After 25 years working as a concierge at Tanah Gajah, A Resort by Hadiprana, Nyoman Calitra reflects on keeping different demographics happy and his favourite stop-offs for a cup of coffee in Ubud.
How has the concierge’s role changed in recent times?
Post-pandemic, we find it more convenient to assist guests with their needs, as almost everything is done digitally – not just communication with guests, but also booking with our partners and vendors. We have two different kinds of guests. Our younger ones prefer to visit all of the photogenic sites, restaurants and cafes to enrich their social media content. Our other type of guests are those who look for authentic experiences and seek to educate themselves about the local Balinese culture.
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You have an art collection at the hotel. How do you familiarise guests with that?
What’s great about the art collection at our property is that most were created by local artists. We take guests to view some of the artworks we have at the property, and can even escort them to the village where the artwork was produced or meet the artist to have a conversation about the pieces that guests are interested in. We can also organise private art classes at the resort.
You offer hot air balloon rides, jungle buggy adventures and a vintage VW safari ride. Tell us about those experiences
The VW safari ride and the hot air balloon ride are the two most popular activities at the resort. A tour around Ubud in a vintage convertible VW appeals to guests as it has an adventurous vibe. With that excursion, we usually take guests to two tourist sites, Tirta Empul water temple and Tegalalang rice terraces, and pass by little villages en route to make the journey special. To enrich the experience further, we add an extra destination which is our sister property, Dua Dari, a Residence by Hadiprana that sits on the edge of the Petanu River and is still used as the Hadiprana family’s holiday home. Guests are taken for a local lunch and a brief tour of the property.
The hot air balloon has also contributed a great deal to brand awareness for the property as Tanah Gajah is the only hot air balloon operator in Bali. We include a complimentary digital photo with each booking.
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What do you like most about being a concierge?
That I can always sharpen my knowledge about local business developments. As guest needs evolve, I’m driven to further enrich my knowledge to create a memorable experience for them. It comes back to my passion for delivering a service that ensures guests return home with beautiful memories of Bali.
What are your favourite hangouts near the hotel?
I love going to restaurants, coffee shops or venues that offer good food and an ambience that’s relatable or relevant to local culture. Nusantara by Locavore is a great Indonesian restaurant with extensive details about local ingredients that they use for dishes and drinks on the menu. The restaurant at the Tony Raka Gallery is also great, with Balinese art and a tranquil ambience.
A very down-to-earth coffee shop near the resort, Simpel Kopi is a great place to experience a typical traditional Balinese house. The coffee shop is built within the owner’s home, and they offer great quality coffee, which you can enjoy in the courtyard. It’s the perfect place for a coffee stop before heading out for a day trip.
What’s in store for 2024 at the resort?
In the next year, we’ll look at creating more art-focused tours or excursions where we dive deeper into the world of art – culinary, fine arts, local crafts and jewellery – as they are all forms of art.
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