|
|
,
Island�s Hotels Spend millions to Refurbish |
BALI, INDONESIA, December 3, 2003 � Bali saw its first gain in 12 months
as tourist arrivals rose 18 percent in October, over the same month last
year, according to the Central Statistics Bureau. October marked the first
anniversary of the terror attack in Bali, and hopefully tourism �recovery�.
Travel warnings, concerns over Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the
Iraq war depressed arrivals in 2003, but did not depress hospitality industry
development.
Optimistic remains rife that tourism will rebound on the island named �Asia�s Favorite Holiday Spot� for three consecutive years by TIME magazine readers. Investment in refurbishments, renovations and embellishments help polish facilities for this rebound. Casa Grande Bali recently surveyed its hotel members for a round up
of �what�s new and improved� in the island�s hotel sector. Casa Grande
Bali is a professional association of 53 star-rated hotels and resorts
in Bali. Its members represent more than 12,000 hotel rooms and 18,000
employees. The survey says:
Grand Hyatt Bali refurbished all of its swimming pools�the 120 m Lagoon Pool, 85 mm River Pool, Grand Club private club pool�with added waterbeds, plunge pools, Jacuzzis and landscaping. Hard Rock Hotel adds another meeting room to its portfolio. The Fillmore room was first used as the Australian Government�s media center for the October commemoration events. Melia Bali Villas & Resort recently completed long-overdue, contemporary renovations to Superior Rooms and Junior Suites. Executive Suite and Garden Villa renovations will be complete in March, with a Family Room Category added. Nikko Bali Resort & Spa adds �Canopy Deluxe Beach Front� as a honeymoon room category with romantic canopy bed, wide balcony, private sun bathing and private in-room dining overlooking the Indian Ocean. Two new luxury spa villas (total of 8 villas) provide spa treatment in the Tranquility Center with five spa rooms, beauty salon, fitness center, sauna, steam rooms and Jacuzzi. Hotel Padma Bali recently completed its two-year renovation program to guest rooms, adding the Bella Rosa Italian Restaurant and Garden Club Lounge, executive club lounge for Garden Deluxe and Chalet Suite room guests. The Patra Bali Resort and Villas � The former LTI Patra Jasa, rebranded under new identity. Complete renovations reposition the property as a resort and villas with five-star plus facilities and service. Raddin Sanur Bali is closed to reconfigure 184 rooms with all new furnishings. All pools will become infinity edged, with the pool bar and restaurant updated. The 500-seat ballroom will be retrofitted with soundproofing and audiovisual systems, with two breakout rooms added. Most significant is �DeLounge� for early check-outs with late flights. Equipped with showers, lockers, lounges, audio-visual, games and Internet, this is a first of its kind for Bali. Managed by Accor hotels, the resort reopens in July as a Mercure or Novotel property. The Ritz-Carlton, Bali Resort & Spa opened a cliff-side, glass and water-themed Wedding Pavilion, overlooking the ocean. The 75sqm air-conditioned interior seats 40 with an antechamber for functions or private dining and a pre-wedding villa. The resort adds Wi Fi access in all public areas and plans additional private villa accommodations mid-year. Hotel Santika Beach Bali completes renovations in June, repositioning the property as semi-boutique. The lobby and restaurant are redesigned; guest rooms are modernized with minimalist design, accented with local artifacts and textiles and bold colors. Hotel Sanur Beach has renovated the lobby and reception, adding dedicated service counters. The Wantilan meeting hall is now fully air-conditioned, increasing seating capacity to 1,000. Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel and Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites, the former Radisson Bali Hotel and Radisson Bali Suites, have re-branded under Prime Plaza Hotels & Resorts management. All rooms are upgraded with electronic locking systems. The ballroom adds Sanur�s first portable projection screen and multi system video LCD projectors. The Westin Resort, Nusa Dua, reflagged this month, the Sheraton Nusa Indah Resort underwent US$4.5 million in refurbishment, adding Heavenly Beds, Westin Service Express, the Westin�s Kids Club and full room refitting with high-speed Internet access in all guest rooms and Wi Fi in all public areas. Casa Grande is a professional association of star-rated hotels and resorts
in Bali.
|
Contact:
Casa Grande [email protected] |
Also See: | Fighting Spirits! Rank-and-file Staff at Bali InterContinental Resort Talk About Their Hopes, Fears, Dreams / HOTEL Asia Pacific / April 2003 |