Disappointment over Paris Hilton’s canceled visit to Indonesia

Reported by the Jakarta Globe

Tokyo was to be the first stop on the 29-year-old celebrity socialite's Asian tour, during which she also planned to visit Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, where she was going to attend the opening of her namesake store at Grand Indonesia mall.

Teges Prita Soraya, senior marketing manager at Grand Indonesia, conveyed her disappointment over Hilton's canceled visit.

“We have to appreciate the decision made by Paris and her managers. We deeply apologize to our Twitter followers who have been participating in the quiz,” she said, referring to a contest on the microblogging site for two people to join Paris at the planned opening party on Saturday.

Roslina Situmeang, marketing manager of Pesona Harumi, the license holder of Paris Hilton Handbags & Accessories in Indonesia, also apologized for the cancellation.

“The official launch and grand opening of the store, however, will go on,” she said.

“Only the lunch was canceled. We have refunded the money for those who bought tickets, but some people still wanted to donate to the Children Oncology Foundation.”

Roslina previously said that the Rp 2 million ($240) tickets for the planned luncheon at the Y&Y restaurant in Pacific Place had sold out by last Saturday.

Proceeds from the luncheon were to go to the Children's Oncology Foundation, a charity that helps to fund research programs looking for cures to various types of cancer.

“The events will still go as planned, except for the lunch and Miss Hilton's attendance, and the donations will still be given to the foundation,” Roslina said.