My name is Dora Sinaga. I am a tourism practitioner, researcher, and experienced tourist guide with over seven years of experience in the tourism industry. I graduated in International Hospitality and Tourism Management and have worked in different roles including tour guiding, hospitality services, and tourism research.
I am passionate about tourism education and professional development. Through my tours, training programs, and learning materials, I aim to share practical knowledge and support individuals who want to grow and build their careers in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Outside of work, I enjoy simple things that bring balance to my life. I have three cats, and in my free time I like to practice playing the ukulele.
My goal is to contribute to the development of skilled and professional tourism practitioners while creating meaningful travel experiences for visitors.
These are some of the proudest moments in my journey in the tourism industry
Professional Achievement at Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre, United Kingdom
During my tenure as a receptionist at Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre, I demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering outstanding guest service in a fast-paced, multicultural environment. One of my key achievements was enhancing the overall guest experience by consistently maintaining a high standard of hospitality, which contributed to positive guest feedback and repeat business.
I became known for my proactive approach to problem-solving, resolving guest concerns efficiently while upholding the brand’s reputation for excellence. I also collaborated closely with the housekeeping and management teams to ensure seamless operations and improve internal communication processes.
In addition, I played a key role in promoting the IHG Rewards loyalty programme to guests, which supported the hotel’s commercial targets. I took initiative in training new front desk team members, sharing best practices in customer engagement and system navigation (Opera PMS), which improved team productivity and service delivery.
This experience strengthened my operational knowledge of international hotel systems, deepened my cultural intelligence, and reaffirmed my passion for creating memorable hospitality experiences
What do they say about me?
Honoured to be named Student of the Year at the BAHA Recognition Awards 2024
Grateful to represent Bournemouth University and to be recognised among so many inspiring individuals in the hospitality industry. One of the proudest moments in my journey was when I received the Student of the Year award at the BAHA Recognition Awards 2024. This award was given during the BAHA ceremony and recognised outstanding students in the hospitality and tourism field. It was a very special moment for me because it reflected the hard work, dedication, and passion I have for the tourism and hospitality industry.
Receiving this award also allowed me to represent Bournemouth University and celebrate this achievement together with fellow students and lecturers who have supported my learning journey. The experience reminded me that continuous learning, curiosity, and commitment to the industry can open many meaningful opportunities.
This recognition motivates me to keep contributing to tourism through guiding, research, and training for future tourism professionals.
RECOGNITION ROCKSTAR 2024 from Holiday Inn Bournemouth
This recognition acknowledges me for assisting an elderly guest with kindness and professionalism, even though a caregiver was present. It highlights her excellent hospitality and commitment to going above and beyond to provide exceptional guest service.
LPDP funding from the Indonesian government
I was honored to receive the LPDP (Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan) scholarship from the Indonesian government, which supported my studies in the United Kingdom. This scholarship is awarded to individuals who demonstrate strong academic potential, leadership, and a clear commitment to contributing to Indonesia’s development. I was selected not only because of my academic background and professional experience in tourism, but also because of my commitment to contributing to human resource development in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Through this opportunity, I aim to gain deeper knowledge, research experience, and international perspectives that can support the growth of tourism professionals in Indonesia. In the future, I hope to contribute through training programs, education, and knowledge sharing, helping to develop skilled, confident, and globally competitive human resources in the tourism sector
In 2022, I was the winner of the English Museum Competition organized by the Raja Ali Haji Museum.
This competition gave me the opportunity to present cultural and historical knowledge in English while promoting the importance of museums in tourism and education.
The competition at the Raja Ali Haji Museum was organized as part of the celebration of International Museum Day. The event aimed to introduce the museum to the public especially young people and encourage them to learn more about history and culture in an engaging way.
One of the competitions held was a museum guiding competition in English, where participants acted as museum guides and explained the museum’s collections to the audience in English. The participants were judged based on their English fluency, presentation style, gestures, and how well they understood and explained the historical content of the museum.
Through this activity, the museum wanted to make learning history more interactive and to show that museums can be educational spaces that inspire younger generations. The competition was open to students, university students, and the general public. Participants could present any collection or historical story from the museum, such as the history of the Riau–Lingga Kingdom, the colonial period, the Japanese occupation, and the development of Batam in modern times.
In 2022, I won the English Museum Guiding Competition organized by the Raja Ali Haji Museum in Batam as part of the International Museum Day celebration. The competition required participants to present and interpret museum collections in English, demonstrating guiding skills, historical knowledge, and communication ability. This experience strengthened my confidence in guiding and promoting cultural heritage in tourism.
Runner-Up – Entertainment MC Category
I was the runner-up in the Entertainment MC category at the PERWARA MC Competition, a competition that focuses on public speaking, stage presence, and the ability to host events in an engaging and entertaining way.
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