History Today, August 5, 1962: Hotel Indonesia Inaugurated By Bung Karno

JAKARTA – History today, 60 years ago, August 5, 1962, Soekarno inaugurated Hotel Indonesia (HI). The inauguration was greeted enthusiastically by the people of Jakarta, then Indonesia. Bung Karno hopes that Indonesia has the grandest hotel in Southeast Asia.

Everything is to raise the dignity of Indonesia, which hosted the 1962 Asian Games IV. Moreover, HI is used to accommodate important guests and contingents of Asian Games participants. Once again Bung Karno's lighthouse politics succeeded. Indonesia's status rose because of it.

The celebration of the Asian Games IV is a place for Indonesia to show off. All kinds of preparations were carried out seriously from 1958 to 1962. The President of Indonesia, who was also the great leader of the revolution, Sukarno, intervened to make it a success. He was never half-hearted in helping.

Bung Karno often prioritized totality. For Indonesia, he thought. Asian Games IV for him is considered a stepping stone to show Indonesia's strength to the world. A force that carries the message of Indonesia being able to become a center for large and luxurious sports activities.

Meanwhile, Bung Karno began to beautify Jakarta. Development funds are also being sought. He then built a magnificent sports complex which was named Gelora Bung Karno. In every corner of Jakarta Soekarno also initiated various monuments. Everything has a romantic feel to the revolution. Soekarno did not forget to also target the construction of a hotel. Hotel Indonesia, the name. The hotel is predicted to be used as a place to accommodate guests and foreign contingents.

"Still related to the Asian Games, the first high-rise building in Jakarta was built, namely Hotel Indonesia (HI). In front of this 14-storey hotel, there is a roundabout and a fountain (or fountain) which is now its trademark.”

“Many people admire the architecture of this hotel, as well as the fountain in front of it. In addition to the fountain in front of HI, a fountain pool was also built in front of the Bank Indonesia (BI) building at the end of Jalan MH Thamrin," said Firman Lubis in the book Jakarta 1950-1970 (2018).

Whenever he had free time, Bung Karno would often stop by to see the progress of IR development. He also often provides input to architects regarding his views. Mainly regarding the works of art that will have to be present at HI.

Finally, the long awaited time arrived. Bung Karno also inaugurated HI on August 5, 1962. Soekarno also did not forget to give a speech as well as a speech entitled Show Indonesian Personality. as usual, Sukarno carried his rhetoric with fiery.

“When HI was opened on August 5, 1962, its function was as a gateway, a foreign exchange earner, as well as an education and training center for hotel staff. Since its opening, HI has been managed by Intercontinental Hotels Corporation (IHC). There are about 38 foreign workers who manage this hotel.”

“A total of 20 executive trainees, all young men, have completed the Summer Course at Cornell University, USA, and conducted on the job training at several well-known hotels in New York. Among other things, The Waldorf Astoria, the twenty executives, together with 400 attendants and 60 prospective cooks, have joined into one strong team,” said Arifin Pasaribu in the book Hotel Indonesia (2014).

The inauguration of Hotel Indonesia by President Soekarno on August 5, 1962 is a historical record today.