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Hotels compete to lure guests on New Year's Eve
As the year 2014 approaches, star-rated hotels in Bandung, West Java, have been competing to attract guests by offering a wide range of promotions for New Yearâs Eve
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s the year 2014 approaches, star-rated hotels in Bandung, West Java, have been competing to attract guests by offering a wide range of promotions for New Year's Eve.
Trans Luxury Hotel, for example, is offering a stay package that includes tickets to a concert featuring noted singer George Benson and a dinner on Dec. 29 and Dec. 31.
'We are also organizing an Earth, Wind & Fire concert featuring the Al McKay Allstars,' said Trans Luxury Hotel public relations manager Anggia Elgana. The George Benson concert will be held at the hotel's ballroom while the Al McKay concert is at the convention center.
Other promotions this particular hotel is offering include late night shopping and a music event at the Trans Studio Mall located in the same compound featuring local bands Nidji, D'Masiv and Noah.
'We are indeed trying to accommodate all family members' needs,' Anggia said.
A gala dinner themed 'Hollywood Night of Fame' will be held at the Aston Primera Pasteur Hotel on New Year's Eve.
The hotel's public relations manager, Tyagita R. Hermawan, said that participating guests would be required to dress up as a celebrity would during a special occasion such as the Academy Awards.
While enjoying dinner, guests will be serenaded by the sounds of Kuburan Band and entertained by a cabaret show presented by the Parodi Project as well as a magic show by the Mister.
'There will also be a DJ performance,' Tyagita said, adding that some 60 percent of the hotel's 204 rooms were booked as of Friday.
An event with the theme 'Angel and Demon' is also on offer at the GH Universal Hotel, according to the hotels' public relation manager, Adventa Pramushanti.
Also worth trying out, according to Adventa, is the 'Chapel of the Angels' at the hotel's rooftop, during which guests can enjoy a 360-degree view of Bandung.
'We are also offering activities for guests with kids, including a cooking class and film screening,' she said.
Bandung is home to some 300 hotels comprising almost 100 star-rated hotels and 300 non star-rated ones.
Bandung has become a favorite destination for Jakartans as the city offers lots of tourist attractions, including Lembang, Trans Studio and a number of quirky fashion outlets and culinary spots.
Many travelers heading to Manado, North Sulawesi, from Jakarta, are opting to transit at Jalaluddin Airport, Gorontalo, and continue their journey overland some 450 kilometers.
This has been a popular alternative for those wanting to save money on account of the high price of tickets to fly from Gorontalo to Manado.
An air passenger, Frans, who was heading to his home village in Manado with his entire family, said that the tickets were not just expensive but also sold out quickly.
Another passenger, Margaretha, said that the alternative was indeed tiring but it saved money.
'You can save even more if you pitch in to rent a car with others to go overland from Gorontalo to Manado.
Dodi, a rental car driver, said that he was benefitting from people choosing to travel by land.
Dodi charges between Rp 120,000 (US$9.8) and Rp 150,000 per passenger per trip to Manado, which takes some six to seven hours, excluding fuel costs. 'For fuel, passengers usually split the cost,' he said.
