Face-to-Face: Gindo Sianturi

Gindo Sianturi

Gindo Sianturi, general manager of the new U Paasha Seminyak Bali, talks to Travel Daily about his hotel and the island’s hotel sector…

1)    U Paasha Seminyak Bali opened this year; how has the hotel performed since the launch?

U Paasha opened its door for guests on the 12 May 2013, setting a footprint for U Hotels Resorts in Indonesia. We had some pre- and post-opening challenges as we expected, however the team has done a great job in ensuring things are in place and functioning well. June was our first complete month of operation and we did better than expected. July is even more delightful – we had couple of days with full occupancy. We continue fine-tuning our products and services and this will be an ongoing process, as we believe today’s affluent travellers are dynamic and their needs are constantly evolving.

2)     There are a lot of hotels opening in Bali – what does U offer to set it apart from the competition?

U Paasha Seminyak distinguishes itself from the rest for number of reasons. Its location is exceptional, in the middle of the vibrant Seminyak, and the minimalist design of the hotel is one-of-its-kind in the region. The various U brand concepts, such as 24-hour stay, ‘wherever/whenever’ breakfast, and selecting pillows, soap, tea and iPod music prior to arrival. Most importantly, I am privileged to have been working with our well-motivated team members who are dedicated to delight every guests staying with us.

3)     How is the Bali hotel market performing at present, and what challenges/opportunities do you face?

As you may have seen in the news, properties in Bali are mushrooming to suit any budget, with hotels, resorts, villas, condotels, and not to mention the budget hotels. Moreover, this year Bali will host some major events like Miss World, APEC, WTC and many others. These events are also driving the island to prepare its infrastructure. The mangrove toll road, underpass, upgraded airport – these are all being prepared in time for these major events, and will make Bali even more competitive in the global tourism industry.

The pros are obvious: more tourist arrivals, more income for the island, more job opportunities, and more regional and foreign investment. The challenges are related to sustainable development. The competition is also getting is tough so property fundamentals are key, with location, value for money and service being key.

4)     What are your main guest source markets, and are you seeing strong demand from Asian countries?

As we have only opened for a couple of months our sources of bookings are not well established yet. Our wholesale agents are being developed based on the contracting cycle, while some of the marketing initiatives will give more impact to potential guests in not too distant future. With this, right now most of our guests come from Australia, Indonesia, the Netherlands and Singapore. We foresee this trend to grow in the time to come, when our property is well exposed in the market.

5)     What developments are we likely to see from U Paasha Seminyak in the coming months?

We will continuously improve our products and services by listening to our guests and business partners. We plan to enhance the guests’ stay with various in-hotel facilities. Our food and beverage facilities will be even more attractive places to dine and lounge with various programmes and offerings. Our rooftop offers barbecues, a string quartet and stunning views, while we also have weekly brunch at Alcove and a daily programme at Alibi. Our concierge team is also gearing up for more activities and we are also planning a festive season to remember.

Face-to-Face: Gindo Sianturi