Quote:
Originally Posted by nono1973
Yea, he ran away. And it also leave nearly everyone puzzled.
Its one of the most money-making hotel in Batam.
Many may ask, since making money, how come runaway?
There are many guesses among some of my friends.
Some of which are, that old man Jerry (in his 70s or coming to that age already) is thinking of retirement since a year ago (which is why the advertisement to sell away Formosa is over one year ago) and he wasnt able to sells it. Son no plans to take over his father. Running away seems like not a bad choice and especially so it was done after CNY 2020.
Paying his workers is really nothing but paying up to the governing body can be a major issue. Let's not forget, when he runs, he also leaves behind more than 111 LCD TVs, more than 111 beds, and other equipment like gym set, CCTV cameras, computers etc. Which after selling away should be sufficient to pay his workers. I pity those staffs who has worked in Formosa for many years. They are really hardworkers (and loyal) under a super strict boss.
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Formosa hotel has been around since the 90s and bring back alot of old memories when queen9833 and dynasty99 booking joints were still around.
The hotel was the number one choice for most cheongsters because it provided all the services (KTV,massage,alishan booking,24hr restaurant,etc) under one roof and its superb location, personalise service, affordable price and warm hospitality. No hotel come close to it.
I have been staying in Formosa Hotel for the past 10 over years.
I used to book formosa hotel using traveloka hotel booking previously at average about $30 per night for year 2017 & 2018 compare to using my member card at 480,000rp.
But when traveloka stop offering good promotion, I book formosa hotel through agoda at average about $40 to $42 per night still cheaper than using my member card at 480,000rp. (S$48)
The Taiwanese boss of Formosa Hotel was well respected by all his employees, although he tends to be very strict on the hotel rules.
Example, any masseuse came late for work or absent will have to pay penalty to king massage, and any masseuse fail to complete 40 hours of massage per month, her service will be terminated. According to the staff, he is a good pay master, never late to pay employee salary.
Over the years, he has transformed Formosa Hotel from a girl friendly hotel into a one station enjoy all service type of hotel. He has kept up with technology from time to time by providing the hotel rooms with many improvements, examples were:
1) Remember there was a period when the room was provided with many different brand/type of handphone charging cables from the wall socket like nokia, sony ericson, samsung, iphone,etc (this was during the period when touch screen phone not yet popular)
2) Change all the lights in the room and toilet to LED lights
3) Refurbish the toilets from old bath tub to standing shower.
4) Install wifi booster along corridor to improve signal
5) Renovate some rooms and change old furniture
6) Provide a safe for customers to keep their things in their office
7) Provide seats at level 2 & 3 lobby for hotel guest to sit while waiting for lift.
8) Installed a foam bath/shampoo dispenser in the toilet in year 2019. Previously was given 1 bottle of foam bath & shampoo.
9) The opening of tea story for people to relax and the sale of kue lapis.
10) The introduction of membership cards to reward loyal customers.
After having invested so much in the hotel, nobody will ever guess that he will abandon his business empire. Very sad to have lost such a nice place on earth. According to source, the occupancy rate of the hotel has fallen to 20% before the corona virus. And after the virus has taken place, the business became worst
But I doubt the information is accurate as my last stay was in late January 2020 and I always have to wait till noon time for rooms to check in because reception told me all rooms taken up the previous day.
News also reported that there are 3 options for the hotel management to consider:
1) Try to contact Jerry and persuade him to take over the hotel. So that the hotel continues to operate and employees can still work. It was known that this option cannot work as it was reported that Jerry had tried to borrow money from his taiwanese friend in Taiwan but was being rejected.
2) Propose to sell all existing hotel assets and the money to pay the employees salary based on years of service.
3) Since Jerry has already establish a standard system of hotel operation, in fact the employee can follow the SOP to continue to run the hotel. Just need a company or individual who is willing to take over the business, everything can still run as per normal.
I was told by the Formosa staff that Jerry has appointed a local indonesian chinese from kalimantan to help him manage the business operation in Formosa hotel which means that he is the 2nd man incharge. So if this person manage to find a investor to take over the business, with his experience can help run the hotel business.
Alternatively if another hotel willing to take over the operation, Formosa can still operate..