INTERVIEW WITH YOHANES HUTAURUK, CORPORATE MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER PADMA HOTELS

Could you explain a bit about your profession? What made you choose your current profession as your career?

I am working as Corporate Marketing & Communications Manager for local hotel chain, Padma Hotels that currently has 4 properties; 2 resort in Bali, 1 hotel in Bandung and 1 hotel in Karawang, West Java. Working as PR in Hospitality industry is a truly dynamic, which fits to my personality so that is why I chose this profession as my career.

As an official spokesperson for your company, it is your duty to pursue the public to experience and buy your product through well-planned marketing strategy. In regards to execute a good marketing plan you have to always follow what is trending and sometimes set a new trend to the industry. That is what I love about this profession, where I can always learn and discover something new to enhance my skill. And as a bonus, I also always have the chance to meet different and new people from different professions, backgrounds and industries.

Define ‘hospitality’ according to you. What do you think the best traits to have to work in hospitality industry?

Hospitality is an industry where you always put your heart first at work. Not every working field has this ‘term’ when it comes to serving people. Some say working in hospitality industry is as same as working as a saint. You have to always put the satisfaction of your guest above your own. The best traits that I think every hospitality industry associate must have are attitude, the willingness and spirit to serve, honesty, good teamwork and of course integrity.

How do you define love? And what was the last thing that made you cry?

It is such a tough question! For me love is a feeling when you care so much to someone (or something) and you never expect anything in return. Believe me or not, I was crying when I saw a lot of news featuring Yu Lin ‘Dog Meat’ Festival in China, where they slaughtered a lot of dogs and ate them. As a dog lover, seeing the dogs being slaughtered and cooked when they were still breathing really broke my heart.

 What are your three most favorites music albums?

• Michael Buble: Christmas (Deluxe Special Edition). I like listening to Christmas songs even though it is not Christmas. It always makes me happy.
• Brian McKnight: Ultimate Collection (Spectrum). It’s simple, just because I like Brian McKnight’s songs
• Empire (Original Soundtrack from Season 1). I like the series so much, it is made from the combination of good story and great soundtracks

 What animal best represents you?

I don’t know if it is categorized as an animal or not, but I always like the figure of Griffin (Gryphon). It is a mythical or legendary creature with the body, tail and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle. It represents a sharp vision of an eagle and durability of a lion. Those are the things that represent me right now.

 Share with us the most memorable moment that has ever happened during your career

The best moment happened in my entire career life is when I shifted my career from a waiter to Marketing & Communications Officer at a 5-star international chain business hotel in Jakarta, without any experiences and skill about the latter job. Up until now, this moment is still the best for me so far.

The most embarrassing moment I would say is when I had to be the MC for the first time ever at a farewell party for one of the Directors in my previous hotel. I was just dumbfounded, looking blank and didn’t know what to say. It was the longest moment standing in front of the audiences in my life. The world just felt like falling on my face.

 If you could change one law, what would it be?

I would like to change the law about torturing animals in Indonesia (mostly pets) – KUHP Pasal 302. It is written that the torturer only gets maximum of 9 months prison sentence or fine at IDR 300 million. I don’t think it is enough, because I see a lot of pet owners abandon and torture their pets. I hate when people do that. It is so inhumane. I think they should get lifetime prison sentence or at least fine at IDR 1 billion so they won’t harm their pets.

 Who has inspired you the most in life?

Aside from both of my parents, I always adore John Willard Marriott, the founder of Marriott International. He started his hospitality kingdom with only a Root Beer Stand with 9 chairs. Now, look at the company itself, especially when it is now Marriott is acquiring Starwood and creates the largest hotel company in the world. I always love his quote “Put People First”; by people it means the associate, their precious asset of the company. They have this culture when you treat your associate kindly, the associate will treat the guests also nicely and give the best service, so the guests will be happy and they will absolutely come back. This is why I made him my role model, to always treat my colleagues fairly so it will affect their mood and serve our guest flawlessly.

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