HAVING reopened in 2011 after a major revamp, heritage hotel Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta is now setting its sights farther, launching a Japanese language website, an Eat, Pray, Love in Jogjakarta promotional video and a new ballroom.
The hotel’s general manager, Sudarsana, said the launch of the Japanese version of www.royalambarrukmo.com is a means to reach out to the market, adding that efforts to generate business from overseas has materialised this year, with groups from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US.
“For next year, we have bookings from at least 40 groups,” he revealed.
The promotional video highlights the hotel’s services based on Jogjakarta’s royal tradition, while the new Kasultanan Ballroom for up to 2,000 guests for a standing reception is the biggest hotel ballroom in the city.
The hotel’s director for sales and marketing, Bagus Dewa, said: “MICE is an important market for the hotel, contributing 30 per cent of the hotel’s business. The ballroom was built not only to meet the demand for this market, but also that of the city.
“There is actually a high demand for big meeting, convention and social function (venues) here in Jogjakarta. Since the new ballroom started operation in September, it has been utilised for around 20 days per month and we have four medical and pharmaceutical company conventions for next year in the book.”
On the leisure front, the hotel’s travel agency and FIT markets contribute to 18 and 20 per cent of the business respectively, while three per cent are inbound business.
The hotel’s other facilities include The Kraton Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 1,000 pax, and 17 meeting rooms for 30-150 pax in theatre style.
