Hotel Griptha

KUDUS — Since the Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup 2026 began on August 14, operations at Hotel Griptha Kudus have been adjusted to accommodate the routines of athletes and officials participating in the tournament. Services, including meal schedules, facility usage, and room requirements, have been aligned with the match agenda.

Hotel Griptha is hosting four tournament contingents: Jordan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Hong Kong, China. Approximately 85 rooms have been allocated to accommodate the visiting delegations during their stay in Kudus.

For the hotel, hosting international sports contingents involves more than just providing a large number of rooms. Athletes maintain demanding competition schedules, necessitating services distinct from those offered to standard guests. Meal times are flexible, specialized facilities are used for recovery, and room configurations are adjusted to meet the groups' specific requirements.

As matches continue at the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus, hotel staff remain fully operational. Athletes return to the hotel after matches to rest, dine, and prepare for their upcoming schedules.

Preparing Capacity for Delegations

Hotel Griptha is operated by PT Griptha Putra Persada Tbk. Established in 2010 in Kudus Regency, the company commenced operations in 2015. The hotel features 138 rooms in Deluxe, Business Class, and Suite categories. Beyond accommodations, the property provides MICE facilities, including seven meeting rooms and one ballroom, along with restaurants, a café, a swimming pool, a fitness center, and other supporting amenities.

This capacity is essential when the hotel hosts large sports delegations. Teams require rooms for athletes and officials, dining areas, gathering spaces, and other amenities to support their stay in Kudus.

For the 2026 Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup, four delegations occupied approximately 85 rooms. The groups began checking in around August 12, ahead of the competition's start on August 14.

Their stay is expected to last until August 20, with potential extensions until August 24 depending on their performance in the tournament.

Flexible Accommodation Services

Preparations for the delegations began well before the tournament, with Hotel Griptha management receiving arrival details several months in advance.

Hotel Griptha Kudus Front Manager Ewert Yapius Yusuf stated that planning began in May or June to ensure readiness for the August event.

A key logistical task involved room allocation, with management strategically grouping members from the same country along the same corridors.

"I focused on assigning one country per corridor. This ensures they are close to one another, which facilitates communication with their coaches," Ewert said.

This arrangement helps athletes, coaches, and officials communicate more effectively during their stay, while room assignments remain adaptable to changing requirements.

For the hotel, such preparation is vital as the delegations' activities extend far beyond the arena, with most of their time spent at the hotel.

Room requirements remained fluid, with requests frequently evolving from the initial booking throughout the delegation's stay.

Ewert noted that these changes often involved the number of rooms or specific bed configurations.

"They might request a certain number of rooms, but that can change the next day. I have to constantly adjust and rearrange based on their needs, such as the room count and bed types," he explained.

These changes require hotel staff to update arrangements in real-time and coordinate with various service departments to ensure consistent support.

Managing these ongoing demands is part of the daily operations to ensure delegation needs are met without disrupting the experience of other hotel guests.

Menu Tailored to Athlete Needs

Beyond accommodation, dining is a vital component of the team's routine. Match schedules mean meal times cannot always align with standard hotel service hours.

Hotel Griptha Kudus F&B Manager Edwin Leonardo explained that the initial menu was developed based on standards recommended by the organizers. Upon the arrival of the contingents, the hotel adjusted its offerings based on food preferences identified during service.

One notable preference involves carbohydrate sources. Contingents from Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia showed a stronger preference for rice over pasta.

“Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia indeed prefer rice as their carbohydrate source rather than pasta dishes like spaghetti or mac and cheese,” Edwin said.

These preferences are now factored into meal planning. The hotel adjusts its menu based on requirements communicated during the contingents' stay in Kudus.

Meal times are also dictated by match schedules. When matches take place in the evening, dinner service is shifted to align with the team's agenda.

Edwin noted that if a match ends around 8:00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, dinner service can be provided as late as 10:00 p.m.

“We adjust according to the matches taking place,” he stated.

This flexible approach requires the restaurant to adapt to changing agendas daily, ensuring that food service supports both pre-match preparation and post-match recovery.

Staff Adjusts Communication

The presence of international guests has also required communication adjustments. Dining staff have received briefings on basic English terminology related to menu items.

Terms such as poached egg, scrambled egg, and omelette were introduced to ensure that requests from athletes and officials are clearly understood.

Ongoing communication is essential for managing various needs throughout the contingents' stay. Staff are required to relay information regarding any changes to rooms, meals, or facility usage.

For hotel staff, providing service to athletes follows a different pattern due to their competition schedules. Requests can arise at irregular times, necessitating alignment with team agendas.

Consequently, communication between hotel staff and the delegations remains a core component of daily operations for the duration of the tournament.

Facilities Support Athlete Activity

Several Hotel Griptha facilities have been made available to the contingents throughout the tournament, with the pool and fitness center used on a limited basis according to team requirements.

The swimming pool has specifically been used for ice baths to support the physical recovery of athletes following their matches.

The hotel's meeting facilities are also available for group use. Hotel Griptha offers seven meeting rooms and one ballroom designed to accommodate various activities for group bookings.

Use of these facilities remains subject to hotel policies. Contingents manage their own schedules, while facilities remain accessible to other guests.

Throughout the tournament, management must ensure that facilities meet specific requirements without disrupting overall hotel operations.

Hotel Occupancy Reaches Approximately 80 Percent

The arrival of the Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup 2026 contingents has generated additional activity for Hotel Griptha during the tournament.

Management reported an occupancy rate of approximately 80 percent for the duration of the event. Of the 138 available rooms, roughly 85 were occupied by the four contingents.

The delegation's activity is also evident in the use of the hotel's restaurant and facilities. Athletes and officials require meals throughout the tournament, while the swimming pool and fitness center are utilized as needed.

This demonstrates that the impact of the event on the hotel extends beyond room occupancy. As long as the groups remain in Kudus, their needs require ongoing engagement with various hotel departments.

The restaurant coordinates dining schedules to align with match times, while staff manage room requirements and facilitate recovery services. All these operations run concurrently with regular guest services.

Hotel Readiness Tested During Tournament

Hotel Griptha has hosted international events previously, experience that bolstered management's readiness to accommodate foreign sports delegations once again.

However, each event presents unique demands. Group size, room arrangements, match schedules, dietary preferences, and facility usage must be tailored to the specific requests of each contingent.

Ewert noted that sports events offer significant opportunities for the local hospitality industry whenever Kudus hosts national or international competitions.

"In our view, it is highly potential. Especially when we observe the volume of sports events and their corresponding hotel requirements, which are indeed very high," he said.

For Hotel Griptha, this ongoing experience is part of their commitment to serving international delegations. As the matches continue, hotel operations remain closely aligned with the contingents' agendas.

A Temporary Home While Competing in Kudus

For athletes from Jordan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Hong Kong, China, Hotel Griptha serves as a home base after arena activities. They rely on the hotel for meals, rest, recovery, and preparing for upcoming matches.

Meanwhile, hotel staff continue to perform their duties in line with the delegations' needs—preparing rooms, adjusting meal times to match game schedules, managing facility access, and maintaining ongoing communication with team officials.

Hotel Griptha has become a fixture in the daily lives of these contingents during their stay in Kudus. The hotel's presence enhances the participants' overall experience throughout the Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup 2026. (ITN/mainkekudus)