Service at H.I.S (Philippines) Travel was adequate, but more attention should be paid to the finer details
PRESENCE H.I.S. (Philippines) Travel is located on the second floor of the Serendra Shopping Arcade in Bonifacio Global City, above an attractive mix of upscale restaurants. Situated in a quiet, low traffic area, this travel agency is likely to attract customers who already know of the Japanese brand H.I.S or were recommended by local travel associations to visit the store. It also appears to serve locally-based Japanese, as it carries brochures of top hotels within popular Philippine tourist cities.
The main area is brightly lit from the inside, with a mix of Japanese and Filipino staff in an open plan office. On the glass storefront are many small posters promoting airfare promotions and destination posters including one advertising a newly opened Nagasaki theme park, a common draw for Filipinos.
APPEARANCE The frontline manager who entertained my queries was smartly but casually dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and dark pants, while the Filipino staff, who were answering queries on the phone, were even more casually attired – perhaps a little underdressed even. Their voices tended to overpower the manager’s.
EASE The Japanese operations manager who greeted me was very helpful and gave me a rundown of currently popular destinations among Filipinos, providing basic estimates on the ideal lengths of a one- to two-city itinerary in April and May. Information on the weather, flights, visa acquisition and attractions within main destinations was also provided with careful attention.
SUGGESTIONS The store has a very wide glass storefront, but the outer left side was not as brightly lit as the main office area. The store had also run out of Japanese destination brochures, and could only provide me with one of Hokkaido. The manager was very friendly and recommended I do some research on the Internet before returning with more queries, but I would have liked to see more brochures providing typical itineraries.
The brochure I received quoted prices in Japanese yen, so having a flyer stating prices in the local currency or US dollars attached would have been helpful.
