Annette Anhar: Embracing the Culture of Two Nations to Create an Iconic Hospitality Business

Over the past two decades, Annette Anhar has applied her education in Australia to develop a hospitality business that celebrates food and culture in a uniquely Indonesian way: with a distinctly Australian leadership style.

As Director of Tugu Hotel Group, Annette credits her experience in Australia, which she considers her ‘second home’, with shaping her business philosophy and collaborative approach to management.

Annette began her education in Australia at senior high school (Years 11 and 12) at St Michael's Grammar School in Melbourne. She went on to study a Bachelor of Business Systems at Monash University. Her degree focused on integrating business and IT, which helped her develop tactical problem-solving skills.

Annette’s experience of studying and living in Melbourne was memorable and transformative. Australia taught her to be independent.

‘For me, the most shocking change in my life was when I moved to Melbourne from Malang,’ said Annette.

‘I thought that even if I went to school outside the city, it must be as close to Malang as possible. Maybe in Surabaya or somewhere not too far from Malang. So, moving to Melbourne taught me independence.’

For Annette, this included taking casual work at a fast-food chain while she was still in high school. Her first job was at Hungry Jacks, where she cleaned toilets. After that, she also worked at an Indonesian restaurant in Melbourne.

‘I went to university in Melbourne with only a small amount of money. If I calculated it carefully, I would have just enough to pay for my room, food and bills. For other things, such as going to the cinema or travelling, I had to find the money myself,’ she said.

Melbourne's multicultural environment also opened her eyes. For the first time, Annette interacted with people from Vietnam, Japan and the UK. The experience made her more accepting and welcoming of different cultures.

Collaborative Leadership Driving Growth

After university, Annette began her career at Tugu Hotel Group in the purchasing team, and trained in every department. Today, Tugu Hotel Group spans five properties in Java, Bali and Lombok and 15 restaurants. The award-winning venues are famous for celebrating heritage buildings and showcasing Indonesian art and antiques. Dining in a Tugu restaurant can feel like sitting in an art gallery.

Annette’s proudest achievement has been witnessing the growth of Tugu and its employees.

Her leadership style is heavily influenced by what she found in Australia. She promotes a culture of collaboration, and before making decisions, she invites employees to discuss, explore their ideas, and find a joint solution. With this approach, Annette aims to foster a sense of ownership among employees by involving them in decision-making.

‘Our leadership style is to always seek solutions in a meaningful way,’ Annette said. ‘Who knows, maybe their ideas are better than my own.’

A Vision Combining Hospitality and Culture

Through Tugu Hotel Group, Annette wants to show that businesses in Indonesia can be progressive and modern without losing their identity. Tugu's vision is to be a small business that brings Indonesian culture to the international stage.

The business does this by highlighting the history and stories behind its impressive collection of antique items, some of which are over 500 years old. In sharing these precious artefacts in a hospitality setting, Annette hopes to make Indonesian cultures and history more widely known and celebrated.

‘We have local culture, and we must remind our people of it and weave it into our daily lives. That is why we combine our work with storytelling,’ said Annette.

‘We introduce Indonesian culture abroad to the world through storytelling. That’s what we want to bring. Local culture can be international. We must have our own character. This is our own character.’

Australian Touches on the Menu at Tugu

Annette’s commitment to strengthening Indonesia-Australia bilateral relations continues to shine through her work in the tourism and hospitality sector.

For example, the menus at the Tugu group’s restaurants feature Australian meat, something Annette is passionate about. In 2018, she was inspired to establish Alpha Agro Indonesia, a company that imports high-quality Wagyu beef from award-winning small farms in Australia.

‘In our restaurants at Tugu, we really enjoy pairing Australian meat with Australian wine. We do that quite often at our restaurants,’ she said.

Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, her company evolved to provide direct and fast delivery services to retailers and restaurants, meeting the demand for fresh meat.

‘This business then strengthened economic relations between the two countries as well,’ Annette said.

A Strong Bond and a Bright Future Together

Annette is positive about the potential for strengthening collaboration between Indonesia and Australia.

Alongside Australian beef and wine, Annette hopes to see more Australian produce feature on Indonesian menus, such as fruit and dairy. And beyond hospitality, areas such as education, tourism, health and agriculture have so many possibilities.

‘Many Indonesians want to study in Australia because it is popular and close, while many Australians come to Indonesia to learn Indonesian and work,’ Annette said.

‘Not only that, but the tourism relationship between the two countries will never die, as exemplified by Indonesians coming to Melbourne for the Australian Open. Also, health facilities in Australia are excellent, so many Indonesians come for check-ups.’

Annette concluded that Australian alumni are like ‘family’. The network serves as a place for nostalgia, mutual inspiration and appreciation.

‘Networking among alumni also has the potential to expand the businesses we are developing,’ she said. ‘Especially in relation to tourism development through the hospitality sector.’