Hotel Horison IJ Kudus

KUDUS — The Jordan U-16 Women's National Team required more than just a pitch for the 2026 Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup. While in Kudus, they needed facilities for rest, meals, team activities, recovery, and logistics coordination for travel to the venue.

Throughout the tournament, these needs were met by the Hotel Horison IJ Kudus, which served as the hub for players and officials outside of their training and match schedules.

Team Schedules Reshape Hotel Operations

Hotel Horison IJ features 43 rooms, with approximately 23 Deluxe and Superior units allocated to the Jordan U-16 Women's National Team delegation during their stay.

Hosting a large team required a departure from standard hotel service protocols. Operations were adjusted to accommodate the team’s training and match agenda, including flexible meal times.

Badrus Shofa, Marketing Communication representative for Hotel Horison IJ Kudus, noted that the team typically breakfasted around 10:00 a.m. WIB, lunch around 2:00 p.m. WIB, and dinners scheduled according to match times.

Under this arrangement, the hotel could not adhere to standard dining service hours, as the athletes required meal and rest times aligned strictly with the team’s schedule.

To support the delegation's activities, Hotel Horison IJ provides dedicated meeting rooms for breakfast and internal functions. Access to facilities such as the swimming pool and fitness center can also be arranged to accommodate players' training and recovery schedules.

These facilities serve as options for players to unwind following training sessions or matches before resting.

Kitchen Adjusts to Jordanian Player Menu

The team's requirements are also reflected in the hotel's food offerings.

Hotel Horison IJ Executive Sous Chef Gading Ganesa and the Food & Beverage Product team coordinated with the Jordanian coaching and nutritional staff to determine the menu for the players.

The dietary habits of the Jordanian players differ from those of typical Indonesian guests. Oily foods are avoided, while proteins and complex carbohydrates are emphasized in the daily menu.

For protein, the players prefer beef, chicken, and shrimp. As for carbohydrates, rice is not the only option, with Arabian bread, bagels, and potatoes frequently served.

The hotel also prepares dishes tailored to their preferences, including biryani, kabsah, beef steak, roasted chicken, and various grilled items.

The players even brought their own hummus from home.

Although most of the menu is adapted to the Jordanian players' habits, the hotel occasionally incorporates Indonesian dishes upon the coach's approval.

For the culinary team, these adjustments require balancing both the players' specific nutritional needs and their eating habits, with hotel ingredients and menus adapted to the team's requests.

For breakfast, players frequently chose items including pancakes prepared by the Hotel Horison IJ pastry team, alongside cheese, bread, and honey.

Javanese Language and Hotel Anecdotes

Interactions between players and staff often extended beyond formal team requirements, revealing simple habits developed during the Jordanian delegation’s hotel stay.

Language barriers were a common occurrence. While many players were more fluent in Arabic, daily communication with hotel staff was conducted in Indonesian and English.

After a few days, several players began to recognize and use phrases they frequently heard from hotel staff.

Badrus noted that some players even started using Javanese expressions like “matur suwun” (thank you) and “sami-sami” (you’re welcome) when interacting with personnel.

These phrases were picked up from daily encounters; players heard them repeatedly during service and began incorporating them into their own speech.

Staff also noted other habits, such as players frequently forgetting their key cards when leaving their rooms. To avoid being locked out and having to return to the lobby, they would sometimes leave the door slightly ajar using a makeshift stopper.

These minor incidents occurred amidst the team’s structured schedule of training, matches, meals, and rest periods.

Ten Minutes to Supersoccer Arena

The hotel's location was a key factor in coordinating team activities.

Hotel Horison IJ is situated in downtown Kudus, providing a travel time of approximately 10 minutes to the Supersoccer Arena.

For the team, travel times were adjusted according to match agendas. Departures were planned around kickoff times, while return trips were tailored to the players' physical condition following competition.

The relatively short distance ensured that the team did not require lengthy travel times to reach the arena.

After matches, players returned to the hotel for meals, rest, and recovery before resuming their scheduled activities the following day.

Therefore, convenient hotel access to the venue helps the team manage their schedule from departure to return after matches.

Horison IJ and Sports Activities in Kudus

During their stay in Kudus, the Jordan U-16 Women's National Team required more than just hotel rooms. They needed lodging, meals, meeting spaces, support facilities, and access to the Supersoccer Arena.

Rooms were provided for rest, while the restaurant and kitchen prepared meals tailored to the team’s specific needs. Meeting rooms were used for internal activities, and the pool and gym were accessible by appointment. The hotel’s location also facilitated convenient transit to the arena.

This approach distinguishes service for sports teams from that of leisure guests. Meal schedules can shift, menus require consultation with coaches and nutritionists, specific facilities need to be scheduled, and rest periods must be strictly observed.

The arrival of an international team also offers new opportunities for hotel staff, involving cultural, linguistic, and dietary exchanges throughout their stay in Kudus.

On a broader scale, the arrival of teams from other regions and countries drives demand for accommodation, food, transportation, and various other services in the host city.

The hospitality sector is among those directly impacted by these athletic activities.

For Horison IJ, the experience of hosting the Jordan U-16 women's national team highlights the hotel's commitment to supporting sports events in Kudus. Badrus expressed hope that the growth of sports tourism in Kudus will continue, leading to further initiatives that involve the hospitality sector.

For several days, the Jordanian team's stay at Horison IJ followed a consistent, practical routine: dining according to the team schedule, resting, utilizing hotel facilities, interacting with staff, and commuting between the hotel and the venue.

While the hotel was not the competition venue, team activities remained centered there throughout the tournament. (ITN/JMY/mainkekudus)