Yogyakarta is not only a well-known tourist destination that is rich in cultural and traditional heritage, it is also an up and coming MICE city.
As a meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) city, Yogyakarta keeps adding to its facilities. Whereas there were previously only a couple of hotels suitable for MICE events, today there are 11.
"We now have 11 hotels, ranging from three- to five-star hotels that fulfill the prerequisite for holding MICE events," said Yogyakarta's Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI DIY) chairman Istijab.
Istijab told The Jakarta Post that ballroom capacity at the hotels was for 200 to 1,800 persons and that the 11 hotels had all the required facilities and equipment for MICE, such as seminar kits, LCD, whiteboards, audio-visual equipment, etc.
MICE participants are offered various tourist packages prior to, during or after the events, such as a visit to enjoy nature as arranged by the Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort and Spa.
"Usually after MICE events are over we take our guests to the countryside for activities related to nature, such as planting trees," said Sheraton public relations coordinator Rachma Noor Fadila.
"However, we often adjust our tourist programs to guests' needs," said Dila, as she is called.
MICE activities at the hotel were disrupted after the May 2006 earthquake, but were resumed on Aug. 8, 2008. The Sheraton has a large ballroom: The 1,200-square-meter Mataram Grand Ballroom, which has a capacity of 1,800 persons with a theater set up.
The hotel's location is strategic, being just two kilometers from Adisucipto Airport. Its architecture and decor are typically Javanese. The Sheraton has 246 rooms, comprising 16 rooms with pool access, 183 grand rooms, 30 clubrooms, 12 junior suites, two executive suites, two presidential suites and one royal suite.
"We hold numerous MICE events in our ballroom. This week we are booked to host several meetings," said Dila.
Novotel Hotel Yogyakarta guest relations officer Surya Dharma said that MICE events in the past two years had mostly been held toward the end of the year.
"At the end of every year, we host between six and 15 MICE events at our hotel," said Surya Dharma.
Novotel, he said, has a ballroom with a standing capacity of 600 persons or 300 sitting. "Our facilities are quite complete and sophisticated," he said.
According to Istijab, Yogyakarta has a huge potential for MICE tourism and events as it is easy to access and the city has 11 star-rated hotels. Forty-seven planes land daily at Solo's airport, including two direct flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
"Access is quite easy as Yogyakarta is connected to all major cities in Indonesia, plus there is a direct flight from two neighboring countries, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)," he said.
Yogyakarta has numerous high education institutions, such as universities, and many of them have international networks.
Besides being a cultural and historical city, Yogyakarta also has 123 private academies and universities (PTS) that often host national and international conferences.
The PTS plan to further open up the city for MICE events by cooperating with professional event organizers.
Istijab said the PTS were also enhancing tourism-related skills, such as chefs' and receptionists' skills.
"The competency and skills of more than 30,000 workers will be enhanced, after which they will be awarded certificates that are recognized internationally. Currently, only 10 percent of the workers have such certificates," he said.
Presently, many parties are involved in the development of networking. "MICE events have to be properly planned well in advance, therefore networking is vital," Istijab said.
Yogyakarta Tourism Board chairman Tazbir commented that MICE events were financially beneficial to the city.
"The value of MICE tourism is 20 to 30 percent higher than conventional tourism," said Tazbir.
To support MICE events, his office develops various tourism-related facilities, such as accommodation, transportation and professional tour guides.
"This effort is important to attract international business events. We are also developing the skills of guides so that Russian-speaking ones will be available in the near future," he said.
His office pays attention to both MICE and conventional tourism, which is why hotels, restaurants and the like are taken care of by the office. "The holiday occupancy rate is quite good here. Currently we have more than 4,500 hotel rooms of various classes in the city," Istijab concluded.
