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s Indonesia’s hospitality and culinary sectors are projected to continue enjoying strong performance in the coming years, the supporting industry such as food services and furniture is expected to see double-digit business growth in 2013.

PT Creative Industries Abadi, known as Ikons, a furniture firm that specializes in hotel and restaurant products, has seen its sales grow more than 10 percent this year.

“Demand has increased each year because local hotels and the restaurant industry have experienced healthy growth as players continue to expand their portfolios. We have even received orders from customers outside of Java and Bali such as Sumatra and Kalimantan recently,” Ikons spokesperson Try Kresna Natalia told The Jakarta Post on Friday on the sidelines of the biennial Food and Hotel Indonesia 2013 Expo.

She said their mahogany chairs were one of the firm’s best-selling products and have been ordered by many restaurants and cafes.

“Our clients include Bakerzin, Starbucks, Kopi Luwak Coffee, the Duck King Group, Ascott Hotel and Fish&Co., which all have a strong presence in the market. Newcomers have also contacted us as they plan to enter the sector very soon, ” she said, adding that many of the new players were upscale hotels.

Similar to Ikons, food service and laundry system supplier company Rotaryana said that it would see around 20 percent more sales this year.

Rotaryana assistant sales manager Ghufron said that refrigerators, grills, food processors and giant washing machines were products that saw increasing sales.

“These are basic tools that every hotel and restaurant needs. Sometimes we need to customize the equipment we sell because some of our clients produce specific products,” Ghufron told the Post.

Besides continuing to supply more appliances to its loyal customers, the firm has recently received orders from catering companies.

In addition, the food and hotel sector boom in Indonesia has given the firm the opportunity to supply products all over the country.

PT Pamerindo Indonesia, the organizer of the expo, said that boom in the two sectors was demonstrated by the growing number of companies taking part in this year’s event.

Pamerindo sales and marketing director Astied Julias said that the number of participants rose by 45 percent to 1,421 this year.

“This figure speaks volumes. It shows that our hotel and culinary industries are experiencing great momentum. This expo shows that Indonesia is one of the places in the world currently seeing strong business and tourism growth,” Astied said, adding that some 20 percent of exhibitors were new international players who were interested in
entering the Indonesian market.

The number of country pavilions that represent governments participating in the event reached 45 this year, up from 37 countries in the previous expo, she went on.

Australia, China, Iran, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom are among countries who have brought their players to showcase products in the country.

The increasing demand from the players has pushed the firm to provide a larger space.

The expo was housed in a 22,509 square-meter area at the JIExpo Kemayoran for the Food and Hotel Indonesia 2013, a 60 percent increase from the last expo in 2011.

She predicts more exhibitors to display products during the next expo in 2015 as the country is expected to enjoy healthy growth in coming years.

According to the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), there will be at least 45,000 new hotel rooms this year, an increase of 30,000 from 15,000 rooms in 2012. The increase is far higher than the additional 5,000 to 15,000 rooms a year over the past several years.

The new supply would increase the total number of hotel rooms to around 285,000 nationwide by the end of 2013, the association said.