Bali Hotel Operators Don't Anticipate Mass Exodus

(10/3/2005)

In an official statement issued by the Bali Hotel Association, the organization that represents 13,145 hotel rooms and 20,143 employees working at member properties expressed its "shock and sadness" at the latest terrorist attacks in Bali, extending their condolences and sympathy to those affected by this tragedy.

Minimum Cancellations Expected

According the statement issued by the BHA and consistent with press reports, no hotels were affected by the blasts with all member properties reporting normal business flows and only a minimal number of people leaving the island early. Member hotels are not, as yet, seeing any cancellations in connection to the blasts but do expect to receive some cancellations over the coming days. Local hotelier, however, remain optimistic that cancellation will be nothing like the magnitude experience during the previous tragedy in 2002.

Crisis Response Plan Worked Well

Immediately following receipt of the report of the bomb blasts, BHA emergency response plan was activated over a secure SMS system which notified all Hotel General Managers. Hotels responded by conducting an immediate guest count, immediately contacting the respective consulate of any missing persons. Members of the BHA are kept constantly abreast of new developments via a secure Intranet facility on the association's web page.

Senior executives of the BHA have expressed their gratitude for the immediate and professional response of all the emergency services and authorities who reacted quickly in handling this tragedy. Proactive security measures have been in place in all member hotels since the October 2002 bombings and the use of boom gates that restrict access to hotels in combination with screening procedures. BHA remains confident that security is being well handled among its member hotels.

Commenting on the latest attack, BHA Chairman, Robert Kelsall said: "We hope that the governments around the world will support Bali, as they did following the New York, Madrid and the London bombings, by not imposing travel advisories, since the people of Bali are so dependent on tourism. A ban on travel to Bali would be just playing into the terrorists' hands and once again have a devastating effect on the people of Bali."

All Bali hotels are enjoying extremely high occupancies at present. Guests have been advised by the BHA to stay close to their hotels over the coming days while authorities take steps to secure their personal safety.