Director of Marketing Communications and PR at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta
Q: Tell us about how you started your career in hospitality.
A: I started 22 years ago and right up until now, I still love every minute of it. My first job was with a four-star hotel in Jakarta, which lasted for five years before I moved to Bali. I’ve lived on the island for 17 years and my career here has seen me serve at several five-star hotels.
Q: How do you like working in Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta so far?
A: So far, I love it so much. At Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta, it’s all about people. The deeply rooted Kempinski DNA brings the team together into one family, which is very evident in the great teamwork.
Q: What have been the most memorable moments in your career?
A: The many people I have mentored, that was extremely rewarding. I have enjoyed watching each one of them grow in their respective careers. Apart from that, of course, all the wonderful people who have mentored me, including my first general manager, Mark Aitken; the super smart and cool general manager Brad Edman, and the most macro-management general manager, my current boss, Sjefke Jansen.
Q: Which would you prefer, joining a pre-opening team or a pre-existing team? Tell us why.
A: A pre-opening team! The best part of the pre-opening experience is being able to bond with the team. It’s like being welcomed into a new family. I felt a great sense of achievement as I contributed to setting up systems and procedures for the hotel. It is stressful, and you need to be able to multi-task and be flexible to change. Many would say that it is easier to work in a fully operational hotel but where is the fun if everything is easy, right?
Q: You’ve spent a lot of time in Bali. Professionally, what’s the difference between Bali and Jakarta?
A: Even though they are located in the same country, have a remarkably different businesses and culture environment. Jakarta is dominated by domestic guests, while Bali is a paradise for foreign guests. The work pace and work pressure in Jakarta are also so much faster and higher compared to Bali.
Q: What is the most valuable lesson that you’ve learned working as a hotelier?
A: Working in the hospitality industry teaches you skills you could not learn anywhere else. It teaches you about respect, prioritisation, communication, swift problem-solving and humility. You will learn more from a single day on the line at a busy hotel than in any classroom. Working in hospitality teaches you real-life soft skills that you will carry through your entire life.
Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta
