My friend -director of a company which make Denim Fashion
Products in Africa had less pleasant experiences associated hotel service when
it first came to Indonesia for a visit and tour business. Because
he had a hotel room reservations in advance, but it was not discovered when he
went to the hotel and question it. In
fact, the hotel is located in Central Jakarta has a very 'old', and the
four-star famous enough. Batavia
Hotel is a name that carries the atmosphere of Jakarta old days.
As a friend, I'm really sorry for him, because he has come a long way from the African continent, transit first in Dubai, then flew to Indonesia, must be very tiring. He arrived at Soekarno Hatta Airport around nine o'clock, and arrived at the hotel around eleven o'clock. My friend --let's call it Mr. Syafee have imagined could rest comfortably soon. But, when the room reservation which paid by credit card is not found, of course he was very frustrating.
He is a busy man who also led a modern brick factory with
computerized machines. Forced, Mr. Syafee
that have blood mix Malaysia, France and Egypt is making a new reservation for
another room suddenly. Lucky, there are rooms available. You
can imagine when the room was already full booked by others, he had to find
another hotel in the middle of the night, without any certainty. How
careless, the hotel clerk that had received a hotel room reservation before. Why the online reservation
could be so ignored?
"Everyone in Jakarta make me mad ..." said Mr.. Syafee on me while preaching his arrival. Oh, I am so sorry ... Resentment, he said also that he found it difficult to communicate with most people of Indonesia in English. Fortunately, then I can show tourism object and business opportunities in Bandung which quite impressive and entertaining Mr. Syafee. Likewise, hotels in Bandung which I make reservations for him, pleased at heart. That is because I reserve the right in place, but what happens when the reserve was overseas and done only by phone or website?
Adverse events -the hotel reservations were ignored / lost, also occur to my other friend. Call it Mr. John, a property entrepreneur from London, England. Orders hotel which he has made over the phone at a five-star hotel located in Setia Budi street, Bandung was not found. In fact, he was booked for a few days stay and paid by credit card. So, when he arrived in the evening Gumilang Regency Hotel and his room was not found, he was forced to make a reservation again.
Adverse events related to the bad service hotel was to be laments story for me. Another story is that night he was offered 'massage plus-plus "-hehe. Apparently the hotel manager was thinking, if people overseas-especially foreigners, would like a 'naughty'. They do not know if Mr. John is a dedicated Moslem (Muslim was polite and dedicated). He and his family used to spread the zakat for poor in Africa to spread Islam and every year run umra and hajj. He just amazement and shook his head with the offer. Looks like he did not think Indonesia as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, turns his hotel offering 'filth'.
Another issue related to the hotel, appeared at breakfast. Just then during Christmas and New Year holidays, so the hotel was pretty crowded. Prepared cups lined up on the table stratified. When I took one of the cups, ops ... plates saucers were very dirty and dusty. In my heart I pray that Mr.John not see anything like this.
I have not finished praying, Mr. John showed me he took the cup contained impurities such as cobwebs clot. Oh, My God .... He said: "Indonesia .... Indonesia. "
Maybe he had run out of words to express his disappointment at the visit to Indonesia this time. In fact, he's hoping there is progress he saw and felt. In fact, a dozen years ago he had come to Indonesia for a business venture, but he is a great loss to the Chinese partner. While in this visit, car travel that he climb from Jakarta to Bandung which is expected to take 3 hours, was extended to eight hours due to severe congestion. To the extent that he said he thought he could not live in Indonesia. Because, too many systems that must be addressed.
Unfortunately, I was unable to persuade or show him to think more positively about this my homeland. After the session around Bandung city, he said Bandung almost similar to India. Many street vendors and garbage piles. But, Bandung is 'little' cleaner.
Mr. John said he had a lot around the world. With a glance journey he had not seen enough to say to him. Including Bandung designation as "Parijs van Java" or the Paris of Java. He just smiled. Sure in his heart he says: "oh, very far away ...." What can I say? My sweet words did not mean anything when the facts say another.
This story hopefully can give some idea about the hotel services in Indonesia. Apparently, there are still many things that must be addressed and be challenge. Clean up all and overcome the challenges that need to be done, if Indonesia wants to host a world-class tourist attractions, as well as world-class businesses.
