YOGYAKARTA Marriott Hotel, the first Marriott branded hotel in Indonesia, has opened in the heart of the cultural city, offering guests the opportunity to travel brilliantly by enjoying the sophisticated spaces and experiences of an internationally branded, superbly designed hotel in the city where traditions meet modern life.
The hotel’s 347 guest rooms and suites feature Marriott Modern styled decor with Javanese-inspired accents and inviting views of the pools or city, complemented with premium amenities, marble bathrooms, and 24-hour room service; whilst Suites and Club Rooms offer exclusive access to the M-Club, the largest club lounge in town. Guests can unwind in the Exercise Room, Quan Spa and outdoor pools, and savour local and international cuisines at the three creative dining venues. For shoppers, the hotel is conveniently attached to the largest mall in the city, whilst business travellers can stay connected with free Wi-Fi and convenient workstations. Several meeting rooms and pre-function areas are available to host business meetings and intimate events and the 1,870m2pillar-less ballroom is the largest in the city. 
Marriott Modern Design meets local inspiration – Designed by Jakarta based design firm Domisilium Studio, the 347-room hotel reflects local Javanese culture throughout its interior spaces, drawing design inspiration from the historical Taman Sari, a former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. The elements can be seen on the column and weaving details throughout the public areas of the hotel. The reception background utilizes a parametric design to evoke the water ripples of Taman Sari’s pavilions and pools with a similar concept applied to the ceiling details above the bar area in The Lounge, brought to life with clear white acrylic and sheer fabric. Throughout the hotel, the designers have used a calming and neutral color palette of browns, greys, blacks and whites and the modern, open spaces create a harmonious balance with marble, wood and stone.
“The design brief was to ‘Design Brilliantly’, to create a modern, contemporary hotel that reflects local Javanese traditions and values,”said Alain Rigodin, General Manager of Yogyakarta Marriott Hotel. “Through the use of the Kawung batik motif and the contemporary reimagining of local materials, textures, shapes, and colors, the results resonate with the new generation of traveler. Yogyakarta Marriott Hotel is the first 5-star hotel to open in the city for over 10 years and the modern, contemporary styling throughout sets a new standard.”
A central theme throughout the hotel is Kawung batik, one of the oldest ‘forbidden batiks’. The guestroom corridor carpet features a custom designed Kawung batik pattern inspired by flower petals falling on water. The Kawung pattern also appears on the headboards in the guestrooms, mimicking flower petals scattered by the breeze, and as metal die-cut features in the elevator lobby and guestroom signage.
Throughout the hotel, the design incorporates cool and soothing colours and textures. Marble in shades of white, grey and black invoke the essence of water and balance the warmth of the wood finishes prevalent in the interior spaces. The energetic atmosphere of Yogyakarta Kitchen is enhanced by the use of wood finishes with bold characters and vibrant Javanese-styled fabrics, whilst the more relaxed ambience in The Lounge and M Lounge are reflected in a sophisticated palette with light wood veneer on the furniture balancing with the darker wood floor.
The concept for Taman Sari Bar & Grill was a semi-outdoor area that extends to the outdoor pools with a tropical lounge feeling that remains true to its Javanese setting. The designers specified more textured materials to emphasize the indoor-outdoor feel and added blue geometric floor tiles to give a batik-like expression to the space.
The designers collaborated with a local weaving specialist to develop a unique pattern for the hotel’s M Lounge. Synthetic rattan strips are combined in different scales and colors to transform a simple pattern into a more sophisticated design, whilst the use of a neutral color palette incorporating black, grey and white adds a modern and refined feeling throughout.
The lobby of Yogyakarta Marriott Hotel was designed to be welcoming and encourage interaction between guests by avoiding traditional hotel lobby seating arrangements. The custom designed semi-circular sofa has a functional built-in table and mimics the circular Kawung batik inspired skylight, juxtaposing with the horizontal and vertical lines that dominate the reception area.
Creative destination that inspires brilliance – A city boasting diverse historical influences, Yogyakarta isoften considered the heartland of Javanese culture. From contemporary cityscapes to centuries old monuments, the city is becoming an increasingly popular destination for business and leisure travelers. It has a reputation as a shopper’s paradise with bustling markets and avenues, where guests can purchase paintings and artworks as well as handicrafts created by Java’s finest artisans, who excel in batiks, silver and leather works.
“When visitors come to Yogyakarta they can easily find a balance between business and pleasure,”continued Alain Rigodin.“You don’t have to make a choice. You can come for business and then you can mix in leisure because of Yogyakarta’s incredibly rich and diverse nature. From a cultural point of view, there are the temples, the Palace, the Batiks and the Javanese dancers whilst the food in the city is wonderful. I always recommend visitors try Gudeg, a traditional sweet jackfruit dish, or ayam goreng kalasan, which is chicken made with coconut milk, garlic and coriander. Our friendly team is always available to help organise expeditions.”
The city is the gateway to some of ancient Asia’s grandest wonders, including the great 9th century Hindu and Buddhist temples of Prambanan and Borobudur, together with their subsidiary candis (temples) and shrines. The ornate 18th-century royal complex, or kraton, encompasses the still-inhabited Sultan’s Palace and numerous open-air pavilions that host classical Javanese dance shows and concerts of gamelan music, characterized by gongs, chimes and plucked string instruments.
With a new international airport slated to open next year, Yogyakarta Marriott Hotel’s ideal location makes it the perfect base for visitors to the city. The hotel is directly connected to the largest shopping mall and entertainment centre in central Java and just 20 minutes from bustling Malioboro Street, where guests can explore handicraft shopping stalls, street food and restaurants.
