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Sheraton Belitung Presents New Holiday Destination for Indonesia
Front Row (The Jakarta Post) July 15, 2024
A view at Sheraton Belitung. (Sheraton Belitung Resort).
Nestled in the 350-hectares of Belitung UNESCO Global Geopark sits Sheraton Belitung, the only five-star resort on the island.
The resort is located nearby to eight smaller islands accessible by boat. Therefore, it is strategically placed between the shores and the sea of Belitung, yet still retains the luscious green forest that it sits on. Tanjung Kelayang Reserve pledged at least 200 ha of the forest to remain untouched.
This is in line with the location’s designation as a special economic zone (SEZ) for tourism, and even a host for the Group of 20 during Indonesia’s presidency in 2022.
The resort prioritizes sustainability values over opulence, evident in the simple interior and exterior designs that were styled to complement the beauty of the landscape surrounding it.
Upon entering the hotel, guests are treated to a wall of hand-pressed kaolin bricks and roof made of renggadai (Bruguiera parviflora) woods. All of the materials used are locally sourced from Belitung with minimum disruption to the local environment, while simultaneously highlighting one of the core values of the hotel; sustainability.
Its sustainability principle is also reflected in the furniture used around the hotels and its 123 rooms, as guests will find several pieces of furniture made from driftwood that is found straight from the shorelines of the resort.
Outside the four walls of the hotel, guests are allowed, or even encouraged, to walk around the massive area with local tour guides to explore the indigenous flora and fauna of the area. Nearby, there is a Whistle Trail for a short walking trail, as well as a Honey Farm that houses trigona bees.
It also has its own sustainable water treatment plant and lines its road with (puru) red gravel that can absorb water. The natural reservoir on site is basically a huge pool that accumulates rainwater that is then purified using kaolin clay. This is to ensure that there is absolutely no runoff for the water management.
Meanwhile, for breakfast and dinner, the resort showcases the best that Belitung—and by extension, Indonesia-- has to offer. A meal popular in the area is bedulang, meaning harmoniously eating together. It usually consists of a four set course of fried fish, one vegetable dish, rice and gangan, a fish soup popular among locals.
After dinner, guests are welcome to retreat to one of the many rooms available at the resort; its deluxe room spans 53 square meters, while its suite offers a bedroom and living room at 106 sq m. It also have villas, each equipped with two rooms and a personal pool.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
