A room with a view at The Westin Jakarta. (Advertorial/Photos Christian Razukas, Westin Jakarta)

The Westin Jakarta opened on Friday as the city’s highest hotel, with unrivalled 360-degree views of Jakarta.

The hotel, which spans floors 50 to 69, is also noteworthy for its design, both inside and out.

“Local customers want to try everything new, whether it’s hotel banquet halls or meeting spaces,” The Westin Jakarta General Manager Arun Kumar, who has worked on eight hotel openings, says. “I’m hoping to bring them in with that–and once they’re here, then the view and the service will add to that experience.”

The design of The Westin Jakarta’s rooms and public spaces is the work of the Singapore office of Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA).

The team was led by interior designer Paula O’Callaghan, who also worked on high profile projects such as the Waldorf Astoria On The Bund in Shanghai.

Kumar has high praise for HBA’s work. “Every time they wanted to test a design or a sample it was really tough. They struggled a lot to reach so high up during the construction.”

Let’s take a closer look.

STRICTLY BALLROOM

The first floor features The Westin Jakarta’s 1,100-square-meter Java Ballroom, which can accommodate 650 people seated and 1,200 people standing and also features two large video screens.

The ballroom’s location closer to earth is important, Kumar says. “Ground-level access to the ballroom helps vendors for the set ups for decorating.”

An overall vibe of warmth comes from an undulating wooden trellis composed of hundreds of individual planks running in a wave along the length of the space.

Above are dozens of chandeliers, each comprised of hundreds of amber glass blossoms. Elegantly crafted by Ricardo Lighting in Hong Kong, the blossoms incorporate a local touch in line with the botanical theme of Westin hotels: The trumpet flower (kecubung gunung).

The trumpet-flower chandeliers reappear in other parts of the hotel, such as the Sky Lobby and Lounge.

At the other end of the Java Ballroom is the Extension Foyer, still under construction. Open to the air and with glass walls, it’s a cozy space perfect for barbecues or as a smoking area for the ballroom.

The Java Ballroom’s banquet kitchen spans three levels and includes a full Chinese kitchen to keep the operation halal while catering to a variety of guests, Kumar says, adding that The Westin Jakarta’s 1,000-space car park will make it easier for guests to get in and out.

The Sky Lobby on the 52nd floor of The Westin Jakarta.
MANY MEETINGS

Making things simple for guests and business travelers is at the core of the Westin brand, Kumar says.

This simplicity, efficiency and a healthy dash of style is evident on the second floor, accessed by a brief escalator ride from the ground level, where eight meeting rooms wait for you to get down to business.

The Padang and Medan rooms (both can be divided into two) feature natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows that are lusciously framed by the building’s slanting exterior girders.

The interior rooms are dubbed Surabaya and Yogyakarta (the latter can be subdivided), while the smallest room, Bandung, features an atrium that is perfect as a pre-function room, or for bodyguards, for very-high-level meetings.

Meeting spaces feature projectors and can be configured for classroom and meeting use, while the Padang and Medan rooms have screens to block the street view.

Nearby is the 313-square-meter Retreat Lounge, a luxurious area for collective coffee breaks fitted with leather armchairs and cushioned divans.

One wall of the spacious lounge is dominated by wooden and marble counters where guests can enjoy a free flow of coffee, tea and pastries.

Also equipped with monitors, the Retreat Lounge is suited for other layouts, such as round tables for a dinner or product launch.

Hanging on the walls nearby are installations and wooden facades in gold, silver and bronze designed by local artists. There’s also a business center, comprising a pair of recessed workstations done in dark brown wood, and a fully equipped 10-person conference room.

ROOM REPORT

The Westin Jakarta will open with 125 rooms, with plans for all 272, including the Presidential Suite, to open by December, on the hotel’s 53rd to 66th levels, with the Club floor to open on the 65th level.

Enter a guest room and there’s little to keep you from your own personal view of Jakarta. A carpeted, walk-in closet ensures that your luggage and clothing remain out of sight, while the bathroom features a glass wall to give the space a more airy feel.

On offer are 55” smart televisions that use your smartphone’s Bluetooth-driven screen-mirroring technology to project your movies, YouTube videos and even What’s App chats on screen. (Regular HDMI and AV connections are in the works.)

Kumar says that guests can enjoy the fastest internet speeds in Jakarta, promising speeds of 150Mb, and a hard wood desk with leather blotter that will be kept clear so you can start work immediately.

There’s also The Westin’s trademark Heavenly Bed, with 10 layers of comfort and an indulgently relaxing King Koil mattress, flanked by a night stand clock with a standard USB port for smartphones that allows you to play your music directly.

“We’re in the business where guests eat, sleep, check in, check out,” Kumar says. “The trick is to how to make that experience more exciting.”

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The Westin Jakarta
Jl. Rasuna Said, Blok C No.22, South Jakarta
Telp: +622127887788
Westin.com/Jakarta
Twitter: @TheWestinJkt
Instagram: @thewestinjakarta
Facebook: The Westin Jakarta