" the hotel is basically a human interaction , Which is What i am fond of . it ' s about relationships and service , and i am a people person . therefore , i see the hotel business as my playground ." just dedicate myself to Artotel , simply put , because it is my passion and my life ,” says Radjimin , who after graduating from Boston University in business marketing and hospitality management in 2007 worked in sales for Marriott and then for travel agencies in Jakarta .
Special RepoRt : Change Makers
Living in a hoteL pLayground
artotel Indonesia ' s erastus radjimin has been in love with the hotel business since childhood . now it is much more than a game as he grows in Indonesia and dreams globally .
by Jeff Weinstein , editor in chief
What Artotel Indonesia CEO EraSTuS “ Erry ” radjimin seems to have in his favor is clarity , which may have evolved from his youth when he followed his property developer father to construction sites and started to fall in love with the hotel business . Add his family ’ s great appreciation for art and it merges into an integrated business model and a brand called Artotel – still a small , accessible , homegrown brand that is uniquely positioned in the Indonesian market , as well as a millennial-driven brand that the 30-year-old Radjimin believes has global potential . “ Currently this is the only thing that I know and what I know best ,” Radjimin says with a confidence rooted in a desire to find the right people who focus on service excellence .
“ I would love to see Artotel have a significant impact not only on the hospitality industry but also on the development of contemporary art in Indonesia ,” he adds . “ It is truly a rewarding experience to see the growth of the artists after we collaborate with them .” The collaboration begins by scouting for new contemporary artists from local communities to work together and continually promoting them through the hotels ’ periodically rotated Artspace .
This structure will be a core foundation of the company that has two hotels open and nine in the works through 2018 before it expands to the international stage . “ I
" the hotel is basically a human interaction , Which is What i am fond of . it ' s about relationships and service , and i am a people person . therefore , i see the hotel business as my playground ." just dedicate myself to Artotel , simply put , because it is my passion and my life ,” says Radjimin , who after graduating from Boston University in business marketing and hospitality management in 2007 worked in sales for Marriott and then for travel agencies in Jakarta .
Radjimin says it simply might be genetic or that his father is skillful in subtle persuasion , but hospitality has always been his passion . “ I love the process from the very beginning , such as choosing the land site , understanding the local environment and its local lifestyle , partnering with local designers and artists to collaborate , until the last process of opening and operating the project .”
The best part , Radjimin says , is the non-stop marathon once the hotel comes alive . “ To me it ’ s more a journey than a destination to develop and operate hotels . I love every step of the process along with each unique challenge ,” he confesses ,
40 HOTELS April 2016 www . hotelsmag . com