Yudhistira Pratama

General Manager / Owner’s Representative Name Yudhistira Pratama (Mr) Company PT. Mustika Princess Hotel - Indonesia

1. How did you come to be General Manager or Owner Representative of PT. Mustika Princess Hotel?
A University senior of mine from US, introduced me to the Owners.After several meetings, I was offered the position; I believe my qualifications met their expectations. I was very excited and joined the group as General Manager of their Hotel investment. I was 27 years old then.

2. How long have you been working in PT. Mustika Princess Hotel?
It has been a wonderful 4 years.

3. What are the various general responsibilities of your position?
My responsibilities includes setting up the business plan, construction/renovation of the property, opening up the hotel and make it live, major maintenance of the property, major improvement of the property, oversee the well-being of the business and strategies future developments of the company.

4. Your position now is soastonishing then what experience is needed for the position?
I believe one cannot list the experience needed for this position, you need to have all the soft skills and hard skills needed as a business man, as you are representing a prominent one. But if I may put one experience on the top of the list, that would be entrepreneurial experience. One must be able to treat the business like its own, contribute passion into it and continuously focus on result.

5. Don’t mind if you share your previous working experience on the hospitality industry since the beginning?
I started from a modest beginning of being an intern at Ritz Carlton Millennia Singapore during my tenure as student at SekolahTinggiPariwisata Bandung.

After finishing my Hotel Diploma Degree, I was looking for a school to continue my study. To my surprise, there is not a single University in Indonesia (then), who would accept all the credits I did on my diploma. Finally I found a great program at Southern New Hampshire Universitythat would accept all credits I did for a bachelor degree in hospitality. This program is actually very suitable for Indonesian hospitality students. Indonesian hospitality students need to know about this program. More on this program can be found at http://www.snhu.edu/9301.asp During my tenure as student there I was lucky enough to experience Management Trainee program at Hyatt Regency Chicago, a huge property of 2 towers.

After finishing my bachelor degree, I was again very lucky to able to extend my education to Masters Level at Southern New Hampshire University and Harvard University. At this level, I gained in depth knowledge on management and finance which given me the basics to be a General Manager.

Nevertheless, while studying in US, I was continuously working at various places, ranging from Starbucks as a barista to a chain restaurant as General Manager. These jobs helped me paid the high living cost in US and enriched my work experience as well.


6. When and why are coming back home to the waterland Indonesia?
After all my schooling was done, I feel there would be better opportunities for me in Indonesia rather in US. I strongly believe I made a right decision and I am very grateful for that.

7. What is your best memory from living and working on the hospitality industry in abroad?
Having the chance to meet some of the most interesting people would be one of the best memories of living abroad.

8. What is the best thing about being a general manager or an owner’s representative?
The best thing is getting to know the most prominent hoteliers and people in the industry.

9. What is the most challenging thing about it?
The most challenging thing about this job is to implement changes. In order to keep growing and agile in this competitive market, we need to keep updated with what is going on with the market and adjust. Most of the time, these adjustments require persistence.

10. Which skills from your work on the hotel operation do you think help you with your current position?
The service mentality;eagerness to serve and give your best.

11. What advice would you give to Indonesian Hotelier interested in becoming a general manager or an owner’s representative like you?
Prepare yourself. You will never know when that once in a lifetime opportunity knocks. But when it does, you better be prepared.

12. In your opinion, should owner follow you and get involved with the hotel operation?and why?
Yes. Why not? Owners of hotel tend to have the luxury of travelling and staying at the best hotels. These experiences are knowledge which we can use to improve the service and products of the property.

13. What is the best thing about working in your position?
The chance to keep learning and growing I believe is the one best thing about this position. For example; when you sit down with a prominent business men and talk about business for 60 minutes, it is like being given the summary of 100 business books. I always keep an open mind.

14. What is the most challenging thing about it?
The position could be very demanding. Having to adjust yourself with the stress and pressure could be challenging sometime.

15. How is the performance of Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa which is under your responsibility?
Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa is the leading hotel in Yogyakarta for MICE market. The financial performance shows that it is now doing 4 times better compare to 8 years ago. This is the result of the strong team we have. We are very proud of the current outcome and still putting ambitious targets for the future.

16. How is Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa contributing to promote the Yogyakarta Special Region tourism industry in the international market?
Many if not most, international events in Yogyakarta was held in Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa. The facilities in the property made it possible for prestige events of 2000 attendees to be held in Yogyakarta. Sheraton Mustika Resort & Spa has the biggest ballroom in the region.

We are also very aggressive in promoting Yogyakarta as a tourism destination abroad. To name a few, we did promotions in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Thailand, and Japan. We cannot sell our products without having sold the destination first.I believe Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa made a significant positive impact on Yogyakarta’s tourism industry.

17. Hospitality industry is going through an extremely difficult time at present. How do you plan to withstand this adversity?
We are giving best value to our guests. We are offering good quality product with a brand that speaks for itself at a very competitive price. We are confident that, as competition become fierce, customer will be more selective and opt to choose the best value for their money.

18. What are the major problems of the hotel industry?
In Yogyakarta, in particular, the problem will be seen in the near future with the many developments of new hotels at the same time. I believe; I and many hoteliers in Yogyakarta are sharing the same thinking. In the long run, however, this will be good for the industry as Yogyakarta could cater more events and accommodate more visitors.

19. At present, some of the five star deluxe hotels are cutting their rates sharply. Do you think it is sustainable?
This is inevitable, when the demands for room decreases, the price should adjust likewise. Dynamic pricing should be implemented.

20. Tell us what you feel is the most distinctive or unique feature of your hotel? What best describes the personality of the hotel?
Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa is a very unique hotel. With a concept of resort, it offers a lush landscaping and wide-ranging leisure facilities.Super luxurious Spa, Five swimming pools (4 outdoors and 1 indoor), tennis courts, and kids club, to name a few. But, we also have varieties of meeting spaces. We have a huge ballroom and also many medium-size meeting spaces.

We also just recently create a mini ballroom on the top floor of our main building; this mini ballroom is called Mustika Room. It offers a beautiful meeting space overlooking the Merapi Volcano, extremely beautiful for weddings. So it is a hotel that relaxes you, gives you a peace of mind and allows you to focus with your meetings.

21. Who are your customers and where do they come from?
Our main market segment is MICE market from Jakarta.

22. What is the best thing about the hotel's location? What is your favorite thing to do in the surrounding area?
The hotel is 5 minutes from Adisucipto International Airport and 20 minutes away from Malioboro. Very strategic location.There are some traditional villages surrounding the property, they are untouched by modern lifestyle and very delightful to visit. We actually made packages which our guests can go to the village, enjoy interesting ‘back to nature’ activities there and even dine in one of the villagers houses. This is very interesting for our guests, especially those who came from the urban areas.

23. Which do you consider to be the best rooms in the house? Not just the suites, but also any particular standard rooms that have great views or unusual advantages?
We have, what we called, Lagoon Access Rooms. These rooms are connected directly with a private lagoon style swimming pool. We have 18 Lagoon Access rooms in the hotel.

24. Can you mention any interesting miscellaneous trivia regarding the hotel? Perhaps a bit of history? Any special events that have taken place on property?
The lobby of the hotel is uniquely located on the 7th floor. This is not because it was built on a cliff, but it is because we have a fly-over-bridge in the property which made the lobby drop zone to be on the top of the property.I believe, Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa is the only hotel property in Indonesia which has a fly-over-bridge built inside the property.Also, Merapi Volcano is the back drop view of the property. This made the scenery of the property is an astonishing one.

25. If you were considering staying at the hotel as a guest, what would you want to know about the hotel before checking in?
I guess I want to make sure that I am getting the best value for my money. hahaha…and best value is not always the cheapest nor the most expensive, but rather the worth of the price.

26. Other than your own, can you share your choices of two or three of what you consider to be the greatest hotels in the world? And why you think they are special?
St.Regis Bali, because of it is a super luxurious resort; White Mountain Resort in New Hamsphire (USA), because of its historical background; and W Hotel in Maldives, because it is simply the most beautiful spot on earth.

27. Anything else you would like to share with our readersabout you and your property?
Yogyakarta is a much over looked destination. I believe people should travel there and feel the magic for themselves.