At the Pursuitist, we like to cover the good things in life. There’s so much we could talk about; luxury brands going out of business, the recession — but we think there’s an overload of that type of news. So no, we don’t blog about some fashion CEO being fired or brand X going out of business — because frankly, we’re optimists (and a bit naive). And there’s no shortage of bad news out there. We wrestled with reporting on the bombing in Jakarta at Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott. Two blasts at about 7:45 a.m. local time rocked the hotels in luxury shopping and business district, killing eight people, ripping the façade off the Ritz, blowing out windows and showering the street with glass and debris.
We want to send a message, our condolences, to the family, staff and guests at the Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott in Jakarta. In you’re in the area, be safe and be strong. Here’s the official message from the Ritz Carlton:
Our deepest sympathies go out to the victims of the tragic bombings that took place earlier today in Jakarta, Indonesia. Immediately following the incident, police and hotel security responded and sealed off the area. Guests were evacuated and moved to other nearby hotels. Injured guests and hotel employees were taken to the hospital for treatment. JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton, Jakarta sustained damage, but it does not appear to be structural. At the time of the incident, extensive security procedures were in place at the hotels. We continue to work closely with the authorities and hope to reopen the hotel soon. As always, the safety and security of our guests and associates is our top priority.
For guest information, please contact the Family Assistance Hotline
at 866/211-4610 or 402/390-3265.