Indonesia Expat
Meet the Expats

Antoine Villette

Antoine Villette
Antoine Villette

Where are you originally from and how long have you been living in Jakarta?

I was born in Paris, France and arrived in Jakarta in 2005.

What do you do in Jakarta, Antoine?

I am General Manager of HARRIS Kelapa Gading Hotel & Conventions, Jakarta until the end of the year and Director of Sales & Marketing at Tauzia Hotel Management by 2012.

For those who don’t know, what is the concept of HARRIS Hotels?

The concept is simple – unique and friendly with Happy HARRIS Players (Employees). The Orange colour is to cheer up and boost our guests’ mood and dynamism. HARRIS also promotes healthy food and beverages with some very unique fruits & vegetable fresh juices such as: “Energy” juice made of: Beetroot, Apple & Ginger. HARRIS offers free internet in all hotel premises including the guests’ rooms. HARRIS Kelapa Gading also provides free internet connection in its cars and provides an Ipad during transfer when using the hotel’s cars. Bicycles are also available for our guests who would like to go around Kelapa Gading for a ride.

HARRIS is a lifestyle.

Is Harris an international chain of Hotels or in Indonesia only?

HARRIS is a local chain managed by TAUZIA Hotel Management. HARRIS is only in Indonesia so far.

What facilities do you have?

We have 307 rooms, 9 meeting rooms, 1 HARRIS café, 2 Juice bars, room service 24/7, 1 Business Centre, a Spa and Fitness Centre, a Happy Feet reflexology, a swimming pool,  a Kids Corner and a Boutique. The hotel is connected to the Mal Kelapa Gading 5.

What’s the percentage ratio between local and foreign customers at your hotels? And is this trend changing or growing?

80% Indonesian, 4% Europe and the balance is the rest of Asia. The European guest market is growing.

What are the future plans of Hotel Harris?

HARRIS is opening two hotels before the end of this year: one in Sentul City, Bogor and another one on Sunset Road, Bali. POP! Hotel is opening in Bandung Festival CTLink by the end of the year as well. Another three HARRIS Hotels will be opening in 2012 and POP! Hotels will open 12 properties in 2012. POP! Hotels is also Managed by Tauzia Hotel Management and are “A place to stay for the smart and eco-friendly travellers.” More info at www.harrishotels.com and www.Pophotels.com.

As you are a French hotel manager, do you feel that your British customers are likely to complain more when they find out the manager is French?

Naaah, but  the British and some New Zealanders mostly complain when it comes to playing rugby against the “frogs”. Otherwise, we can get along really well on a business field and/or on a golf course. Being an Hotelier is welcoming guests with passion and heart. It’s not only selling rooms, it’s mainly accompanying our clients through their journey with us. It’s sharing moments and enjoying emotions! We are blessed working in hotels as it’s maybe one of the only jobs giving us the possibilities to mingle with the whole world and build sincere long term relationships with our clients! We are not welcoming nationalities, we are welcoming guests and many of them become our friends. This is also part of the HARRIS concept.

What other projects do you have going in Jakarta? You were running a ‘Mingling’ event? Tell us about this.

With two of my good friends, Eric et Ludovic, we have just launched a new group called “The Epicurean Frogs”. Our first dinner was last Tuesday and we will meet every month for lunch or dinner or golf. This is not open only for the French but for everyone who speaks French. The next one will be on December the 14th.

Thanks, Antoine. To get in touch for the next “Epicurean Frogs” event, email Antoine at [email protected].

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