AN AUSTRALIAN hotel group has seen staff and guest engagement soaring in six weeks by simply turning the concept of online hotel reviews upside down.

Between April 17 and May 31 this year, Art Series Hotels gave hotel staff at its six properties in Victoria and South Australia free rein to rate their guests and post their reviews online.

Guests who opted in were judged by individual staff’s assessment with no specified criteria, but those who earned four or five stars could win complimentary stays.

The campaign was by all measures, a resounding success, with 750 reviews generated and 210 guests winning five stars and a free night’s accommodation.

Group marketing director, Ryan Tuckerman, said the reverse reviews campaign was implemented to lift staff morale and showcase the Art Series Hotels’ unique edge.

“We had such huge engagement with staff and it really helped to create a good culture and ethos around the office. You see the positive interaction with guests and a lot more chatter,” said Tuckerman.

“This type of initiative also helps to explain what Art Series Hotels is about. We’re left of centre and think outside the square. That’s how we want to come across to consumers. We’re not your everyday hotel experience; we’re the new breed of properties.”

The majority of guests who participated in the campaign were leisure travellers, he said, concluding: “We’re thrilled with the campaign and are looking into how we can implement this on an ongoing basis.”

EMIRATES has launched a daily nonstop service from Dubai to Bali on June 3.

Barry Brown, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president, commercial operations east, said: “Bali remains a leading tourist destination and a significantly important market for Emirates. There is high interest from across our network for flights to Bali, specifically in the leisure segment, and we are pleased to now be able to service this demand and contribute to the island’s economic and tourism growth.”

The Dubai-Bali service is operated on a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a two-class configuration.

Flight EK398 departs Dubai at 08.20 and arrives in Bali at 21.40 the same day. The return flight, EK399, leaves Bali at 23.40 and reaches Dubai at 05.00 the next day.

The popular island destination received more than 3.7 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2014 and is likely to gain a further tourism boost with the new daily flight.

I Gde Pitana, deputy minister for resource development of Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism, said: “The island continues to attract tourists from around the world, and a direct route to and from Dubai with Emirates will help to increase access to other parts of the world, bringing new opportunities for travellers and businesses alike.”

THE Maldives is gearing up for a new marketing campaign, Visit Maldives Year 2016, and will trot out 365 days of free holidays, festivals and trade events as part of celebrations.

Officially unveiled at the UNWTO conference in the Maldives last week, the campaign will likely cost close to US$10 million.

Hussain Lirar, deputy tourism minister of the Maldives, said there will be roadshows, participation at travel fairs and events for both the private sector and government agencies.

Specifically, the Maldives will host the World Trade Award as part of the campaign and has been designated the partner host country for ITB Berlin 2016, to which the country will send its largest-ever delegation including a cultural troupe, said tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb.

On the consumer front, resorts are offering 365 days’ worth in free stays up for grabs in competitions that will be held on social media, at roadshows and overseas travel fairs, andVisit Maldives Year ambassadors are to be appointed among guest arrivals.

The Maldives is targeting 1.4 million arrivals this year and aiming for 1.5 million in 2016.

Abdullah Ghiyas, president, Maldivian Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators, said the 2016 campaign is crucial as it tackles European and North American source markets, for which there have been little promotion in the past.

Recent efforts have mostly targeted China, as well as emerging and traditional source markets.

TOURS around Sabah are going on as usual after the earthquake that hit Ranau in Sabahlast Friday morning.

At press time, the official death toll on Mount Kinabalu was 16 with two people still listed as missing.

State authorities have also announced a three-week suspension of activities on Mount Kinabalu as repair works to the trail and facilities begin, and Sabah Parks will provide refunds to those who had made advance bookings to climb the mountain during this period.

Inbound tour operators TTG Asia e-Daily contacted said there have been no cancellations to date, but it is still early days.

Noor M Ismail, head, sales & marketing, Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel, said the company has proposed alternative tours to those affected by the temporary closure of Mount Kinabalu.

Borneo Authentic Adventure executive director, Yanti Lee, said day trips to Poring Hot Spring and Poring Canopy Walkway, both in Ranau, are going on as usual.

Borneo Eco Tours assistant general manager, Susan Soong said: “It is too early to tell how the earthquake will affect European bookings in July and August. We are keeping travel consultants and guests updated.”

However, there were no cancellations or postponements at press time.

DIETHELM Travel Group has announced a new proprietary reservation system for all 11 countries in the group’s portfolio, aiming to offer clients access to more information and streamlined booking capabilities.

Launched at Thailand Travel Mart Plus, the cloud-based platform’s XML connectivity lets clients customise itineraries and receive instant confirmations online. They can also view up-to-date information on all services and packages Diethelm offers, such as Awesome Deals and the company’s Diethelm Distinctive product line.

Clients can also download relevant tariffs from their tariff portal and get full itineraries at the time of booking, as well as manage all ground services and bring together customers, guides and vehicles, through a fully integrated Assignment Centre to give instant access to customers’ whereabouts.

On the other hand, suppliers can load contracts, add allotments or confirm bookings online on the system’s extranet. The system is also integrated with CyberSource, an online payment technology.

Accessible from the computer, tablet or mobile phone, clients can manage customer reservations while on the go.

Diethelm will first roll out the platform in Thailand, Singapore, Maldives, Hong Kong and Bhutan by end-June. Booking services for its other six markets – Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Vietnam – will go live in the following months.

ROSEWOOD Hotels & Resorts is marking its entry into Indonesia with a first property in Bali in 2017, with a second to follow in Jakarta the year after.

Belonging to Indonesia’s prominent developer Ciputra Group, Rosewood Tanah Lot, Bali will be located near Lot temple on Bali’s West coast.

Occupying an area of 12ha, the ultra-luxury property will feature 80 suites, 27 villas and 29 Rosewood Residences for sale.

Asked why Rosewood was entering Bali with an ultra-luxury product at a time of market oversupply, Symon Bridle, COO of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, told TTG Asia e-Daily at ILTM Asia last week: “Is there ever good timing? I think the reality is if your brand is right, the offer is right, you will find the market you want.”

He said a new destination, like the area close to Tanah Lot, could appeal to travellers looking for a slightly off-the-beaten-track address that is still not too far away from the popular areas.

The second hotel, Rosewood Jakarta, will be located in the Ciputra World Jakarta mixed-use development in the Indonesian capital’s CBD. It will offer 200 guestrooms and 160 Rosewood Residences for sale.

These developments in Indonesia are part of the group’s plan to operate 50 hotels by 2020.

Following the brand’s arrival in China with the opening of Rosewood Beijing in October 2014, the company will manage the 148-room Rosewood Phnom Penh and Rosewood Phuket, which will have 80 villas and 32 residences in 2016, with a property in Bangkok to open in 2017.

Two more properties in China, the 251-room Rosewood Guangzhou and 229-room Rosewood Sanya, will arrive in 2017.

THE Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC) has named Aviareps its marketing and PR representative in South-east Asia as the NTO looks to establish, widen and strengthen its brand engagement and awareness in the region.

The main focus of Holland’s promotional activities in the region will be centred on the Indonesian market, and secondly, Malaysia.

Aviareps Indonesia will act as Holland Tourism’s representative office and promote Holland Tourism among leading travel professionals and consumers through a number of marketing and public relations activities, with Aviareps Malaysia providing support locally.

The launch of a Destination Holland campaign in South-east Asia is scheduled for July 2015.

Andrew van der Feltz, NBTC Holland marketing, manager business development & operations, said in a release: “We are thrilled to introduce Holland to South-east Asia as a unique destination that combines genuine warmth and a welcoming environment for visitors who appreciate culinary and cultural experiences along with exciting shopping and family attractions.”

THE 271-key Qliq Damansara in Petaling Jaya City is targeting female business travellers with its new all-girls floor.

Although the hotel itself opened in March, the women-only floor debuted last month, comprised of 13 rooms in two categories offering a full range of ladies’ amenities.

The area is only accessible by key card and is cleaned and staffed only by female talents.

Bennet Chang, general manager at Qliq Damansara, said in a release: “We saw a need (for a ladies-only floor) given that female guests make up over 40 per cent (of clients), and we wanted to be the first hotel in Petaling Jaya city to provide a dedicated floor for ladies.

“We are particularly trying to appeal to female business travellers, who are moving up the career ladder and hitting the road more often. Research done by Cornell University School of Hotel Administration has identified that safety, empowerment and pampering influenced women business travellers in deciding on their choice of accommodation.”

Guests on this floor are also entitled to lounge facilities offering free Wi-Fi, free refreshments and finger food, and use of the gym.

SABAH Parks has cancelled all climbing activities on Mount Kinabalu after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit early this afternoon.

Striking 54km from Kota Kinabalu, the earthquake loosened rocks and boulders on one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions, leading to a cancellation of all climbing there, according to Bernama.

About 100 climbers and rangers have been stranded at the summit plateau of Mount Kinabalu and the Royal Malaysian Air Force has been activated to evacuate them, saidAFP.

Aside from that, Destination Asia Malaysia said in a statement that “all other travel in the region remains unaffected at present”.