Ida Bagus Purwaka
General Manager of Inna Grand Bali Beach

Tourism sector of Bali not only draws tourists but also drives the vivacity of Balinese people to build a bright career in this field. Ida Bagus Purwaka is one of them. “I would like to learn and luxuriate in every single challenge in this tourism domain,” revealed this General Manager of the Inna Grand Bali Beach.
Starting his career as a waiter (1975) at Natour Kuta (now, Inna Kuta), Ida Bagus Purwaka progressively pushed himself to learn English as his main provision. A year later, he was promoted to receptionist (1976). From here, his career path persistently developed up to 1995 when he was entrusted to occupy the position of Sales Manager.
In 1999, he was assigned to become Assistant Executive Manager and General Manager at the Inna Tretes (East Java). In 2004, he returned home to Bali in the new position as Resident Manager at the Inna Grand Bali Beach and a year later filled the position of General Manager at the Inna Kuta Beach until 15 January 2008 when he was finally entrusted to occupy the position as General Manager of the Inna Grand Bali Beach, Sanur.
For over 30 years, he has gained rich experience and occupied several positions in tourism sector. But, it does not make him feel satisfied and arrogant. “Becoming a General Manager is not an easy task. We should be able to become a leader, an advisor and maintain good communication with staff,” he uttered while adding, a worker in tourism domain should possess a good quality of service within the existing infrastructure.
Furthermore, he observed that the condition of Bali tourism is improving. Certainly, it must be properly taken advantage of. “We should be more focused on maintaining all existing sectors in the hospitality industry, so that they could continue to attract tourists to come to Bali again and again,” he revealed.
Looking different with various innovations in packaging, a tourism product also becomes a special attention. “At all times we make innovation and keep on thinking in order all aspects including human resources and infrastructures are well maintained. For instance, showing hospitality as hotelier,” he said.
He admitted to having prepared an accurate strategy to make the Inna Grand Bali Beach, as the oldest hotel in Bali, remain preferred by tourists. “What we have done has proven that we are able to fill 30% of the room occupancy by return guests. Nevertheless, we will continue to make new breakthroughs to draw other markets,” he added.
According to this holder of MBA degree, other than maintaining the existing market, his party also searches for new markets. “Right now, we are working on MICE market. With the 50 hectare-land we have, it is not impossible to reach it,” he said optimistically. (BTN/008)

Nyoman Sugiarta
“Be a Professional Housekeeper”

Clear, simple, energetic but remains amusing! It’s a brief description of the man named Nyoman Sugiarta serving as the Head of IHKA (Indonesian Housekeepers Association) Bali. Carrying out the responsibility as the head of an association is unquestionably not an easy task. It requires extensive insight and experience in running the organization. “Of course, in every single profession there is definitely a challenge and it would depend very much on how we respond and manage it,” he expressed.
Through the organization he chaired, he would like to unify the members of IHKA Bali, originating in the hotel and hospital executive housekeepers, and “give guidance to the members for the sake of working professionalism, so that the quality of service can be well achieved,” revealed this executive housekeeper of the St. Regis Bali.
Furthermore, he said that to achieve professionalism his party carries out competence training regularly for his members. In the meantime, as expression of its social responsibility toward the surrounding community, the IHKA Bali repeatedly makes a visit to hotel schools to share knowledge of housekeeping domain. “Apart from skill, product knowledge is also enormously required in order to become a reliable housekeeper,” he added.
“For an orderly organization, we plan an annual Regional Working Meeting and seminar. It becomes a medium of sharing and exchanging information amongst the members so that several problems pertaining to housekeeping at work could be overcome,” he stated. “Besides, such annual agenda also becomes a useful reunion for the members to grow their friendship and brotherhood”.
Hopefully, through this organization the housekeepers in Bali, which is renowned as an international tourist destination, could brush up their professionalism so that they could become reliable in the field they are deeply involved in. “By the familial spirit and the concept of teaching, loving and caring put forward, the IHKA Bali endeavors to become an organization playing an active role in improving the human resources by developing the knowledge, skill and insight of the members in their profession,” he told Bali Travel News on ending the interview.(BTN/008)