The German native is ready to bring one of Jakarta’s most iconic hotels to its “metamorphosis” era!
Hear, hear, Jakarta — there’s a new hotel maven in town! Indonesia Expat had the pleasure to chat with Andreas Kahl who, beginning in August this year, has taken up the mantle as the General Manager of Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites. With great detail as well as infectious passion, Andreas Kahl shared his journey leading up to his current role, his vision for Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites going forward, and why the word “metamorphosis” is the motto that he and his team are joyously holding on to at the moment.
Hi Andreas! Let’s get started by introducing yourself a bit. What can you tell us about yourself? (i.e., where you are from originally, where you spent your childhood, where you went to school)
I was born and raised in a small town in one of the most beautiful areas in Germany. When people talk about Germany, they think of cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, or Munich, but they should definitely have a look at the “UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley” and the famous “Loreley”. I grew up in the middle of a tourist destination surrounded by countless castles, fantastic vineyards, and stunning nature.
Has the world of hospitality always been your first and only ‘calling’ or ‘passion’? If that had not been the case, then how did you eventually end up establishing such a long and impressive career in this industry?
To be honest, after graduating from high school, I was considering studying event management, but then I realised that some schools that were offering education in this field were also teaching hotel management. While I started enjoying working in hotels from the very first day, it was only later in my career that I realised how everything I did prior to hotel school actually prepared me for my life as a hotelier. For example: my year of community service with the German Red Cross during which I was taking reservations for first aid courses. Looking back, I can say that I have always loved working with people and, to this day, that is what drives me the most.
Can you share with us the journey leading up to you finally taking up the role of General Manager of Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites?
If you look at my CV, you may quickly realise that I never spent anywhere more than two years. I was always seeking new opportunities and challenges. As soon as I felt the learning curve declining, I was ready to try something new. That being said, I have been in Indonesia since the pandemic back in 2020. I began at the ibis Styles Bandung Braga until the hotel was sold and rebranded. Afterwards, I moved on to the Novotel Lombok Resort & Villas, which was very exciting since I began work right before the Mandalika Circuit was inaugurated. I spent two amazing years there, hosting, among others, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, as well as countless MotoGP and WorldSBK riders. Later on, I did a short stint at the Grand Mercure Bali Seminyak before deciding to move to Jakarta to be a part of the team at Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites.
Now that you are the General Manager, how do you see the Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites’ current positioning, as well as its image, within the Jakartan hospitality scene? And what is your vision for its positioning and image going forward?
Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites is an icon of Jakarta’s hotel scene with its art-inspired concept, though not everyone is yet familiar with the hotel itself at the moment. I already had countless guest interactions during which they shared their fond memories of staying at our hotel. Our team is inspired by the hotel’s great success in the past and now, we are aiming to bring the hotel back to its glory. The hotel is undergoing a gradual renovation — for its rooms as well as its public areas and outlets. The vision, for me, is clearly to deliver exceptional service and craft memorable experiences through art and lifestyle and have the hotel recognised as one of the best addresses in town, especially when it comes to being the ‘go-to’ destination for meetings, events, weddings, and unique dining experiences.
What can you tell us about the specific goals that you and the whole team at Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites wish to achieve by the end of this year?
We have reviewed past and existing strategies and did a full re-evaluation. Hence, the whole team is currently working on a lot of new and improved concepts in the background, especially to infuse the art concept into the facilities. You could say that our aim for the remainder of 2024 is to prepare for the great, new things to come in the following year — and, partially, even earlier than that. We are excited about the things that we are working on and we are looking forward to sharing it with the public as soon as possible.
Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites is also known as one of the very few properties in the city that has consistently championed fine arts showcases as well as the artists behind such an enthralling body of work. Now that you are the General Manager, will this continue to be the case or do you have plans to, perhaps, shake things up?
The name ARTOTEL itself is already a testament to our commitment to making art an important part of the guests’ journey as they enjoy their stay at Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites. Besides our permanent art space, which features rotating exhibitions, we will continue to host events that feature artists and get our guests in touch with art and the creators behind it. In September this year, we were honoured to host an exhibition of paintings created by the Indian Ambassador to ASEAN, Shri Jayant N. Khobragade, in our lobby area. We also recently hosted an interactive talk show with the painter Bill Mohdor, and we are already working on future events with similar as well as new formats.
Looking at the hotel’s Instagram page, it seems that, now, the motto that Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites is following is “metamorphosis”. What does “metamorphosis” mean to you as the General Manager? Is a dramatic transformation afoot at Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites?
I love this question! In my opinion, the word “metamorphosis” can be connected, in many different ways, with Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites. It starts with the transformation of the hotel itself through its renovation process, continued by our team of “Artists” which aim to turn hotel stays into a lasting memory for our guests. It is, then, completed by the transformed experience delivered through our unique connection with art that reoccurs during the guests’ journey throughout their time at our hotel. So yes, a major transformation is in process with full steam ahead!
What is next for you and Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites? Is there any upcoming plan, promotional offer, or future collaboration that you can tease at the moment?
We have some exciting things in the making. Besides a new and unique Sunday Brunch concept that we are aiming to launch this year, we are also working on special offers for family staycations in our newly renovated rooms. On top of that, we want to give a major makeover for the concept of our Semanggi Bar & Lounge.
Last but not least, how can our readers reach you and Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites?
Please feel free to reach our team at Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites Jakarta through WhatsApp at +6281388827803 for all kinds of inquiries. Make sure to follow our Instagram page @mangkuluhurartotelsuites to keep up with the latest news. For those who would like to get in touch with me personally, I’d be happy to connect through LinkedIn as well.