest and Digital. “We’ve built the new SPG app to be an all-in-one travel tool that connects our guests with all of the information they need to enhance their experience during their journey with us.”
“Mobile is a vital part of our business’s future, and it’s fast becoming the preferred way to book travel in both established and emerging markets around the world, such as the United States and China,” said Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President of Starwood Preferred Guest and Digital. “We’ve built the new SPG app to be an all-in-one travel tool that connects our guests with all of the information they need to enhance their experience during their journey with us.”
Following guest feedback and member focus groups, SPG integrated key features into the app instead of directing to an outside mobile browser, creating a faster, more user-friendly experience. New options include the ability to find hotels by airport code or map and a streamlined home screen with “tiles” that are easily tapped or swiped to access frequent requests, such as account information, upcoming stays, customer support and special offers.
State-Aware Interface
The SPG app is the first in the travel industry—and one of the first apps ever—to utilize state-aware technology, creating an interface that unites all nine of Starwood’s distinct lifestyle brands and its nearly 1,100 hotels and resorts; and adjusts the app’s look, feel and content depending on whether the user is planning, en route or already checked in to a specific hotel. Starting 48-hours before a guest is scheduled to arrive at a Starwood hotel or resort, the app sends a push notification; and the “My Stay” interface becomes reflective of the specific brand and property, with home-screen access to key information such as hotel address in both English and the local language, weather, directions and hotel amenities. Once at the hotel, the guest’s stay is enhanced with integrated content such as their room number, on- and off-property dining and activity suggestions, and in-app access to social media channels such as FourSquare and Facebook.
The app also offers an “Explore” tab for discovery when users don’t have a specific destination in mind. Explore provides customized hotel recommendations based on individual preferences such as trip type (e.g., beach, city, wedding), brand, SPG category and interests.
Personalized, Guest-Centric Interface
As part of Starwood’s continued dedication to personalized guest service, the new app includes extensive content that’s easily filtered and customized. Members can use the app to store all relevant information about their SPG profile and upcoming and past stays, as well as send hotel confirmation or other details to anyone via text or email. And, it incorporates location-based services to connect users, as needed, to the closest customer care center, in addition to a live FaceTime support option.
“The new SPG app will help us build even deeper relationships with our loyal guests and provide them with relevant content not only while on-property but also before and after they stay with us,” said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President, Starwood Distribution, Loyalty & Partnerships. “The app is carefully calibrated to reflect the SPG brand as well as the unique personality of each hotel but, more importantly, to reflect what’s most important to each guest. While some users will love tapping through the gorgeous hotel photos and reading the rich content, others will use the app strictly for practical purposes; and the app lets them customize their own experience.”
Starwood’s mobile team partnered with Bottle Rocket to design and develop the SPG app—resulting in smart, intuitive navigation that seamlessly integrates SPG and hotel-specific branding into the iPhone’s famously user-friendly interface. The app, currently available for free from the App Store on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad or at www.spg.com/iphoneapp, is the latest development in SPG’s evolution into a hyper-personalized guest services platform (earlier this month, SPG unveiled a suite of elite member benefits, including 24-hour check-in, access to a Starwood ambassador, confirmable upgrades and free breakfast). Currently available in English worldwide, the SPG app will be updated throughout 2012 with additional versions in Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and the Romance languages; and new devices such as the iPad.
About Starwood Preferred Guest
The SPG program’s breakthrough policy of No Blackout Dates at the world’s most sought after collection of hotels reinvented the hospitality loyalty program when it launched in 1999. By creating a program centered on its members, SPG has developed the most passionate and knowledgeable membership base in the hotel loyalty space. Through its use of new technologies and innovative channels such as SPG.com, SPG.com/stayconnected, SPG.com/flights and others, SPG continues to innovate and lead the industry. By offering No Blackouts on standard rooms at 1,090 hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries, No Blackouts on hundreds of airlines, the introduction of Your24 and SPG Lifetime, and once in a lifetime experiences available through SPG Moments at spg.com/moments, the program has proven to be a big draw for the world’s most frequent travelers, and a significant competitive advantage for Starwood. For more information about Starwood Preferred Guest please visit http://www.spg.com/
About Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
About Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1090 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com
About Bottle Rocket Apps
Bottle Rocket Apps (http://www.bottlerocketapps.com/) is a full-service mobile app development firm, focused on creating hand-crafted apps for the world's most discriminating brands. Since its founding in early 2008, Bottle Rocket has completed more than 60 iPhone, iPad and Android apps for leading brands such as NPR, PBS, Disney, ESPN, TBS, TNT, National Geographic, the National Science Foundation, The Seattle Times, Discovery Channel, BET, A&E Television, SPIN Magazine, Bravo Television, American Express and AARP. The company’s apps have won numerous industry accolades including multiple Apple Hall of Fame awards, and frequently appear at the top of their categories on the App Store. The Bottle Rocket team of senior strategists, architects, developers and artists work their magic from the company’s offices in Dallas, Texas.
* * *
Press Contact:
Alethea Lam
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Alethea.Lam@starwoodhotels.com
Punnee Bunma
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific
Punnee.Bunma@starwoodhotels.com
Crowne Plaza Semarang Introduces the Largest Hotel Ballroom in Central Java
Crowne Plaza Semarang welcomes ‘Visit Central Java 2013’with
strong MICE offerings
Semarang, INDONESIA, February 25th 2012 – Crowne Plaza Semarang welcomes the local tourism authority’s ‘Visit Central Java 2013’ campaign with
strong offerings, aimed to further drive MICE (meetings, incentives,
conferences and exhibitions) tourism to Central Java. Newly opened on 22 January
2012, it is the first Crowne Plaza hotel in the region.
“Semarang , the capital of Central
Java, is a well-known MICE destination amongst business travellers from Jakarta
Crowne Plaza
Semarang offers 270 rooms and suites, two restaurants and a lobby lounge, an
executive club lounge, swimming pools, a fitness centre, a business centre, and
a wedding gallery. The Grand Ballroom - designed for large-scale occasions such
as international conventions, national seminars, exhibitions and wedding
receptions – can accommodate up to 2,000 guests. The hotel also houses meeting
rooms in various layouts for small to medium-sized events of 20 to 100 guests.
The pillar-less
1,890 square metre hall can be divided into 5 smaller function spaces with
modular partitions. Equipped with the latest audio-visual and lighting
technology, its walls and partitions are also sound-proof.
“The cities of Solo and Yogyakarta
have enjoyed the benefits of having large exhibition halls, and they have
hosted many national events due to the availability of suitable MICE
facilities,” said Bustamar Koto, director of sales
& marketing, Crowne Plaza Semarang. “To be able to compete with other cities, Semarang Semarang
# # #
Media Contacts:
Jean Tan Mohammad Iqbal
Jean Tan Mohammad Iqbal
IHG Marketing
Communications Manager
Tel: +65 6395 6109 Crowne Plaza Semarang
jean.tan@ihg.com +62 24 8657 9111
Tel: +65 6395 6109 Crowne Plaza Semarang
jean.tan@ihg.com +62 24 8657 9111
Gene Vallejo-Yeo / Iris Leong
Bite Communications for IHG
+65 6323 7377
gene.yeo@bitecommunications.com
Notes to Editors:
About
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts
As part of the IHG global portfolio, Crowne
Plaza Hotels & Resorts (Crowne
Plaza Crowne Plaza was recently recognised by Lodging
Hospitality magazine as one of the industry's top-growing brands and travel
buyers rated Crowne
Plaza
Truly international,
About IHG
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a
global organisation operating seven hotel brands including InterContinental®
Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts,
Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and
Candlewood Suites® . IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world’s first
and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 63 million members worldwide.
IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,400 hotels and more than
658,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories, and has more than
1,100 hotels in its development pipeline.
IHG expects to recruit around 90,000 new people worldwide across its
estate over the next few years and is committed to gender balance throughout
its business. We aspire to continue retaining a minimum of 25% female
representation on the Board.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is
incorporated in Great Britain
and registered in England
and Wales
Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.priorityclub.com for more on Priority Club Rewards. For our latest news, visit www.ihg.com/media, www.twitter.com/ihgplc or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.
To Sell = To Serve
The Significance of Taking Good Care of Customers.
"It takes months even years to find a customer and it takes only seconds to lose one." --- Customer 101.
The above quote seems to be very suitable to what I recently experienced dealing with a customer. In this post, I would like to covey a message that we have to pay good attention, focus to the customer, hence take really good care if we don't want to lose them. Sometimes, a single mistake could be a fatal.
Let's say a company who has been our loyal client for years. Based on experiences and long-term relationship, the company put a pretty high expectation on our quality and standard of services. This is a trust and it is good. The fact; it is not easy task to reach this level of trust. But once we fail to deliver what we promised, the story tells a different plot.
For example, a sales person of hotel A, that normally takes care of company B resigned and left the job. For some reasons, the position is vacant for couple of months and hence no body replaces the salesperson. Plus, there is no proper hand-over to anybody to take care of the company B.
The company is an International brand and has global networks as well as partners. It normally has global corporate agreement with most of International hotels, including hotel A.
Every year, these International branded hotels (global operators like Marriott, Starwood, Accor, IHG, Hyatt, Hilton, Shangri-La, etc) normally renews its corporate contract rates with their partner companies; including those global corporation. When the hotel A updates its corporate rates with headquarter office of the company B, but fail to communicate to the local office of company B, then the booker or the travel planner of the company B will get upset.
The hotel booker goes; "It doesn't matter you increase our corporate rates to be 10 to 15 dollar higher or whatever you wish, but at lease inform us in advance."
The new salesperson replies; "...Mam, actually we already informed your headquarter office with regards to the renewal and the rates have been approved by your global corporate team, thus the deal has been made globally."
The booker goes; "I don't care. You deal with me, you gotta let me know first."
What makes the situation become worst is that when the booker wants an assistance, no one from the hotel sales team is available for service.
The booker actually wanted to speak with the hotel salesperson, but since there was no one could be an assistant, the booker's phone calls were constantly transferred to reservation agents. When the booker asked the reservation agents to book a room, the booker was surprised knowing her company's corporate rates have been increased. None of the reservation agents could explain reasons of the increment.
The booker got more upset when she insisted to speak with the hotel account manager, but again, no body could assist her. This means, there was no chance for her to tell her aspirations; her wants, wishes, desire and situation. And I tell you... this is too bad!
A week later, one of the hotel sales representatives visited the company and met the booker. The salesperson figured out the issue but it was too late.
She goes..."When I need you, no body can help me. Now you come here for a piece of business. Where have you been guys..?"
She continued, "When I needed hotel rooms no one from you could help me. Not even a single call back from you. My job that was supposed to be done in 15 minutes, turned to be 3 days because I had to search other hotels and that's really hassle. So, tell me why I have to comeback to you, guys?"
* * *
If you were the sales person, what would be your response? Please share your opinions.
"It takes months even years to find a customer and it takes only seconds to lose one." --- Customer 101.
The above quote seems to be very suitable to what I recently experienced dealing with a customer. In this post, I would like to covey a message that we have to pay good attention, focus to the customer, hence take really good care if we don't want to lose them. Sometimes, a single mistake could be a fatal.
Let's say a company who has been our loyal client for years. Based on experiences and long-term relationship, the company put a pretty high expectation on our quality and standard of services. This is a trust and it is good. The fact; it is not easy task to reach this level of trust. But once we fail to deliver what we promised, the story tells a different plot.
For example, a sales person of hotel A, that normally takes care of company B resigned and left the job. For some reasons, the position is vacant for couple of months and hence no body replaces the salesperson. Plus, there is no proper hand-over to anybody to take care of the company B.
The company is an International brand and has global networks as well as partners. It normally has global corporate agreement with most of International hotels, including hotel A.
Every year, these International branded hotels (global operators like Marriott, Starwood, Accor, IHG, Hyatt, Hilton, Shangri-La, etc) normally renews its corporate contract rates with their partner companies; including those global corporation. When the hotel A updates its corporate rates with headquarter office of the company B, but fail to communicate to the local office of company B, then the booker or the travel planner of the company B will get upset.
The hotel booker goes; "It doesn't matter you increase our corporate rates to be 10 to 15 dollar higher or whatever you wish, but at lease inform us in advance."
The new salesperson replies; "...Mam, actually we already informed your headquarter office with regards to the renewal and the rates have been approved by your global corporate team, thus the deal has been made globally."
The booker goes; "I don't care. You deal with me, you gotta let me know first."
What makes the situation become worst is that when the booker wants an assistance, no one from the hotel sales team is available for service.
The booker actually wanted to speak with the hotel salesperson, but since there was no one could be an assistant, the booker's phone calls were constantly transferred to reservation agents. When the booker asked the reservation agents to book a room, the booker was surprised knowing her company's corporate rates have been increased. None of the reservation agents could explain reasons of the increment.
The booker got more upset when she insisted to speak with the hotel account manager, but again, no body could assist her. This means, there was no chance for her to tell her aspirations; her wants, wishes, desire and situation. And I tell you... this is too bad!
A week later, one of the hotel sales representatives visited the company and met the booker. The salesperson figured out the issue but it was too late.
She goes..."When I need you, no body can help me. Now you come here for a piece of business. Where have you been guys..?"
She continued, "When I needed hotel rooms no one from you could help me. Not even a single call back from you. My job that was supposed to be done in 15 minutes, turned to be 3 days because I had to search other hotels and that's really hassle. So, tell me why I have to comeback to you, guys?"
* * *
If you were the sales person, what would be your response? Please share your opinions.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Kembangkan Pariwisata Semarang, Benahi Bandara Terlebih Dahulu
Ketika saya menghadiri acara bertajuk "Dialog Gubernur dengan BUMN, BUMD dan SWASTA tentang Visit Jateng 2013 beberapa waktu lalu, ada banyak hal menarik yang menyita perhatian saya, salah satunya yang paling penting menurut saya adalah keinginan dan rencana pemerintah dalam membangun bandar udara yang layak.
Pada acara tersebut, Gubernur Bibit dengan gaya nyentrik-nya memaparkan persiapan pemerintah dalam menyongsong wisatawan ke Jawa Tengah melalui program sekaligus kampanye pariwisata "Visit Jateng 2013". Salah satu persiapannya adalah membenahi Bandara A. Yani. Gerbang jalur udaya Jateng itu musti diperbesar, diperbaiki alias direnovasi total.
Tak hanya itu, pemerintah daerah Jateng nampakya sudah melek pariwisata dengan membuat berbagai program adhoc dan event reguler mulai dari entertainment, sport, kuliner, festival, kesenian, budaya, konferensi internasional, dll.
Balik ke persoalan Bandara.
Memang, saat ini kondisi Bandara A. Yani di Ibu Kota Semarang sangatlah jauh dari kreteria suatu bandara yang ideal. Bila ingin menggarap pariwisata dan menggerakkan sektor ekonomi, investasi dan perdagangan, maka airport yang memadai harus dimiliki terlebih dahulu oleh Semarang.
Menurut saya, progres dari pemerintah untuk membenahi infrastruktur pariwisata sudah ada dan itu baik. Dalam hal ini telihat pada keseriusan pemerintah untuk membangun Airport yang berstandar Internasional.
Yang perlu ditekankan adalah bahwa bandara itu nanti harus bertaraf internasional, baik dari segi fisik/hardware, software dan brainware nya.
Bandara Semarang harus menerapkan open sky policy. Dan pembenahan harus juga meliputi SDM (sumber daya manusia) semua petugas, terutama bea cukai, imigrasi, swasta (travel, retail, ground handling, cargo, taxi, transport,etc) dan tentunya SDM PT PAP (angkasa pura) itu sendiri.
Karena apa yg terjadi di Bandara Internasional Ngurah Rai adalah banyaknya petugas Imigrasi dan Custom bermental pungli. Waktu dulu saya bekerja di Bali Tourism Board sebagai PR (Public Relations), pernah kami datangkan NatGeo Channel untuk shooting film di Bali, tapi malah dipalak dan dipungli oleh petugas bea cukai di Bandara. Tidak tanggung-tanggung, mereka meminta ratusan juta dengan dalih mengikuti aturan kepabean. Tapi sebenarnya tidak ada aturan seperti itu.
Menurut para oknum bea cukai tersebut, setiap peralatan shooting dianggap sebagai barang impor yang masuk Indonesia dan harus membayar beacukai atau pajak impor. Nah, peralatan shooting NatGeo sangat banyak dan termasuk barang berharga sehingga pajaknya tinggi. Masih menurut mereka, kalau tidak bersedia bayar pajak impor tersebut, bisa saja peralatan tertsebut masuk ke Indonesia asal kami membayar uang tanggungan yang jumlahnya ratusan juta. Ketika tim NatGeo akan keluar Indonesia dengan barang-barang tersebut melalui bandara, maka uang tanggungan tadi bakal dikembalikan. Tentunya, tim NatGeo tidak membawa uang yang jumlahnya ratusan juta dalam bentuk cash, maka opsi ini tidak bisa ditempuh.
Akan tetapi, meski sudah mengantongi ijin dari Menteri Pariwisata dan surat keterangan dari Bali Tourism Board, tetap saja mereka kekeuh tidak memperbolehkan peralatan shooting itu masuk. Di ujung "diskusi" mereka pada akhirnya mau saja "tutup mata" asal ada "ongkos lewat" ke kantong mereka.
Kejadian ini jelas memperlihatkan bahwa penyelenggara pemerintahan kita tidak paham apa manfaat shooting film keindahan alam n budaya kita, bagi promosi pariwisata dan investasi. Yang dipikiran mereka adalah mencari recehan buat mengisi kantong pribadi mereka. Sungguh ironi.
Hal lain adalah tentang visa policy. Kebijakan bebas visa harus ditambahkan bagi negara-negara potensial yg datang untuk tujuan wisata ke negeri kita, seperti Belanda dan negara-negara Eropa lainnya. Kalau toh tidak bisa sepanjang tahun, buatlah bebas visa untuk periode tertentu, misalnya saat low season. Travel agent juga pasti akan membuat semacam "Paket Bebas Visa".
Proses Visa on arrival juga harus cepat, singkat, menyenangkan dan senyum lebar.
Para turis itu datang membawa uang dan memperkuat devisa negara kita. Jadi jangan dipelototi seperti kriminal. Petugas harus tetap ramah dan welcoming. Mereka harus dilatih berbahasa Inggris dengan baik sesuai standar dan harus diedukasi serta diberi knowledge tentang manfaat turisme bagi perekonomian bangsa. Bila perlu, petugas imigrasi yang nyetempel passport itu berguru ke bagian Front Office suatu hotel bintang lima untuk memperoleh pelatihan tentang pelayanan dan keramahtamahan.
PT. PAP juga harus meningkatkan standar pelayanan dan mutu. Bandara harus terang benerang seperti Changi dan Hongkong. Tidak suram, redup dan remang-remang seperti Bandara Ngurah Rai dan Soekarno Hatta. Harus bersih seperti Dubai dan Abudhabi. Aman dan nyaman. Taxi harus rapi dan tertib. Perusahaan Travel harus teratur dan tidak murahan. Vendor atau toko-toko harus representatif dan bersih, tidak norak. Informasi harus lengkap. Penunjuk arah harus tepat dan jelas serta tersedia dimana-mana. Perusahaan advertising juga jangan terlalu norak dengan cara setiap pojok dipasang banner dan dibandrol "space for ads" sehingga tampak kampungan dan semrawut.
Semua diatas mestinya bisa dicapai bila ada niat yang baik, pemimpin yang visioner, konsisten dan adil, rencana yang matang dan komprehensif, anggaran yang proporsional dan tidak dikorupsi, kerja keras dan pelaksanaan yang benar, dukungan dan kerjasama lintas sektoral. Semoga..!
Pada acara tersebut, Gubernur Bibit dengan gaya nyentrik-nya memaparkan persiapan pemerintah dalam menyongsong wisatawan ke Jawa Tengah melalui program sekaligus kampanye pariwisata "Visit Jateng 2013". Salah satu persiapannya adalah membenahi Bandara A. Yani. Gerbang jalur udaya Jateng itu musti diperbesar, diperbaiki alias direnovasi total.
Tak hanya itu, pemerintah daerah Jateng nampakya sudah melek pariwisata dengan membuat berbagai program adhoc dan event reguler mulai dari entertainment, sport, kuliner, festival, kesenian, budaya, konferensi internasional, dll.
Balik ke persoalan Bandara.
Memang, saat ini kondisi Bandara A. Yani di Ibu Kota Semarang sangatlah jauh dari kreteria suatu bandara yang ideal. Bila ingin menggarap pariwisata dan menggerakkan sektor ekonomi, investasi dan perdagangan, maka airport yang memadai harus dimiliki terlebih dahulu oleh Semarang.
Menurut saya, progres dari pemerintah untuk membenahi infrastruktur pariwisata sudah ada dan itu baik. Dalam hal ini telihat pada keseriusan pemerintah untuk membangun Airport yang berstandar Internasional.
Yang perlu ditekankan adalah bahwa bandara itu nanti harus bertaraf internasional, baik dari segi fisik/hardware, software dan brainware nya.
Bandara Semarang harus menerapkan open sky policy. Dan pembenahan harus juga meliputi SDM (sumber daya manusia) semua petugas, terutama bea cukai, imigrasi, swasta (travel, retail, ground handling, cargo, taxi, transport,etc) dan tentunya SDM PT PAP (angkasa pura) itu sendiri.
Karena apa yg terjadi di Bandara Internasional Ngurah Rai adalah banyaknya petugas Imigrasi dan Custom bermental pungli. Waktu dulu saya bekerja di Bali Tourism Board sebagai PR (Public Relations), pernah kami datangkan NatGeo Channel untuk shooting film di Bali, tapi malah dipalak dan dipungli oleh petugas bea cukai di Bandara. Tidak tanggung-tanggung, mereka meminta ratusan juta dengan dalih mengikuti aturan kepabean. Tapi sebenarnya tidak ada aturan seperti itu.
Menurut para oknum bea cukai tersebut, setiap peralatan shooting dianggap sebagai barang impor yang masuk Indonesia dan harus membayar beacukai atau pajak impor. Nah, peralatan shooting NatGeo sangat banyak dan termasuk barang berharga sehingga pajaknya tinggi. Masih menurut mereka, kalau tidak bersedia bayar pajak impor tersebut, bisa saja peralatan tertsebut masuk ke Indonesia asal kami membayar uang tanggungan yang jumlahnya ratusan juta. Ketika tim NatGeo akan keluar Indonesia dengan barang-barang tersebut melalui bandara, maka uang tanggungan tadi bakal dikembalikan. Tentunya, tim NatGeo tidak membawa uang yang jumlahnya ratusan juta dalam bentuk cash, maka opsi ini tidak bisa ditempuh.
Akan tetapi, meski sudah mengantongi ijin dari Menteri Pariwisata dan surat keterangan dari Bali Tourism Board, tetap saja mereka kekeuh tidak memperbolehkan peralatan shooting itu masuk. Di ujung "diskusi" mereka pada akhirnya mau saja "tutup mata" asal ada "ongkos lewat" ke kantong mereka.
Kejadian ini jelas memperlihatkan bahwa penyelenggara pemerintahan kita tidak paham apa manfaat shooting film keindahan alam n budaya kita, bagi promosi pariwisata dan investasi. Yang dipikiran mereka adalah mencari recehan buat mengisi kantong pribadi mereka. Sungguh ironi.
Hal lain adalah tentang visa policy. Kebijakan bebas visa harus ditambahkan bagi negara-negara potensial yg datang untuk tujuan wisata ke negeri kita, seperti Belanda dan negara-negara Eropa lainnya. Kalau toh tidak bisa sepanjang tahun, buatlah bebas visa untuk periode tertentu, misalnya saat low season. Travel agent juga pasti akan membuat semacam "Paket Bebas Visa".
Proses Visa on arrival juga harus cepat, singkat, menyenangkan dan senyum lebar.
Para turis itu datang membawa uang dan memperkuat devisa negara kita. Jadi jangan dipelototi seperti kriminal. Petugas harus tetap ramah dan welcoming. Mereka harus dilatih berbahasa Inggris dengan baik sesuai standar dan harus diedukasi serta diberi knowledge tentang manfaat turisme bagi perekonomian bangsa. Bila perlu, petugas imigrasi yang nyetempel passport itu berguru ke bagian Front Office suatu hotel bintang lima untuk memperoleh pelatihan tentang pelayanan dan keramahtamahan.
PT. PAP juga harus meningkatkan standar pelayanan dan mutu. Bandara harus terang benerang seperti Changi dan Hongkong. Tidak suram, redup dan remang-remang seperti Bandara Ngurah Rai dan Soekarno Hatta. Harus bersih seperti Dubai dan Abudhabi. Aman dan nyaman. Taxi harus rapi dan tertib. Perusahaan Travel harus teratur dan tidak murahan. Vendor atau toko-toko harus representatif dan bersih, tidak norak. Informasi harus lengkap. Penunjuk arah harus tepat dan jelas serta tersedia dimana-mana. Perusahaan advertising juga jangan terlalu norak dengan cara setiap pojok dipasang banner dan dibandrol "space for ads" sehingga tampak kampungan dan semrawut.
Semua diatas mestinya bisa dicapai bila ada niat yang baik, pemimpin yang visioner, konsisten dan adil, rencana yang matang dan komprehensif, anggaran yang proporsional dan tidak dikorupsi, kerja keras dan pelaksanaan yang benar, dukungan dan kerjasama lintas sektoral. Semoga..!
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