Accor adds another milestone in Indonesia with the opening of 191-key Swissôtel Nusantara – its first hotel in the country’s new capital in East Kalimantan – as well as the entry of its Mövenpick brand in Jakarta with the opening of 256-room Mövenpick Jakarta City Centre.
Garth Simmons, COO of Accor’s premium, midscale, and economy division in Asia, said: “The opening of Swissôtel Nusantara marks a significant milestone for Accor. We are excited to be the first to have a property there. It’s a good location (that) will grow in the next five to 10 years as the new capital grows.”
He noted that the current key markets comprise of government-visiting dignitaries and employees waiting for their homes to be ready, as well as corporate travellers and businesses from the surrounding cities in Kalimantan.
Swissôtel Nusantara integrates the Forest City concept and is nestled within the lush greenery of Forest Park. The hotel features a wide range of facilities, including multiple swimming pools, gym, spa, and kids club, and its strategic location, near the Presidential Palace and government districts, provides convenience for dignitaries and tourists alike.
Mövenpick Hotel Jakarta City Centre – having since transformed from the previous Spark Luxe Jakarta – boasts seven dining venues, with culinary offerings that will position the hotel as a premier destination for food enthusiasts, according to general manager Antoine Weinstein.
Dining options at the hotel include the Ginger Flower restaurant showcasing Indonesian dishes; Wilde Cut Grill & Wine serving premium steak cuts; the 717 Creamery Dessert Bar; Supremo Specialty Coffee & Roastery; La Floriane Bistro; and the soon-to-open Song Xiang Lou with its Cantonese cuisine. There is also the Eldoris Pool and Bar, and Clemente Pavilion, that provide relaxing spaces with terraces overlooking the pool and cityscape.
For events, the hotel offers two contemporary ballrooms and 15 meeting rooms, all equipped with interactive display TVs, digital displays, electronic whiteboards, and video conferencing capabilities.
Mövenpick Hotel Jakarta City Centre is situated in the Pecenongan neighbourhood, which is famous for its local restaurants and street foods, and close to prominent landmarks such as the Merdeka Presidential Palace, the National Monument, key business districts, government offices, diplomatic missions, and the historic area of Kota Tua – all reasons which makes the property a suitable site for a premium Mövenpick brand, remarked Simmons.
In her interim position, DaSilva will oversee TTC Tour Brands’ portfolio of six brands, which includes Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, and Contiki.
She was most recently the vice president for the launch of K11 MUSEA in Hong Kong as a cultural destination, and prior to that, she had a nine-year tenure at New World Development.
A study by MMGY TCI Research has found that destinations hosting leisure and business events have been able to boost their presence in social conversations and drive positive engagement within communities.
In a PATA-led webinar last week on the topic of Event-driven Tourism: impact and opportunities, Olivier Henry-Biabaud, managing director and partner, MMGY TCI Research, shared that social conversations surrounding Asia-Pacific destinations doubled throughout the period of July 2023 to July 2024 when events tourism was taken into consideration.
In tracking Asia-Pacific events that triggered positive sentiments and engagement, the study named Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand; the Lunar New Year in several countries in the region; Bali Arts Festival in Indonesia; and Formula 1 races in Abu Dhabi and Singapore; among others as those that were most impactful.
The study also found that culture (45 per cent) topped the list of topics associated with events and festivals in the region, with tradition and folklore (30 per cent), arts and handicraft (29 per cent), and food/culinary (24 per cent) following on next.
Henry-Biabaud remarked that festivals and their topics could help raise awareness of a destination that might not be a primary tourism choice among travellers. Destination marketers should leverage niche festivals and events to speak to and connect with specific communities.
Further underscoring the value of festivals and events, Henry-Biabaud said such activities ranked second on a list of top-rated destination experiences. Outdoor and nature takes the lead with a 9.3 out of 10 visitor sentiment score; festivals and events was second with a score of nine. Street food, and museums and galleries ranked third and fourth respectively.
He emphasised that events and festivals could be a way to connect locals with the visitor community, and demonstrate a warm welcome to visitors, especially as tourism phobia grows in some parts of the world.
He added: “We tend to forget that big events are an amazing opportunity for visitors to blend with local people. Many of these events are usually made for locals in the first place, allowing them to share their passion with the world and meet other people from all over the world.”
Fellow webinar presenter, Benoit Badufle, managing director of Singapore-based Horus Development & Consulting, which is engaged to market destinations like Monaco and Brisbane in this region, further elaborated on the influential power of events and festivals.
Citing Monaco as an example, Badufle said the destination set out to attract the rich and famous by curating unique and prestigious events, many of which were first in the world or in Europe when launched. The Rose Ball, for one, debuted in Monaco in 1920 as one of the first global philanthropic events supported by the wealthy; it endures to this day.
Many of Monaco’s events are now a regular feature on the calendar. “They are very famous locally and internationally, and attract people from all around Europe and the world every year,” said Badufle. “They are a vector of soft power.”
He explained that events curated at the Grimaldi Forum congress centre are exported overseas, contributing to Monaco’s reputation as an intelligent destination. Famous artists performing in Monaco also help to bring positive attention to the country.
Citing yet another example of the power of association, Badufle said the annual Ernst and Young World Entrepreneur of the Year awards ceremony in Monaco has built an impression of the destination being “a stage for entrepreneurship”.
Badufle told TTG Asia that festivals and events are also a useful way to shift arrivals into the quieter travel seasons, and many in Monaco are scheduled during the shoulder and low season.
While festivals and events have the power to cast destinations in a positive light, Henry-Biabaud emphasised that destination marketers must also ensure that other supporting aspects, such as hotel accommodation, transport services, tours and attractions, are well managed to deliver an easy planning and travel experience for visitors.