PULLMAN Jakarta Indonesia has opened following a US$15 million transformation of its rooms, public areas and restaurants to reflect the brand’s new identity of blending work and play.
The grand opening of the hotel was celebrated yesterday with Asia’s first Pullman ArtNight, a showcase of contemporary Indonesian art in the hotel’s lobby, dining areas and ballroom.
Michael Isenberg, Chairman and COO of Accor Asia-Pacific, said that travel, architecture, design, art and culture are at the heart of the new Pullman brand and Pullman ArtNight is part of the global commitment to support emerging and established artists.
“As part of the (new) approach, works of art will be showcased in each Pullman hotel around the world through permanent and temporary exhibitions and partnership with local and international artists.”
The 427-key hotel has completed the renovation of the Main Tower Lobby, Pullman Tower Lobby, the Kemixtri Gastro Bar, Le Chocolat Lounge, Poetree Lounges and the 1,000-pax Grand on Thamrin Ballroom. Wayang kulit (traditional shadow puppetry) motifs are found throughout the hotel in contemporary art pieces.
Indonesian minister of tourism and creative economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, who attended the press conference yesterday, said the creative economy grew wherever the hospitality and tourism industry did. “People buy souvenirs, hotel developers need architects, interior decorators, garden landscaping (services).”
“There are so many hotels built in Indonesia and I always encourage (hoteliers) to use, as much as possible, local creative industrial products. Therefore, I appreciate Accor, especially the Pullman (brand), where you have made a big attempt to include contemporary and local traditional values in the properties.”
Unlike the new-built Pullman hotels in Bali and Jakarta Central Park, Pullman Jakarta Indonesia was initially opened as President Hotel in the 1970s and and changed hands several times before it was taken up Accor. Three more Pullman hotels are currently under construction in Bandung, Ciawi and Surabaya.
