Hotels offer discounts as occupancy drops

The hospitality industry has been flourishing across the archipelago, except during Ramadhan when it experiences a slowdown because people tend to travel less, resulting in a drop in hotel occupancy rates and revenue.
“Ramadhan is low season for the hospitality sector. Hotel occupancy rates could drop 30 percent this month because people reduce their activities, including those related to MICE [meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions],” Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) chairwoman Wiryanti Sukamdani said over the weekend.

“It is very important for hotels to offer special packages throughout this month to attract customers and help boost their revenue.”
Separately, Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta marketing communication manager Nadya Frederica said the hotel offered a 50 percent discount on rooms through its official website. The deal includes sahur
(predawn meal) or breakfast and free Internet access. She said the hotel also offered special prices to companies that wanted to hold meetings during Ramadhan.
“We complement the meeting packages with tajil [sugary snacks and beverages to break the fast] and breaking-of-the-fast buffet with various kinds of dishes. We believe this program will benefit customers as well as the hotel,” she said. 

An upscale hotel run by France-based Accor Group, the Pullman Jakarta, introduced  the “Stay 3 Pay 2” package during the fasting month in a bid to attract guests. Public relations manager Amelia Defrina said that people who booked two consecutive nights at Pullman for stays between July 15 and Aug.
31 would receive a third consecutive night free. (Jakarta Post)