South China Morning Post
March 4th 2001
Self-serviced hotel check-in
Time was when travellers judged a hotel by the size of its rooms, the views it offered, the quality of service and such features as a gourmet restaurant or a trendy nightclub.
Todays travellers are just as likely to ask about high-speed Internet connections, interactive TV and the location of speciality shopping areas. To obtain such information, travellers log on to the Internet.
To meet this new demand, asia-hotels.com provides users with information on more than 1,500 hotels and resorts in 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific.
Don Angelico, asia-hotels.com chief operations officer, said what made the service distinctive was the emphasis on details.
Those unfamiliar with a country or region can make an informed decision through a simple hotel search based on their chosen criteria, Mr Angelico said.
The site shows travellers exactly what to expect from their hotel reservations.
Those who book can pay when they check in or pay asia-hotels.com directly. Since asia-hotels.com was set up in 1997, more than 2.2 million users have made about 70,000 bookings.
Inspection of between 400 and 500 hotels is conducted annually by asia-hotels.com staff, which is supported by customer feedback.
Travellers tales and anecdotes keep the information up to date and help to ensure a positive experience for customers, Mr Angelico said
