The results are in … Asian properties receive top marks

SYDNEY 27 March 2003 – Consumers worldwide have rated Asian hotels favourably compared to similar properties worldwide, a global accommodation survey has found.

Of the Asian properties surveyed, key winners included properties in Singapore and Hong Kong. Singapore properties were rated higher than international hotels in the two, two and half and the prestigious five-star categories. Compared to Hong Kong properties that rated above international standards in the very competitive four-star category.

Consumers granted from two to four star Asian hotels a higher average rating – across five key categories – compared with their actual star rating. This trend was reflected in international survey results.

The survey – ‘Rate a Hotel’ – conducted by Australia’s largest online accommodation provider, HotelClub.net (www.hotelclub.net), is an ongoing survey, which in the last six months has received over 14,000 responses from consumers worldwide assessing accommodation quality. The results are then used to provide independent advice to assist future guests’ purchasing decisions.

Five key criteria – cleanliness, facilities, service, location and price – are rated by hotel guests according to a scale of one to five, one being unsatisfactory and five outstanding. An average is then computed based on the results. Due to technical complexities, other general comments are invited and taken on board, but do not contribute to the actual rating.

To date the survey has revealed consumers globally have ranked cleanliness in three-star properties as top, followed by location, price and customer service. In comparison, four-star guests ranked location first closely followed by cleanliness and customer service. Cleanliness levels topped again with five-star guests followed by location, facilities (gym, spa etc) and customer service with price coming in last.

Lower star rating properties (two-two and half star) faired best overall with 79 per cent of surveyed consumers who have stayed at these properties giving an “above average” rating (three out of five) across all categories – indicating consumers perceive lower star rating properties to be high value.

For top end properties, on average, two in ten reviewers perceived the quality of accommodation to be outstanding across all five categories.

Ms Chloe Lim, HotelClub.net’s Head of Sales and Marketing said: “The aim of the Rate a Hotel Program is to create a community of frequent hotel visitors who exchange information and advice – ultimately improving the consumer experience on HotelClub.net and in the properties the site features. Such reviews are also beneficial for the property as they are receiving, honest constructive feedback. There have been some very surprising results.”

All users who have booked and stayed in a property via HotelClub.net are emailed the ‘Rate a Hotel’ review form upon checkout. Alternatively HotelClub.net members can elect to review hotels through their Member Account.

A recent survey* of more than 31,000 online Households indicates that 65 per cent of community users rate the opinions of other consumers as important or somewhat important influences on their purchasing decisions.

HotelClub.net offers close to 5,000 accommodation varieties (two to five star) in 700 cities and 33 countries worldwide.

Quality of hotels, ranked by global consumers
3 Star hotels
1. Cleanliness
2. Location
3. Price
4. Service
5. Facilities

4 Star Hotels
1. Location
2. Cleanliness
3. Service
4. Price
5. Facilities

5 Star Hotels
1. Cleanliness
2. Location
3. Facilities
4. Service
5. Price

Source: www.HotelClub.net’s global “Rate a Hotel” survey

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For further information please contact:
Chloe Lim
Head of Sales and Marketing
HotelClub.net
Tel: +61 28295 0431
Fax: +61 29299 8860
Email: [email protected]

About HotelClub.net
Hotelclub.net is Asia Pacific’s largest online accommodation provider. A full accommodation provider, HotelClub.net is a “full service” website offering hotel bookings for up to 12 months ahead. It offers a choice of over 4,500 hotels – at savings of up to 60% – in 33 countries and 700 cities worldwide. It is the only Australian website to feature downloadable maps of hotel locations. HotelClub.net a global online travel/accommodation service and features its services in six languages, English, French, German, Chinese, Spanish and Japanese. Its head office is in Sydney and customer and product offices in UK, France, Italy, Russia, Spain and Germany. Personal and corporate memberships to HotelClub.net are available that provide additional discounts and services.