Youthful and Thriving
Karina Pikanto is not your usual big boss. Other than her age, her friendly and witty personality exudes a warm host that welcomes you to her humble abode. That abode is, of course, the newly opened Hotel Tentrem Jakarta. Leading the five-star brand that exudes Indonesian culture blanketed in exceptional design and first-class service, Karina takes upon this new adventure with rolled-up sleeves and wide smile all day.
Q: What motivated you to pursue a career in hospitality and real estate?
A: I have always liked design and architecture, so I took the major in college and gained experience in that field. When I came back to Indonesia, I worked in the field for a little bit, before then building businesses in design media and education, only to realise that my passion is still in design.
For a long time, my family has been admirers and consumers of good hotels; we would visit hotels by designers that we like when we travel – my father also had an architecture background. So, we love design and would converse around it; because hotels are usually where designers pour all and put their best work and also people give the best service. Simply put, we are moved by this industry that makes people feel warm and happy. To make it short: what motivated me to pursue this career is passion.
Q: Your time at Cornell University must have been very formative. How did your studies in Science, Design & Environmental Analysis, and your minor in Business & Real Estate, shape your approach to building Hotel Tentrem Jakarta?
A: There are a lot of aspects in putting all of that together, from programming, designing, building, operating and marketing – just like design. What I learned in college was broad and was a bit of everything. Maybe one thing that stands out is this term, design thinking, that is engrained in me – a non-linear process in problem-solving where we emphatise with the problem, define it, ideate how to solve it, prototype and evaluate, then the cycle continues. Design thinking is what helps anyone solve problems in any industry.
Q: Hotel Tentrem Jakarta is the third property in the group, following successful ventures in Yogyakarta and Semarang – but the first built and managed by your family. How does this hotel reflect your vision and the authentic Indonesian culture
and values?
A: Hotel Tentrem Jakarta is my family’s first hospitality property. So, when we were choosing brands, I actually went to think what kind of project we would undertake. Any development can have the same outcome: a building, some restaurants, job creation – but it can be more than that. I would be happy to be a part of a place that not only has nice things, but also able to preserve culture, teach some good values and develop people.
Thus it was such a blessing to have met Tentrem – a brand that is started by passion and is championing the same vision and mission of elevating Indonesia, its people, and its culture to world’s stage.
Q: The opening of Hotel Tentrem Jakarta in July marked a significant milestone. What aspects of the hotel’s design and service are you most proud of?
A: When it comes to the design, I think it’s the coming together of strong Javanese concepts; from the carvings, the wood and the accessories. I’m happy to see a wide range of people with different backgrounds and age groups enjoying the place – from the younger to the older generations – especially when they say this hotel is reminiscent of their past memories.
Q: Looking ahead, what are your future plans for the Hotel Tentrem brand and the real estate division of your family business? Are there any new projects or expansions on the horizon?
A: I hope this hotel matures up, becomes stable and we can max out the positive externalities, so that it can be more meaningful to people around.
Asia Dreams Volume 52
Hotel Tentrem Jakarta
Jalan Alam Sutera Boulevard
Tangerang 15325, Indonesia
T: (+62) 2150872300
E: info.jakarta@hoteltentrem.com
W: jakarta.hoteltentrem.com
IG: @hoteltentrem.jakarta
