Photos: JP/Arief Suhardiman

Sultan Hotel general manager I Nyoman Sarya has found that though challenging, a change taking place in companies and brands in the area of hospitality can open new and sometimes unexpected opportunities.

Hotel executive I Nyoman Sarya reveals the difficulty in re-branding a hotel.

A case in point is the re-branding of Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta, which I Nyoman studied for his master degree thesis.

'€œIt took four years to analyze it, and after the re-branding, which was done in 2006, I looked at the conditions and the customers'€™ perspective on the change,'€ he said.

'€œInternational chains have their own standards when it comes to flexibility. When we'€™re talking about local chains, we can utilize what we know about the local culture to make it fit better,'€ said I Nyoman, who is now the general manager of Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta, as well as the vice president for operations of Singgasana Hotels & Resorts.

'€œAlso, when it comes to finance, when we'€™re an international chain, we have to pay up. But once we change to a local chain, we have the freedom to save and invest the money for business expansion'€.

But re-branding hotels from an international chain to a local chain doesn'€™t mean letting go of everything foreign.

Guests in the Sultan Hotel, located near legislative offices and the Gelora Bung Karno sport center, range from government officials to international athletes and musicians.

They all come with their own specific needs. Meeting the varying demands calls for high standards across the board.

That'€™s why a leader in the hospitality industry should be equipped with good English as well as extra passion for his work and extra smiles for everyone.

I Nyoman pointed out that '€œpassion is the number one qualification one should have to be a leader in the hospitality industry. We can'€™t be detached just because we'€™re leaders.'€

'€œOur employees need to greet our guests with genuine smiles. As a leader, I greet more people, I interact with more guests,'€ he said.

Hospitality is a vibrant industry, where unexpected things might happen any day. '€œA leader should be able to handle emergency situations calmly, make the right decisions swiftly and be accessible at all times.'€

Having been in different places, at different hotel chains and in different positions gives I Nyoman the know-how to be a good leader. But, he argues, it doesn'€™t stop there.

'€œA good leader should be able to produce more great leaders after him. Also, a leader should be humble, so that he can be close to everyone at every level in the company,'€ he notes.

He goes on to say that he strives to be easygoing with friends and subordinates alike. '€œAnd I'€™m really happy if someone I mentored can go up all the way to be a leader.'€

'€œA good leader should also inspire others. You can always learn something from someone, especially a good leader.'€

The Bali native acknowledges that his career in hospitality is merely an accident.

He planned to major in economics or English literature, but a friend assured him that the booming hospitality industry in Bali at the time would guarantee a job if they graduated in the field. Soon, he started working as a cashier with a dream of becoming a chief accountant of the hotel.

Currently, I Nyoman is trusted with strategic positions in two hotels, namely the general manager of Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta and vice president for operations of Singgasana Hotels & Resorts.
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Birth

Kintamani, Bangli Bali, September 19, 1969

Career Highlights

- Vice president for operations at Singgasana Hotels & Resorts (September 2014 - present)
- Director of finance, resident manager, hotel manager and since December 2014 general manager, Sultan
   Hotel & Residence Jakarta (formerly Jakarta Hilton International) (September 2005 - present)
- Group director of finance, Singgasana Hotels & Resorts (August 2005 '€“ March 2011)
- Director of finance, Hyatt Regency Surabaya (since November 2008 re-branded as Hotel Bumi Surabaya)
  (February 2003 '€“ August 2005 )
- Acting general manager, financial controller, human resources, assistant controller, Patra Surabaya Hilton
  International (Since July 2006 re-branded as Singgasana Hotel Surabaya). (October 1993 '€“ Jan 2003)

Education

- Swiss German University (SGU), double degree program (MM and MBA)
- University of Tujuh Belas Agustus 1945 (UNTAG) Surabaya
- BPLP Nusa Dua Bali (now STP Bali), Diploma II

At Ease

Hidden passion

I have a passion for teaching and literature. Writing a book is on top of my to-do list right now. I want to write about the re-branding experience, I have the material ready, but I have been going back and forth about it.

Sports enthusiast

I love exercise, so I come to the hotel early to do some workout. I also love games like tennis, badminton, soccer and golf. Even when I travel, I would visit cities to check out their soccer clubs. If I went in Barcelona, for example, their soccer team is famous, so I would go and see if they happen to have any matches that I could go and watch. Otherwise I would just visit their stadium.

Family man

I have four children, the oldest ones are 15-year-old twin girls, then comes my 12-year-old son and another daughter, who is 7. I don'€™t stay at the hotel, because even though everything is available at the hotel, at the end of the day it'€™s better to be with your family at home. I see my children mostly on the weekend. We would wake up early to walk or bike around the area. Sometimes we go to the water park or watch movies together. On Sundays, I would accompany my daughters to their Balinese dancing lessons.

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