Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine April 2019 | Page 125

Business / Interview
A True
Indonesian Icon
Yozua Makes, one of the region’s top lawyers and
the entrepreneur behind the Plataran hotel group,
explains how he is helping to boost Indonesia’s
profile as an international destination.
Andre Syahreza
Toto Santiko Budi
E/ This year, the name ‘Yozua Makes’ appears in
the recipients list for the Lifetime Achievement
Award from the prestigious Marquis Who’s
Who, joining an elite group of influencers from
various parts of the world. In Indonesia, Dr.
Yozua Makes SH, LLM, MM is a unique figure.
One of Asia’s leading lawyers, Yozua’s
international and domestic portfolio is certainly
impressive. He is adjunct lecturer in the law
faculties of the University of Indonesia (UI), his
alma mater, and Pelita Harapan University, and
he has previously studied at various leading
universities in Asia and the United States.
Known for his expertise in forging transnational
transactions, he has handled a considerable
number of large clients, including Lippo Group,
Djarum Group, UOB Bank, CVC International and
KKR, through his law firm Makes & Partners.
Yozua’s career has not been confined to the
legal realm, however. He is also an entrepreneur
in the hotel and restaurant business and is
currently growing his brand, Plataran Group,
which celebrates its tenth birthday this year.
Plataran hotels are spread across various exotic
Indonesian destinations, from Borobudur in
Central Java, Bali’s Ubud and Labuan Bajo in
Flores, to the newest addition at Bromo in East
Java. Why did this celebrated lawyer decide to
take on the additional responsibility of being
CEO to a hotel group?
“I entered the tourism business unintentionally,”
says Yozua in his down-to-earth manner. “My
wife, also a teacher at UI, and I are lovers of
Indonesian culture and cultural
destinations, so we decided to
turn our private villa in Canggu
[on Bali’s south coast] into the
first Plataran hotel. From
there, it developed. We never
expected it to develop into a
whole group of hotels and
restaurants. Our aspirations
were simple: to participate in the
advancement of Indonesia and
Indonesian people, and that continues to
be our firm principle,” explains the Balinese-
Javanese businessman, who is also an avid
antique collector.
A sense of Indonesia’s rich cultural identity is
the distinctive characteristic of Plataran. This
applies to every resort and restaurant,
including a restaurant in Tokyo, where
Indonesian flavour is found not only in the
interior décor but also in the friendliness of the
waiting staff. It’s a concept that brings almost
every aspect of the business to life, from
marketing to landscaping.
Every Plataran hotel is developed with
consideration for the surrounding environment
and culture of local communities. Each resort
has been designed to blend in with the natural
environment, often with beautiful land contours
at high elevations that are tiered to make the
most of 360˚ views. Guests not only enjoy the
luxuries of a five-star hotel, but also have the
opportunity for direct contact with nature and
local people.
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