The Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) remains embroiled in a legal dispute over its future management, leaving the events industry anxiously awaiting the court’s decision.
For organisers like Royalindo Expoduta, the protracted legal battle over the future management of JCC is creating significant planning challenges.
The prolonged uncertainty surrounding the venue’s management is disrupting event planning efforts, leaving organisers grappling with concerns about venue availability and the consistency of service quality. This situation poses a serious threat to the stability and sustainability of their businesses.
The company’s president director, Reza Abdullah, revealed that one of their clients has relocated their event to another venue to minimise risks.
“They fear that this case could end up like the Sultan Hotel situation – a prolonged legal dispute where the worst outcome would be event cancellations due to unresolved issues. Such a scenario would be disastrous, especially if promotional campaigns are already underway,” Reza explained.
Royalindo Expoduta now faces the daunting task of securing alternative venues or adjusting event schedules, a situation fraught with the risk of wasted resources and heightened uncertainty for their clients.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to map out and schedule events, knowing that the future of JCC is still in flux,” he added.
Echoing Reza’s concerns, Mohammad Ichwan Sofwan, general manager of Songolas Exhibition Services, stressed that event schedules, particularly for annual international exhibitions, cannot be easily adjusted at the last minute.
“This isn’t just about changing the venue name on brochures; it’s about the credibility of the exhibition and the organisers,” he said, emphasising that switching venues close to event dates could be catastrophic.
Jeffrey Eugene, secretary-general of the Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association, warned that the JCC conflict could impede the current momentum in the exhibition industry.
“The industry is thriving, with organisers full of enthusiasm and ideas. But this dispute risks killing that energy. We already lack sufficient creative spaces, and if this continues, organisers will struggle even more to secure venues,” Jeffrey said.
He also highlighted the high standards JCC has maintained over the years. “JCC has always been prioritised because of its proven management and service quality, which local and international organisers trust. Changing management without guaranteeing the same standards could alienate vendors and disrupt the entire industry,” Jeffrey stated.
