After a hiatus of almost two years, Four Seasons is making a return to Jakarta in June 2016. Revealed in a press conference earlier in end January, the luxury hotel brand will manage the new all-suite 125-key hotel. The hotel will be a part of the Capital Place that hosts 47-story office tower and high-end retail-dining concept. Owned by Rajawali Property Group and GIC, Capital Place is located at Sudirman CBD in the city centre, which is already highly regarded as Jakarta’s most happening commercial and business district.
Artist’s Illustration of the Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, set to open in June 2016. Photo: Capital Place
Four Seasons is well-known for operating some of the world’s greatest hotels in key global financial centres including Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, London, New York and Paris. Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta will replace the currently renovating Four Seasons hotel on Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, which is also owned by the Rajawali Property Group, and has been closed for renovation since late 2014. An interesting announcement about this location was also made recently, announcing another luxury development on the site.
Capital Place in Sudirman CBD, Jakarta. Photo: Capital Place
The architects of the new Four Seasons are the internationally-acclaimed Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, whose design celebrates the Indonesian architectural traits of transparency between indoor and outdoor spaces. The clean lines of the French Deco-inspired hotel interiors, designed by New York interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud, seeks to complement the outdoor spaces created by tropical urban landscape designer Bill Bensley. Guests of Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta will enjoy a world-class facility including state-of-the art spa, fitness, and event and meeting facilities combined with the highly customised service synonymous with Four Seasons.
Mr. Christian Poda, credit: Four Seasons
Complementing this announcement is the appointment of Christian Poda as General Manager. “It’s a distinct pleasure to promote Christian to his first assignment as General Manager in his illustrious career with Four Seasons,” says William Mackay, Four Seasons President, Hotel Operations – Asia Pacific.
“In his most recent position as Hotel Manager in Pudong, Shanghai, he’s proven his talent and skill as a hotelier in leading an international team and providing thoughtful, personalised service to our guests from around the world. As Four Seasons reopens in Jakarta, Christian is the ideal ambassador for our brand.”
Born in Germany where his hospitality career also began, Poda’s education includes completion of the General Managers Program at Cornell University in the US. His last assignment before the Jakarta assignment was Four Seasons Hotel Pudong, Shanghai, where he oversaw all hotel operations and a staff of 340.
