KUDUS – For participants of the 2026 Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup traveling from abroad, the tournament experience extends well beyond the pitch. During their stay in Kudus, they have engaged in various off-field activities, including rest and preparation for upcoming match agendas.
The Sapphire Boutique Hotel Kudus served as a host for delegations and officials from Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia throughout the tournament. The arrival of international sports teams required the hotel to tailor its services to meet the specific needs of its guests.
Preparations began well before the delegations arrived in Kudus. Several officials conducted surveys as early as late July to ensure all necessary arrangements were finalized for their hotel stay.
Sapphire Boutique Hotel Kudus Food and Beverage Manager Andri Santoso stated that the hotel upgraded several rooms to accommodate the guests, making adjustments based on the size and needs of the groups staying during the tournament.
"To prepare for this event, we first renovated and improved our rooms to ensure maximum comfort for our guests, especially those traveling from abroad," Andri said.
During the tournament, all 93 rooms at the Sapphire Boutique Hotel Kudus were fully occupied. Approximately 110 athletes and officials from the three countries stayed at the hotel for up to two weeks starting in early August 2026.
The duration of the stay has required the hotel to prepare differently than it would for guests staying only one or two nights. Beyond ensuring rooms are ready for occupancy, several units have been reconfigured to provide storage space for the groups' equipment.
For Sapphire, the preparation for hosting an international sports delegation serves as a foundational step in providing a guest experience tailored to the participants' specific activities. Match schedules and the extended duration of the stay necessitated careful planning well in advance of their arrival.
The room preparation marked the start of various service adjustments provided throughout the group's stay in Kudus, encompassing catering, communication, and staff interaction.
With these preparations, Sapphire does more than just accommodate competing teams. The hotel offers services tailored to the needs of guests from various countries throughout the 2026 Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup tournament.
Customized Services for Every Team
The international guest experience at the Sapphire Boutique Hotel is defined by service customized to the requirements of each group. Varied cultural backgrounds and habits mean that the needs of participants from different countries are rarely identical.
Food, in particular, has been a key area of focus. Match schedules make meal times a critical part of an athlete's routine before and after competition, and nutritional requirements often vary significantly between groups.
This was most evident in the services provided for the delegation from Saudi Arabia. The hotel brought in a chef from Saudi Arabia to prepare authentic meals suited to their dietary requirements.
"Specifically for their food, we brought in a chef directly from Saudi Arabia to prepare their meals," said Andri Santoso, Food and Beverage Manager at the Sapphire Boutique Hotel, Kudus.
Adjustments were also made to communication protocols. The hotel engaged translators to facilitate interaction between the groups and staff, including during culinary preparations. Translators also assist during the groups' use of meeting facilities to ensure that needs and information are communicated clearly."
Meanwhile, communicating with the delegation from Singapore was relatively straightforward. Malay and English could be used in daily conversations, allowing staff to avoid the significant language barriers encountered when assisting guests who speak other languages.
These differences meant that service protocols could not be standardized across all teams. Sapphire needed to understand the specific needs of each group and tailor its services accordingly throughout their stay at the hotel.
For the guests, accommodations such as bringing in a chef from the Middle East and providing translators helped ensure their activities were more comfortable. For Sapphire, the experience was part of an effort to provide service that aligns with the needs of international guests, rather than simply relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
When a Hotel Becomes a Space for Cultural Exchange
The experience of international guests at Sapphire was shaped by more than just the services they received; interactions with staff became a part of their daily life while in Kudus.
Hesti Noviyanti, a receptionist at Hotel Sapphire, was among the staff who interacted directly with the participants. For her, serving guests from various countries offered a unique experience compared to her daily service routine.
“It is a pleasure and a joy to be able to serve guests from various countries. We get to learn more about their cultures, especially their food, languages, and souvenirs,” said Hesti.
Some guests from Singapore and Saudi Arabia also inquired about Kudus, ranging from places to visit to cultural aspects they encountered in the region. When they had questions, they usually turned directly to Hesti.
“If they are unsure about something, they usually ask me directly in my capacity as a receptionist,” she said.
For Hesti, these interactions provided an opportunity to learn about the customs and cultures of guests from other nations. Conversely, for the participants, conversations with staff served as a way to gather information about the city they were visiting.
This cross-cultural experience took on another form on August 18, 2026, when the Singapore U-16 Women’s National Team and the Saudi Arabian team had the opportunity to watch a performance by the Eduwisata team from SMK Raden Umar Said (RUS) Kudus at the Sapphire Boutique Hotel Kudus.
The RUS Kudus Eduwisata team performed with angklung, rebana, and modern music. The athletes were then invited to try the traditional instruments themselves. They took turns playing the angklung while chatting and spending time with their teammates.
For the participants, trying out the traditional instruments offered a refreshing change of pace between their training and match schedules. The athletes appeared enthusiastic as they handled the bamboo instruments. The Singapore U-16 Women’s National Team also captured the moment by taking photos with the students from Raden Umar Said.
This activity was not part of the official tournament schedule. However, through these simple interactions during their downtime, participants had the opportunity to engage with the local community in Kudus and gain insight into local culture.
For Sapphire, such moments are integral to the experience provided to international guests. The interaction between staff, athletes, and local students allowed participants to see a side of Kudus that remained hidden from them on the pitch.
Athlete Experiences Beyond the Field
For the athletes, time at the hotel was a routine part of the tournament experience. Following matches, players returned to the hotel to rest, dine, recover, and spend time with teammates before their next scheduled commitment.
Klarisa Putri Kurniawan, a midfielder for the Indonesia Putri Nusantara national team from Surabaya, was among those staying at the Sapphire during the tournament. While this was not her first visit to Kudus, the Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup marked her first stay at the hotel.
"The Sapphire Hotel is excellent. The service is very good," said the 15-year-old player.
During her stay, Klarisa utilized her time at the hotel for meals, rest, and team-building activities, with spaghetti becoming one of her preferred menu items.
The swimming pool also served as a recovery facility between matches. Klarisa swam at least twice during her stay, including sessions following ice baths and post-match recovery.
The Sapphire Boutique Hotel Kudus swimming pool was utilized as an ice bath area for athletes participating in the Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup 2026, supporting their recovery needs between matches.
For players whose schedules are dominated by training and competition, simple activities like swimming also provide a welcome opportunity to unwind with teammates.
“It’s great to be able to hang out with friends,” she said.
For Klarisa, dining, swimming, and socializing with friends are integral parts of the tournament experience. Meanwhile, for Sapphire, the available facilities and spaces allow athletes to enjoy their time away from competition more comfortably.
This experience highlights that an athlete's time during a tournament is not entirely consumed by competition. There are intervals used for resting, recovering, dining, or simply spending time with peers. At Sapphire, these simple activities became part of their stay in Kudus.
Stays Offer Opportunities to Explore Kudus
For participants visiting from outside the region, opportunities to explore the host city do not always arise through official tournament agendas. Such experiences often emerge from the simple daily interactions they encounter, including those with hotel staff.
Klarisa, for instance, has visited Kudus several times. However, during the Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup 2026, she had yet to sample the local cuisine. She remains hopeful for an opportunity to try Kudus’s culinary offerings before departing.
This simple desire illustrates how discovering a region can grow from conversations and recommendations during a hotel stay. A similar dynamic was observed in Hesti’s interactions with international guests inquiring about local landmarks and culture in Kudus.
For Sapphire, such interactions are a key part of hosting guests from diverse nations. Participants arrive primarily to compete, but their hotel stay offers chances to engage with staff, try new things, and discover local elements surrounding them.
According to Andri, the hosting of sporting events and corporate gatherings draws visitors to stay in Kudus for several days, creating demand for local accommodation and services.
“I hope events like this can be held every year. Despite being a regency, Kudus is highly capable of hosting national and international events,” he stated.
The Caffino Srikandi Merdeka Cup 2026 provided a unique experience for Sapphire in hosting international sports delegations. The U-16 women’s national teams from Singapore and Saudi Arabia received more than just accommodation; they gained experiences through staff interactions, hotel facilities, and exposure to local cultural elements.
Ultimately, the tournament experience is defined by more than just matches. Moments spent eating, resting, swimming, chatting with staff, trying the angklung, or asking about Kudus became essential parts of their journey.
For the Sapphire Boutique Hotel Kudus, hosting international guests is an opportunity to provide hospitality that transcends standard lodging services. Through tailored service and the interactions fostered during their stay, Sapphire played a role in the participants' discovery of Kudus. (OEB/mainkekudus)
