Bertepatan dengan digelar event Mandiri Jakarta Marathon 2016 pada 23 Oktober mendatang, Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta memberikan serangkaian promo berupa Stay and Run Package dan beberapa hidangan favorit ala chef profesional. Promo ini berlangsung selama bulan Oktober yang dipersembahkan khusus bagi pecinta kuliner dan para runners.
Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta memberikan penawaran khusus bagi para pecinta marathon berupa ‘Stay and Run Package’ yang dibuat khusus untuk memeriahkan festival Mandiri Jakarta Marathon 2016. Harga yang ditawarkan pun cukup terjangkau, yaitu mulai dari IDR 650.000 nett tanpa minimal booking bagi pemegang Mandiri Credit Card. Harga tersebut sudah termasuk early breakfast, pengantaran menuju pintu masuk Mandiri Jakarta Marathon, akses internet, pengantaran menuju pusat perbelanjaan, serta tidak ketinggalan late check out hingga pukul 16.00 WIB.
Selain promo kamar, Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta juga menghadirkan aneka hidangan andalan dengan kelezatan dan citarasa khas nusantara dengan perpaduan bumbu yang kaya dan disajikan dengan istimewa oleh chef yang berpengalaman. Menu andalan di bulan Oktober adalah Aromatic Beef Ribs yang dibuat dari daging sapi segar dengan sensasi rasa pedas manis dan gurih. Selain itu juga ada menu Bebek Sirih yang dihidangkan dari daging bebek impor pilihan yang diolah dengan perpaduan bumbu dan rempah-rempah sehingga menghasilkan kelezatan yang kaya akan rasa.
Tak mau ketinggalan, menu di Lobby Lounge juga tak kalah menggoda dengan menu di Café Sirih. Menu tersebut di antaranya adalah Smoothielicious yakni merupakan minuman yang terbuat dari campuran buah-buahan dan yogurt dengan pilihan rasa blueberry, mangga, atau stroberi. Untuk penganan ringan dihadirkan Chicken Curry Puff yang sangat lezat dan Choco Brown Melt yang tentu saja dapat menggugah selera.
“Suatu kesempatan yang baik bagi kami untuk turut memeriahkan Jakarta Marathon 2016 dengan menghadirkan promo menginap ‘Stay and Run’ bagi para runners. Tak lupa kami juga menyediakan hidangan-hidangan khas ala Café Sirih dan Lobby Lounge yang tentu saja bercitarasa tinggi dan telah dipersiapkan khusus oleh tim kuliner kami,” ujar Elsa Amalo, Marketing Communication Manager Millennium Hotel Sirh Jakarta.
Promo kuliner menarik tersebut dapat dinikmati selama bulan Oktober 2016, sedangkan untuk promo Stay and Run Package dapat dipesan mulai dari sekarang dengan periode menginap mulai tanggal 21 hingga 23 Oktober 2016.
Fairmont Jakarta dengan bangga menghadirkan Michelin-starred Chef Francesc Rovira di restoran VIEW untuk menyajikan makan malam ekslusif dengan wine pairing, pada 12 Oktober 2016.
Chef Francesc adalah pemilik restoran La Fonda Xesc yang terletak di Girona, Spanyol. Chef yang telah meraih penghargaan bintang Michelin pada tahun 2009 ini, akan berkolaborasi dengan Andrew Zarzosa, Executive Chef di Fairmont Jakarta untuk menghadirkan cita rasa otentik masakan Spanyol yang dikemas dengan apik untuk makan malam istimewa.
Adapun menu yang akan dihadirkan terdiri dari menu-menu populer dari restaoran La Fonda Xesc seperti Lobster with Season Vegatable and Wild Mushroom dan Sea Bass with Zucchini, Peach, Grape and Fennel. Sementara itu chef Andrew akan menghadirkan menu andalannya dari restoran VIEW seperti Wagyu Beef Sirloin dengan King Trumpet Tobanyaki, Lemongrass-Sweet Corn dan Kale, serta Vegetable Harvest yang terdiri dari berbagai jenis sayuran yang dimasak dengn berbagai teknik. Hidangan akan ditutup dengan menu Sauce Red Berries dengan Lychees dan Lemon Verbena dari Chef Francesc.
Untuk melengkapi makan malam ini, setiap hidangan akan disandingkan dengan berbagai jenis wine dari brand-brand terkemuka di Spanyol seperti Segura Viudas, Orube, Valdubon dan Mas de Subira. Sagura Viudas merupakan jenis minguman anggur sparkling atau disebut juga cava dari daerah Penedes di Spanyol. Minuman ini memiliki rasa yang elegan sehingga sangat cocok dinikmati dengan menu pembuka dari chef Francesc. Hidangan Lobster dan Sea Bass masing-masing akan dipadukan dengan Orube dan Mas De Subira. Sementara itu, red wine dari Valdubon akan menyempurnakan menu utama Wagyu beef. Pengalaman bersantap ini ditutup dengan nikmatnya Segura Viudas Rose yang disajikan dengan hidangan penutup.
Layaknya chef terkemuka lainnya di dunia, Chef Francesc mempelajari teknik memasak dari sang ibu ketika ia bekerja di penginapan milik keluarga bernama “La Fonda”. Chef Francesc kemudian mengambil alih usaha keluarga tersebut dan mengubah dapurnya menjadi restoran. Ia senang memasak menggunakan bahan-bahan lokal dan mengubahnya menjadi hidangan Spanyol yang lezat, otentik namun dikemas dengan teknik yang mutakhir. Masakannya dikenal memiliki cita rasa yang bersahaja dan terdiri dari perpaduan berbagai rasa dan tekstur. Hal inilah yang membuat para pecinta kuliner rela melakukan perjalanan jauh untuk mengunjungi restorannya di Pyrenan Hills.
Para tamu dapat menikmati pengalaman kuliner yang istimewa ini dengan harga Rp. 990.000++ per orang, sudah termasuk enam hidangan dan wine pairing di VIEW Restoran & Bar sambil menikmati panorama kota Jakarta dari lantai 22 Fairmont Jakarta.
Untuk informasi lebih lanjut dan pemesanan, hubungi +62 (21) 2970 3333 atau email [email protected].
Tentang Fairmont Jakarta
Terletak di kawasan Senayan dan dekat dengan Area Pusat Perkantoran (CBD), Fairmont Jakarta adalah hotel bintang lima yang memiliki 488 kamar. Hotel ini berada dalam kompleks Senayan dan memiliki akses langsung ke Plaza Senayan dan perkantoran Sentral Senayan melalui terowongan bawah tanah. Di antara fasilitas yang dimiliki adalah 108 Sky Suite, yaitu apartemen untuk tamu yang tinggal dalam jangka waktu lama (long stay), 10 restoran, lounge dan bar serta tempat pertemuan seluas 3.500 meter persegi yang dapat digunakan untuk resepsi pernikahan dan konvensi dalam skala berbeda. Fairmont Jakarta juga memiliki Willow Stream Spa dengan sembilan ruangan perawatan. Beragam fasilitas mewah siap melayani Anda.
Hardy’s Dining Room yang merupakan all day dining room di Mercure Bandung Setiabudi menghadirkan sajian baru pada Sabtu malam Anda. Jelajahi kuliner mancanegara di The Food Carnival yang dipersiapkan selama bulan Oktober sampai Desember 2016 mulai pukul 18.00 sampai 22.00 WIB.
Berkonsep all you can eat dengan pilihan menu utama pada buffet, Anda juga dapat menjelajahi kuliner khas Indonesia hingga mancanegara seperti Malaysia, Mediterania, dan Western pada setiap food stalls yang disajikan di area indoor dan outdoor restoran. Live cooking dengan menu barbecue mulai dari salmon, chicken, lamb, meat, serta seafood dapat Anda santap sebagai pelengkap menu makan malam Anda.
Pada pilihan dessert, Anda akan menemukan godaan dari manisnya marshmallow, ice cream, cookies, cakes, serta berbagai bentuk jelly. Nikmati The Food Carnival dengan hanya Rp 200.000++/orang, ditemani alunan musik akustik, pemandangan kolam renang dengan cahaya layaknnya bintang jatuh di malam hari, dan kesejukan udara dataran tinggi Bandung.
Ajak serta keluarga atau orang-orang terdekat, jangan lewatkan penawaran reservasi untuk 5 orang, gratis satu orang. Bagi pengguna kartu debit Bank Mandiri, tukar Fiestapoin Anda untuk mendapatkan diskon hingga 30%, atau nikmati diskon 15% dengan menunjukkan identitas pelajar atau mahasiswa. Mercure Bandung Setiabudi, Jl. Dr. Setiabudi no 269 – 275 Bandung.
Tentang Mercure Bandung Setiabudi
Mercure Bandung Setiabudi merupakan hotel bintang empat yang menawarkan pemandangan indah kota Bandung bagi para tamu dengan kebutuhan bisnis atuapun liburan. Difasilitasi 205 kamar berdesain kontemporer yang dibagi kedalam delapan kategori kamar; sepuluh ruang rapat dan ruang acara yang modern; 1.205 meter persegi grand ballroom tanpa pilar berkapasitas hingga 1700 orang untuk pertemuan, insentif, konvensi, dan pameran, serta area outdoor dengan kolam renang hangat yang menyenangkan.
Menyatukan konsep modern dan tradisional di daerah bercuaca yang sejuk, yaitu di Jalan Setiabudi, hotel ini berlokasi strategis ke arah yang sama ke banyak tempat tujuan wisata, diataranya area wisata Lembang, Gunung Tangkuban Perahu, Observatorium Bosscha, perkebunan teh, Kampung Gajah, dan Floating Market.
Golden Lotus Chinese Restaurant, an elegant Chinese restaurant at the Bali Dynasty Resort, now offers its popular and signature dish-the Peking Duck at a very special price from the 1st of October 2016 until 31st of December 2016.
The whole duck is presented at your table by our chef and prepared as an appetizer in front of you with the duck skin in a Chinese pancake with spring onion, cucumber and the restaurant’s sweet black bean sauce; followed by a delicious soup of duck bones and vegetables and finished off with the main course of duck meat in your choice of black bean or black pepper sauce.
During the promotion period, the popular whole Peking duck is offered at only IDR 399,000 nett, including steamed rice, serving up to four people.
Peking duck, also known as roasted duck, is a famous duck dish from Beijing that has been prepared since the imperial era. It is one of China’s national foods, and gained its popularity most notably because of the way it is presented.
Golden Lotus Chinese Restaurant is an elegant and sophisticated Chinese Restaurant serving the finest Cantonese, Szechuan cuisines and Dim Sum lunches. The interior resembles a classic Chinese dining venue, with traditional paper lanterns, a rich combination of red and gold with carved wood paneling and elegant furnishing.
Located adjacent to the Main Lobby of Bali Dynasty Resort, it opens 6 days a week from Tuesday till Sunday for Lunch from 11.30am till 2.30pm and Dinner from 6pm till 10pm. With many awards as the best Chinese Restaurant in Bali, Golden Lotus is proud to cook Chinese cuisine that is MSG Free. For information, please call 752403 Ext. 8502 or email to [email protected]
Red Planet Hotels, the fast growing pan-Asian budget hotel chain announced today it has received USD70 million from Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), a leading global investment bank. Founded in 2010, Red Planet Hotels owns and operates a portfolio of 26 hotels in Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The funds from Goldman Sachs will facilitate the activation of a confirmed pipeline for 10 hotels to open over the next 24 months.
Red Planet Hotels Chief Executive Officer, Tim Hansing, said the investment would solidify the company’s current expansion roadmap and help to establish a basis to close a final round of private investor equity to support further expansion of the brand.
“We have a well-diversified portfolio over four countries, and have developed a highly systemised brand. We have also created a unique customer-facing IT platform that is without parallel in our market. We now have substantial growth opportunities not only in our existing markets but also in additional countries where we are confident our brand and product will excel,” Mr Hansing added.
“To have our company, our people, our product, and our brand be funded by Goldman Sachs indeed gives us the confidence that we are on the right track to our stated goal of a 2018 IPO.”
Jonathan Vanica, a managing director at Goldman Sachs, said: “The growth of travel, coupled with the evolving demands for more diverse and cost-efficient hospitality platforms, is leading to new opportunities for entrepreneurial companies in Asia. We anticipate our capital will help Red Planet Hotels accelerate its expansion throughout the region.”
Simon Gerovich, Chairman of Red Planet Hotels, added: “The investment we have received from Goldman Sachs will augment our expansion capabilities in the short-term and allow us to focus on our longer-term goals of scaling up our hotel footprint across the Asia-Pacific region.”
Since 2011 Red Planet Hotels has raised USD240 million of capital and the funds from Goldman Sachs position the company well to complete its next and final pre-IPO round of capital raising amounting to USD250 million.
Master Chef Degan Septoadji membawa kuliner Indonesia ke mancanegara, kali ini ke kota Paris yang dikenal sebagai pusar gastronomi dunia dalam rangkaian acara “Festival Colorful Indonesia” pada 14 – 16 Oktober 2016 mendatang berlokasi di Pavillon Dauphine. Promosi kuliner ini menampilkan sejumlah hidangan populer Indonesia yang menjadi bagian acara dalam rangka perayaan HUT ke-71 Republik Indonesia.
“Merupakan sebuah kehormatan sekaligus tantangan bagi seorang chef untuk menampilkan kuliner bangsanya di Paris yang terkenal akan haute cuisine atau hidangan tingkat tingginya,” ujar Chef Degan. “Bagaimana kuliner Indonesia ditampilkan agar mendapatkan sambutan baik dari masyarakat yang amat terlatih seleranya dalam mengapresiasi hidangan gourmet,” paparnya.
Salah satu upaya yang dilakukan dalam promosi kuliner ini adalah memahami ragam hidangan khas Nusantara dan memilih diantaranya yang cocok dan sesuai dengan selera budaya makan Eropa, khususnya Perancis.
Chef Degan menjelaskan, “Masyarakat Eropa umumnya menikmati cita rasa gurih, asam, segar, manis dengan tingkat kepedasan yang wajar agar masih dapat menikmati sensasi aneka rasa lainnya, terutama karena hidangan akan dipadukan dengan wine.”
Hidangan yang ditampilkan diambil dari beberapa menu favorit di Café Degan Bali, restoran milik Chef Degan, seperti Bebek Bumbu Bali, Iga Kambing Bumbu Ketumbar, Daging Sambal Hijau, Salmon Sayur Lodeh, Sambal Goreng Udang, Rendang, dan Ayam Bumbu Rujak.
“Semakin banyak di antara kita yang bangga dan mempromosikan kekayaan budaya kita, termasuk kuliner Indonesia, semoga makin mengharumkan nama Indonesia di tingkat internasional seperti kuliner asal Asia lainnya,” ujarnya.
Acara “Festival Colorful Indonesia” diinisiasi oleh Duta Besar Republik Indonesia untuk Perancis, Monaco dan Andorra Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan sebagai bentuk komitmen mempromosikan Indonesia dari berbagai aspek budaya, ekonomi dan investasi, yang akan digelar di Pavillon Dauphine di Paris.
Acara promosi terpadu ini merupakan kesempatan bagi pemerintah/provinsi dan pihak swasta di Indonesia untuk memperkenalkan potensi daerahnya dan menjalin kerjasama dengan berbagai kalangan di Perancis.
Dubes Hotmangaradja mengatakan, potensi Indonesia masih sangat besar untuk dijelajah dan dipamerkan pada dunia. Khusus bidang kuliner, makan dan makanan adalah sebuah bahasa universal yang dimengerti seluruh masyarakat dunia. “Melalui pengenalan kuliner dapat dilakukan soft power diplomacy yang diharapkan semakin memperkuat hubungan diplomatis antar negara dan membuka peluang temasuk niaga maupun kunjungan ke Indonesia kedepannya,” tandasnya.
Degan Septoadji, salah seorang chef profesional asal Indonesia, telah berpengalaman lebih dari 30 tahun di industri boga. Mengenyam pendidikan dan mengawali karirnya di Eropa, Degan bekerja di sejumlah jaringan hotel mewah internasional di mancanegara di antaranya Hilton International, Grand Hyatt, The Ritz-Carlton, Atlantis, Sol Melia dan Banyan Tree Hotels.
Ia kembali ke Indonesia membuka Café Degan di Pulau Dewata tahun 2010. Disamping mengelola restoran, Chef Degan tampil sebagai juri dalam acara TV MasterChef Indonesia, pembicara dan konsultan kuliner. Mempromosikan kuliner Indonesia di mancanegara merupakan agenda tahunannya, disamping menginspirasi para chef muda Indonesia untuk mendalami warisan budaya kuliner. Sepanjang 2016 telah membawa kuliner Indonesia ke Thailand, Inggris, Jerman dan Perancis.
The truth of the matter is that there is no one way to see Dubai. Old and new, land and sea, Dubai caters to the millions of visitors from around the world with unique ways to see the elaborate city.
Thanks to its multicultural, cosmopolitan DNA, Dubai reveals a different facet of its personality at every turn, and if you dig deep enough, you will encounter a city that infuses variety and authenticity into every experience. Whether it’s a quick stopover or a weeklong holiday, here are five of the best experiences for visitors to catch a glimpse of the different shades of Dubai.
Downtown Dubai Skyline from Dubai Creek Harbour
Frying Pan Adventures – for the Foodie
With sisters and self-confessed “intrepid eaters” Arva and Farida Ahmed at the helm, Frying Pan Adventures is a delicious journey through the backstreets and forgotten corners of Dubai in search of the best street eats and culinary experiences. The tours tap into Dubai’s historical role as a port of call for traders from around the globe, who left behind not just goods but a gastronomic heritage. The food trails, carefully crafted by the sisters, are tasty expeditions that take in piquant Moroccan tagines, giant Iraqi fire-grilled carps, Indian street snacks and many more. It also includes immersive experiences like trips to the market to buy local produce to be cooked, served and eaten in the traditional way.
Dubai Heritage Village
Dubai Historical District Heritage Tours – for the Culture Vulture
Among the awe-inspiring sights of the world’s tallest tower, a huge indoor ski slope in the desert, the world’s biggest mall and the world’s largest performing fountain, it can be easy to forget that Dubai was a humble fishing and pearl diving village in the not-too-distant past. A settlement home to merchants, traders and craftsmen for more than 100 years, Dubai has grown into a modern cosmopolis that continues to bring cultures, near and far, into the fold.
Tales from the Past, a heritage tour of Dubai Historical District, delves into Dubai’s earliest days and traces its historical significance and cultural richness. The tour takes in key landmarks such as Dubai’s Heritage Village, where potters and weavers practice their traditional crafts; Sheikh Saeed House, the residence of the ruling Al Maktoum family until 1958; as well as the Textile and Spice Souqs. The tour also takes in Al Ahmadiya School, one of the oldest schools in the emirate, and includes a traditional Emirati lunch.
Big Bus Dubai
Big Bus Dubai Tours – for the 48-hour visitor
If time is of the essence and a couple of days is all one has to enjoy a slice of Dubai, a hop on and off Big Bus Dubai’s ubiquitous red buses should do the trick. With over 11 stops at landmarks including Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Jumeirah Mosque and Atlantis, the Palm, this convenient option is best suited to short and sweet trips to the city. Ideal if you want to take in Dubai’s stunning architecture, marvel at its urban layout or try your hand at the age-old tradition of haggling, the bus tour packs in Dubai’s most exhilarating experiences. Also available is the Night Tour, taking in the city’s spectacular skyline that lights up as the sun goes down; and the Sunset Desert Tour, a complimentary guided foray into an Arabian-style fort, deep within the desert.
Yellow Boats – for the Seafarer
Skip the traffic and bustle of the mainland to discover the city from another perspective – on the water. See-it-all tours cover The Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab and Dubai Marina, guaranteed to give you the ultimate selfie backdrop or picture-perfect panoramic family moment, offering great views and ambience. Ranging from 30-minute thrill rides with high speeds, twists and turns, to slow-paced meanderings that allow you to admire the Dubai skyline in all its glory, the Yellow Boats are a distinct and memorable option for the nautically-inclined.
Dubai Marina
Seawings – for the Aviator
Discover the city from a bird’s eye view, looping over the shoreline and skyline. These scenic tours offer the ultimate private journey, carefully crafted to include all of Dubai’s iconic attractions, including a magnificent take-off from the water at Dubai Creek or Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa, followed by a gentle cruise along the coastline. Offering views of The World islands and wonderful vistas of the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab, it gives visitors and residents a sense of the scale, diversity and unique layout of the city.
About Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism)
With the ultimate vision of positioning Dubai as the world’s leading tourism destination and commercial hub, Dubai Tourism’s mission is to increase the awareness of Dubai among global audiences and to attract tourists and inward investment into the emirate.
Dubai Tourism is the principal authority for the planning, supervision, development and marketing of Dubai’s tourism sector. It markets and promotes the Emirate’s commerce sector, and is responsible for the licensing and classification of all tourism services, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. Brands and departments within the Dubai Tourism portfolio include Dubai Convention and Events Bureau, Dubai Calendar, and Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (formerly known as Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment).
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced the launch of The Table by Golden Circle, a new food and beverage loyalty programme that offers unparalleled benefits to members who dine at Shangri-La properties both on the road and nearer to home. The dining programme is the latest initiative in the ongoing transformation of Golden Circle, which has rolled out industry-leading member benefits, new partnerships, exclusive offers and Golden Circle Event Planner Rewards during its nine-month Loyalty Is anniversary campaign.
The Hong Kong-based hotel group, which operates 98 properties and over 500 restaurants and bars worldwide, commissioned consumer research in developing The Table – surveying Golden Circle members, hotel guests and local residents on their attitudes towards dining, restaurant preferences and loyalty.
“Our consumer research reaffirmed that the emotion attached to a dining experience is far more appealing than the functional benefit of discounts and points. Loyalty programmes must adapt to this trend and become increasingly more experiential,” said Shangri-La’s Chief Marketing Officer Steven Taylor. “Through ‘The Table’s’ unmatched rewards, we are giving guests greater access to culinary experiences worth savouring. And the more they dine with us, the better these experiences get.”
The Table is fully integrated with Shangri-La’s award-winning Golden Circle loyalty programme and recognises members through achievable redemptions and access to signature food experiences, exclusive events, unique surprises and special offers. Among the industry-leading differentiators that set Shangri-La’s dining loyalty programme apart from others are:
More Rewards: Members can now earn Golden Circle Award Points by dining and drinking at the more than 500 restaurants and bars found in Shangri-La, Hotel Jen, Kerry and Traders properties globally when they are non-staying guests.
Instant Indulgence: Instant Dining Rewards allows members to earn and redeem Golden Circle award points on the spot – no pre-planning or vouchers required.
Elite Rewards: Jade and Diamond level members receive bonus earnings and more value on redemptions for dining transactions.
Sweeter Deals: Members receive Golden Circle Award Points on all qualifying transactions, including discounts.
Shangri-La Invites Guests to “Feed Your Mood”
Hotel dining is often portrayed as being uniform, with one perspective, one approach and one product. The Table’s innovative mobile-friendly digital platform, Golden-Circle.com/TheTable, challenges that notion with dynamic content showcasing the exciting range of culinary experiences available at Shangri-La properties. In addition, it caters to how consumers approach dining today. Guests searching for restaurants and bars will find options categorized under five moods – elegant, intimate, upbeat, chill and adventurous – or by curated experiences, local offers and member benefits.
The site gives members access to special offers and features immersive stories and videos which spotlight the artisans behind the food and drink that ends up on guest tables. The platform also highlights signature dish recipes and seasonal menus as well as The Table’s Instagram account, @TheTable, which visually captures the essence of Shangri-La culinary journeys.
“Incredible dining and drink experiences at our hotels play a large part in creating memorable moments for guests,” said Shangri-La Vice President for Partner and Loyalty Marketing Wee Kee Ng. “By elevating Golden Circle benefits and introducing moments of surprises via one platform, ‘The Table’ brings instant guest recognition and rewards to life.”
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, currently manages 98 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 40,000. Over four decades the group has established its brand hallmark of ‘hospitality from the heart.’ The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. For more information please contact a travel professional or access the website at shangri-la.com.
Undangan Jim Weston sangat menggoda. “Wolf Blass Wine Luncheon with 2016 Red Winemaker of the Year” yang bertempat di Pacific Restaurant & Lounge, The Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place Jakarta, Selasa, 13 September 2016. Acara makan siang itu sekaligus untuk merayakan kemenangan Wolf Blass di International Wine Challenge (IWC) di London 7 Juli 2016.
Wolf Blass merupakan merek wine ternama dari Barossa Valley, lembah yang terletak sekitar 40 kilometer di utara Adelaide, Australia. Berbeda dengan brand wine lain dari Australia pada umumnya, Wolf Blass memiliki ciri khas pada warna-warna label yang dipilih. Seperti Yellow Label, Red Label, Grey Label, Black Label dan Platinum Label. Di tiap labelpun diberi info lengkap mengenai jenis wine yang dijadikan campurannya.
Wolf Blass WineChardonnay
“Label tersebut memang ada di Wolf Blass, karena kami ingin sesuatu yang berbeda, dan mudah diingat,” tukas Wolf Blass Chief Winemaker, Chris Hatcher, yang memandu kami siang itu, bersama Jim Weston, sang publicist. Undangan siang itu sekitar 15 orang, sebagian besar mewakili media gaya hidup serta food blogger.
Wolf Blass Winemakers dan Chris Hatcher (paling kiri)
Beruntung kami ditemani Chris Hatcher, sebagai salah satu pembuat anggur terkemuka di Australia, sangat teliti dalam membuat wine, sehingga menghasilkan produk yang berkualitas, konsisten, dan mempunyai karakter yang kuat, seperti Wolf Blass.
Tumbuh di Adelaide, Chris memulai kariernya sebagai winemaker dari usia yang sangat muda. Pada tahun 1974 Chris menyelesaikan gelar Science di University of Adelaide, sebelum belajar anggur di Charles Sturt University, New South Wales. Setelah bekerja di Orlando dan Kaiser Stuhl di Lembah Barossa dan Winery Simi di California, Chris bergabung Wolf Blass Wines, Desember 1987.
Sebagai winemaker senior, Chris yang bertanggung jawab terhadap kualitas produk Wolf Blass. Berbagai penghargaan, trofi dan medali emas pernah ia dapatkan di bidang anggur.
Salad GuritaMain Course
Well, makan siang itu terdiri dari tiga course – appetizer, main course, dan dessert, dan masing-masing course ditemani oleh tiga jenis anggur Wolf Blass yang berkelas. Hidangan pertama adalah Barbecued Octopus, White Pepper & Spinach. Sajian seafood ini dipadankan dengan 2014 Wold Blass Yelleow Label Chardonnay. Wine asal Padthaway, Adelaide Hills ini, memancarkan aroma buah apel yang berpadu dengan kacang-kacangan. Paduan keduanya saling menguatkan rasa, dan terasa segar di mulut.
Hidangan utamanya tergolong istimewa, Duck Confit, Bluberry & Ginger Risotto, bebek goreng yang akrab di lidah Asia, serta nasi ala Italia alias risotto yang berwarna merah. Padananya adalah 2014 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Merlot – 2014 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Shiraz. Chris menyebut anggur merah ini sebagai andalan Wolf Blass, dan jadilah sebuah paduan yang perfect!
Dessert
Food and Art
Sebagai penutup, terhidang Summer Strawberry Dome, Lime Jam, Breaton Shortbread, yang bisa memenuhi mulut dengan sensasi creamy dan asam. Namun, dengan diiringi NV Wolf Blass Red Label Pink Moscato, rasa manis yang ringan kembali menyesap di mulut. Meski tiga course, tapi porsi yang pas tersebut membuat sebagian besar undangan merasa puas.
Sebelum berakhir, chefdari The Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place Jakarta mendemonstrasikan membuat dessert di atas nampan datar. Hasilnya adalah sebuah hidangan dessert bak lukisan, dengan tulisan: Wolf Blass. (Burhan Abe)
New research reveals that focus, simplicity, “digital first,” and perceptions matter most.
In recent years, customer experience (CX) has emerged as a major differentiator for large companies, including financial-services providers. In a McKinsey survey of senior executives, 90 percent of respondents confirmed that CX is one of the CEO’s top three priorities.
It’s a priority because the stakes are so high. For financial institutions, for example, rising customer expectations are pressing organizations to come up with more functional improvements even as alternatives to traditional financial services are emerging. In this dynamic environment, financial institutions face a stiff challenge to differentiate their offerings while reducing cost and complexity for customers—and to do it at a profit.
Overcoming these challenges is critical not just to meet rising customer expectations and to compete with new digital attackers but also to generate significant business impact. Our research indicates that for every 10-percentage-point uptick in customer satisfaction, a company can increase revenues 2 percent to 3 percent.
At a time when the customer-satisfaction scores of top-quartile institutions can exceed those of bottom-quartile players by as much as 30 to 40 percentage points, the financial payoff from best-in-class CX can be significant indeed. These gains come from a variety of sources, including additional product purchases generated by cross-selling and upselling, such as when a borrower increases the value of a loan.
To understand what constitutes distinctive CX in financial services, we performed benchmarking research on five key customer journeys—the series of interactions a customer has with a brand to complete a task—in banking and insurance. The survey findings in this article relate specifically to retail customer onboarding but apply generally to the other journeys we studied.
Reaching the top quartile of CX performers is no easy task. Cost, design, and value are emerging as key differentiators for customers, yet companies often lack guiding principles to shape those efforts. By analyzing and ranking correlations between customer satisfaction and operational factors (such as the reasons a customer chooses one company over others, cycle times, features offered, and the use of digital channels) in our survey, four pillars of great customer-experience performance stood out:
1. Focus on the few factors that move the needle for customers
We asked customers to assess different characteristics of the end-to-end experience, including the first interaction with the institution, the ease of identifying the right products, and the knowledge and professionalism of staff. We found that only a small number of characteristics (typically three to five out of 15) had a material impact and accounted for the bulk of overall satisfaction (Exhibit 1).
For example, when analyzing the characteristics of the customer onboarding journey, we found that transparency of price and fees, ease of communication with the bank, and the ability to track the status of the onboarding process accounted for 42 percent of overall satisfaction.
The next three highest-ranking characteristics—assessment of broader customer needs; products and services received immediately after account opening, such as debit cards and mobile and online banking access; and ease of identifying the needed product—account for an additional 34 percent.
Conversely, characteristics such as the courtesy of staff, the timeliness of callbacks, and the clarity of documentation had limited impact on satisfaction. This finding strongly suggests that banks should concentrate mainly on those things that make the most difference to customer satisfaction.
