Sjefke Jansen started as a young chef by training at a three-star Michelin restaurant in Germany decades ago. His constant hunger drove him into the kitchen. The endless nibbling wasn’t all he enjoyed. The kitchen also offered Jansen structure.

But Jansen’s chef training was always meant to be a stepping stone. Years later he left his homeland and never returned ever since, globetrotting to every continent except for South America, with Indonesia being his 12th residency.

Nowadays, Jansen is the Complex Manager of  Jakarta’s latest opulent properties, Pan Pacific Jakarta and PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Jakarta, whenever he’s not releasing his stress through cooking at home, playing golf on weekend mornings, dashing around the lush Menteng area, or cherishing time with his beloved family.

Exclusive Interview: Evolution of Hospitality with Sjefke Jansen

Evolution is undeniable, including in the hospitality industry. As a Complex Manager, Jansen says, “it would be to adapt or perish” as a means to overcome evolution that is subsequently the heartbeat of the hospitality industry. “Without evolution, or simply complying with the requirements and demands of the time, we will not have any relevance, especially in our business that significantly impacts the environment and sustainability. We have to live and keep up with today's demands.”

We chatted further with Jansen at Keyaki Japanese Restaurant, perched on Pan Pacific Jakarta’s 90th floor. Keep reading to learn more about this hotelier.

You’ve travelled around the world in the past few decades, working in one hotel to another. How did you end up in Indonesia and what do you like about it?

Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, has an incredibly dynamic hospitality sector. I had previously stayed in Jakarta for five years but I’ll be honest, a change was due. Jakarta has a distinctiveness and may become overwhelming for first-timers.

Here I am once again in Jakarta, drawn back due to the locals’ genuineness. The people in Indonesia are incredibly hospitable and genuinely friendly which is highly contrasting to any other country I’ve ever lived in. I have the luxury of having sufficient team members to support my ideas, especially being keen to continue that tradition of hospitality.

I reckon genuineness is one of Indonesia’s biggest advantages and a base to expand on in the future. I find it very bold and different; it's refreshing. Many people are not accustomed to this type of genuineness anymore because it’s quite scarcely offered.

Do you think Asia will lead the future in hospitality?

Absolutely! Yet, there are a few aspects to work on. One is infrastructure, which needs to be added and modified. It’ll be tremendously challenging in the future to draw ultra-luxury business since this type of traveller wants to have a proper, functioning infrastructure to facilitate a flawless experience from the moment they arrive up to their departure. Not only in the hotel but in the destination itself.

Tell us more about Pan Pacific Jakarta and PARKROYAL Service Suites Jakarta. 

Pan Pacific Jakarta opened in June 2024. The design was done by HBA, Hirsch Beitner, and Associates,  one of the biggest interior design companies for hospitality. Genuinity and trustworthiness, in terms of luxury and hospitality, harmoniously intertwine together to create Pan Pacific’s philosophy of Graceful Luxury. Originating from Japan, Pan Pacific features a solid brand that is mostly popular amongst families who want to escape for a weekend staycation.  

PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Jakarta takes a different approach by catering to long-term service residents, specifically business travellers. They could stay for a month, two months, up to a year and longer. The rooms are more spacious as each features a fully-equipped kitchen and other amenities one might need at home.

"Graceful Luxury" is Pan Pacific’s unique value. How is that instilled in Pan Pacific Jakarta?

Graceful Luxury comprises both the design and service that Pan Pacific presents. Design-wise, take a look at our Japanese restaurant, Keyaki. Then our Pacific Club Lounge is just on the other side. We also have the Eden Bar, which has a wonderful botanical theme.

Our efforts to service our guests fall back on being genuine. We aspire to provide the sort of experiences that are remarkable whilst instilling connections with our team members. In other words: meaningful innovation. A bunch of five-star hotels is found in the Central Jakarta area, however, we must be able to identify and elaborate on the differentiators.

What is it that you really want to achieve for your guests? Ideally, you come here and have an enriching experience that’ll leave you in awe; you've done something that you probably wouldn't do in many other places. No, it doesn’t mean exclusivity. The staff provides guests with over and above that you can take home to, something unique to that hotel. Be genuine in everything done. Be honest about how you communicate with your guests. A safe working environment is also pivotal, where exploring is open to do.

A sky-high living experience is pampered to guests here, given that both properties are positioned from the 71st floor upwards of the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest building. Why is this important to note? 

For one, it’s definitely the view. You get to see Jakarta from a different perspective. You could see how the city shines in reds and yellows as vehicles pack the roads during rush hours. You could see the clouds turning grey when it’s about to rain. The height gives a chance to disconnect in a way. It’s so far up that you don’t have to bother about what's going on downstairs, on the road. Personally, I find it quite elevating.

Share a to-do list, within and outside the hotel, for first-time guests staying two days and one night. 

Let's start within the complex. Try the Teppanyaki at Keyaki. Afterwards, head to Eden Bar to savour a selection of thoughtfully, curated cocktails and tune into the music blasted by great guest DJs every weekend. Whenever you're not busy on this side of the 90th floor, and want to get your body moving away from the plush beds, take a dip in the pool or get sweaty at our gym and steam room.

Agora Mall is within the complex. Only 80 percent will be filled with F&B while the remaining will be retail. Thus, more entertainment is in store. For example, Kidztopia. We're currently coming up with a program to benefit our long-stay guests, including family staycations, to indulge in the activities there.

Beyond are Jakarta's finest shopping malls, Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia. If you like to delve into cultural experiences, go to Kota Tua where you can learn about Indonesia's past and Batik amidst a square of Dutch colonial-style architecture. Nearby is the Menteng area. You can go on a 5-kilometre jog amidst its luscious greens. Menteng has a handful of fantastic restaurants as well.

In your point of view, what do guests seek in Jakarta’s hotels? Any plans to incorporate that into Pan Pacific Jakarta and PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Jakarta? 

Business travellers tend to seek proximity and convenience. Our properties are situated in Jakarta’s hub, surrounded by various office buildings.

Whereas the staycation guests tend to fully immerse in their stay experience and explore the property. It's very much a family affair so they’d like to worry less.

I'm fond of both approaches, which are pointers we would be open to further elaborating. If guests are willing to let us help or encourage them through whichever type of stay experience it might be, then we would gladly deliver it to them.

What’s next for you, Pan Pacific Jakarta, and PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Jakarta?

A few changes will be made towards the end of 2024.

We are launching a program that is kicking in this November to switch up to a whole series of bathroom amenities by Jo Loves. Keyaki will be featuring sake dinners as well as omakase. The festive season is soon, so we’re excited to introduce the Christmas dining experience and New Year's Eve activities.

My focus is finding my way around, at least within the property. I desire to create a strong team by setting up a strategy for their future. Again, this coincides with the evolution of hospitality. It’s not merely to cook and go home; clean rooms and go home and so on. Finding a purpose while they're here is essential. A purpose that goes over and above their duties. One that will translate through the guest experience because it gives a different kind of feel. To associate with the brand through directions and reactions.

Thank you for the lovely chat!