Meet Frank Tuhusula, the skilled General Manager of Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam. Since April 2023, he has been leading this exceptional hotel with passion and dedication. With a wealth of experience and a heart full of hospitality, Frank ensures that Hotel Jakarta offers an unforgettable experience to every guest. Discover the inspiring individual behind the hotel and how he brings to life the unique East and West connection in a sustainable environment.
How did you end up at WestCord Hotels?
In 2010, I started working at the WestCord Fashion Hotel, shortly after completing my studies at the Hotelschool in Leeuwarden. I was eager to find my first job, and I had the opportunity to interview for the position of F&B Supervisor at the WestCord Fashion Hotel. I instantly became a fan of the hotel as it was far from the “classic” hotels I was used to; it had a much fresher and more modern vibe.
After two years as a Supervisor, I was presented with the opportunity to grow professionally and take on the role of F&B Manager. I enjoyed fulfilling this position for several years until discussions began about constructing a new hotel, Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam by WestCord. This new hotel was to be both sustainable and infused with Indonesian influences, and its motto became ‘Two World’s Connected’. Being the son of a Moluccan father and a Dutch mother, I was immediately captivated by the concept. As a result, in 2018, I had the privilege of participating as the Assistant General Manager in the opening of this magnificent hotel.
In 2020, I got the opportunity to take on the role of General Manager for the first time, with full responsibility for a hotel. I was assigned to the WestCord Fashion Hotel. It was an incredibly challenging but also enlightening period, partly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since April of this year, I am back at Hotel Jakarta, once again operating as the General Manager. It’s a fantastic opportunity to be part of the most beautiful hotel in Amsterdam!
What achievement are you most proud of?
That must be co-inventing and organizing our own corona proof festival Balcony & Beats. At the beginning of the Corona pandemic, the hotels were empty, the restaurants were closed and there were still many restrictions. At Hotel Jakarta we then started brainstorming what was still possible and we came up with our Balcony & Beats concept. A festival, where the balconies of our rooms were the dance floor for the silent disco, where the DJ was spinning and entertaining on the quay. Instead of a restaurant or a food market, all guests were served their rice table as room service and could order drinks via WhatsApp. A great beautiful festival during a very hard time!
What inspires you about your work environment?
The most inspiring thing about Hotel Jakarta for me is the team. The beautiful building and the amazing garden have created an atmosphere in which all colleagues can and may be themselves and where, in addition to hard work, there must also be plenty of room for fun!
What is your most beautiful experience at Hotel Jakarta so far?
In 2019, Hotel Jakarta had the honor of hosting a Moluccan delegation. This delegation was in the Netherlands for the Moluccan Day at the Kwaku festival and included a group of well-known Moluccan artists and the mayor of Ambon. During the check-in and registration process, I discovered that one of the artists was my full cousin, who resides in my grandfather’s house in Ambon. We hadn’t met before, which made this delegation even more special and meaningful to me.
How do you see Hotel Jakarta in the future?
It is our team’s mission to honor the connection between East and West in a welcoming manner, within a sustainable environment. We aim to achieve this by making Hotel Jakarta an iconic destination that prioritizes sustainability and history. Our goal is not only to be a place for tourists but also to be a special place for Amsterdam residents, especially our neighbors from Java Eiland. We aspire to create a sense of community and provide a place where everyone feels welcome and can experience the unique blend of cultures that represents both East and West.