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A Noble Christmas Thought for You
Share the Kudos to all workers in the tourism
sector of Bali
When you are reading this, it is almost
Christmas again. All of us in Bali hope
that you will have wonderful and enjoyable
Christmas and New Year holiday. I do not
have any doubts about that, as I know that
the Balinese will do everything within their
power to make that happen. I am also sure
that in return, you wish to see all Balinese
people happy too. And although they don’t
celebrate these days like you do, you can
give them a happy and unforgettable Christmas
& New Year as well. How? Just continue
reading……
 Normally
I write articles especially for you, to
please you, to give good information to
you. In short to serve you!
This time I am not highlighting / recommending
new areas nor hotels or restaurants in Bali.
I would like to pay a well deserved tribute
to all workers in the Bali Tourism sector.
The accompanying pictures may look familiar
to you, as you might be welcomed by such
a scene or seen it during a party for managers
or top officials. That is what normally
happens.
This time however, this festivity was performed
by the employees of the Bali Hyatt Hotel
in Sanur. They celebrated the anniversary
of their own labor union.
As I have a great respect for all workers
in the hospitality and related industry
in Bali, I accepted the invitation of the
SPM – Bali Hyatt employees union,
to celebrate the anniversary together with
them. To be honest with you, although I
had my doubts of accepting the invitation,
I was very happy that I joined the festivity.
Now I can show my respect for all the great
work they do and the remarkable services
they are constantly giving to everyone visiting
Bali.
Not only the fantastic employees of the
Bali Hyatt Resort, but all workers - whether
direct or indirectly involved in Bali’s
tourism sector- fully deserve to be in the
highlights for a chance!
They are the ones that made the Bali Brand
so popular and well known worldwide. Because
of their natural friendliness and great
services, while making you feel so comfortable
and relaxed, Bali became a famous and desirable
destination.
You might know that since the economic crises
and terror attacks, visitors arrivals went
down enormously. Because of that, the income
of these workers drastically decreased.
But not one word of anger or protest will
be heard. They remain very professional
and keep harmony in their own relationships
and towards you, our much appreciated guests.
On one hand, their basic salaries are so
low, especially compared to the increasing
costs of living, while on the other hand
the income from tips and service charge
went drastically down thanks of the low
numbers of visitors.
But during this festive meeting there was
not one complaint, not one word of disappointment.
What they kept expressing and which accentuated
by the speech of their chairman, Mr. A.A.
Ketut Area, was the need to maintain their
famous professionalism, service & harmony.
It all made me think back to my years in
the hospitality industry. As westerns, we
would directly be angry, stage demonstrations
and urge our union to take action. If necessary,
they should organize strikes.
But not here in Bali, where the people still
follow and respect THK, Tri Hita Karana
principles, which means living in harmony
with human kind, with the supreme gods and
with nature.
I fully realize that the paper money, our
currency notes can be quite confusing. It
seems so much that it is easy to feel a
"millionaire", but unfortunately
for you, it is just in Roepiah!
So please, my dear friends, if you are also
very content with the services of these
workers, give them a kept expressing and
which accentuated by the speech of their
chairman, Mr. A.A. Ketut Area, was the need
to maintain their famous professionalism,
service & harmony.
It all made me think back to my years in
the hospitality industry. As westerns, we
would directly be angry, stage demonstrations
and urge our union to take action. If necessary,
they should organize strikes.
But not here in Bali, where the people still
follow and respect THK, Tri Hita Karana
principles, which means living in harmony
with human kind, with the supreme gods and
with nature.
I fully realize that the paper money, our
currency notes can be quite confusing. It
seems so much that it is easy to feel a
"millionaire", but unfortunately
for you, it is just in Roepiah!
So please, my dear friends, if you are also
very content with the services of these
workers, give them a generous tip. Just
realize that 10.000 Roepiah is just US$
1 or one simple Euro. If you realize that,
I am sure you would like to give them a
more suitable tip.
I realize that (by mostly western travels
and guide books) you are told not to give
any tip or just 1.000 roepiah. I believe
that that is an insult to all these fabulous
Balinese people. They deserve better than
that, don’t you agree with me?
In my working days as a general manager,
I used to inform my guests about this, now
I am asking all of you not to forget my
words and show your appreciation by being
generous. On behalf of all Balinese people,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
They make your life here so beautiful and
in return you can make their lives enjoyable
as well.
Thank you my dear friends of the Bali Hyatt
Labor Union for the wonderful evening and
waking me up about something that we westerns
so easily take for granted. I wish you a
healthy future!
Thank you, my dear guests for sharing this
with me and I wish you all a nice and pleasant
time in Bali, enjoy and pamper yourself!
The Balinese will make sure that you have
an unforgettable Christmas & New Year
holiday. How about you? Please don’t
forget the Christmas spirit!
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