Phuket, Thailand -- ready for business
Feb 6, 2005, 11:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bucks Co., PA, USA
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Phuket, Thailand -- ready for business
Just returned from 2 weeks at JW Marriott Phuket -- our stay was wonderful!
At the Marriott, there is one restaurant that is still closed while repairs are being made, but all pools, spa, tennis courts, fitness center, and other facilities at the Marriott are in fine shape and ready for business. The Marriott security guards and the hotel pool staff along the beach were reportedly very effective in moving people to safety at the time the tsunami hit MaiKao Beach. A combination of the beach topology, the staff's efficiency, and some early warning limited the damage at the Marriott.
Linda Seafood, up the beach from the Marriott, was closed for several weeks while repairs were made to their facility, but all are safe, and they are now furnished new kitchen, chairs, tables, menus -- they only suffer now from lack of customers!
We were much impressed with Marriott's involvement in the community after the tsunami. The Thai Red Cross has also been both prepared and present -- deserving our continued support.
It was very strange being among the few tourists in Phuket in January. The tsunami is a subject of all conversations, and many people have lost family, friends, businesses, jobs. Khao Lak and PhiPhi Island areas remain severely damaged. The emotional impact of this disaster remains strong, even though we were not there at the time the waves hit.
At this point, shops, bars, restaurants in Patong are reopening, but most were empty of customers. Phuket Town was not directly damaged. Tuktuks and taxis stand idle. Tours are now running, but on limited schedules because of the lack of business.
Hotel room cancellations have been high across Phuket, leaving hotels empty and supporting businesses idle. Rooms are readily available at the Marriott, even though this is high season for Phuket tourism.
The locals are giving one consistent answer to our question "What more can we do?" -- "Bring tourists back to Phuket! We need the business!"
(similar post under Hotel Programs > Marriott Rewards)
At the Marriott, there is one restaurant that is still closed while repairs are being made, but all pools, spa, tennis courts, fitness center, and other facilities at the Marriott are in fine shape and ready for business. The Marriott security guards and the hotel pool staff along the beach were reportedly very effective in moving people to safety at the time the tsunami hit MaiKao Beach. A combination of the beach topology, the staff's efficiency, and some early warning limited the damage at the Marriott.
Linda Seafood, up the beach from the Marriott, was closed for several weeks while repairs were made to their facility, but all are safe, and they are now furnished new kitchen, chairs, tables, menus -- they only suffer now from lack of customers!
We were much impressed with Marriott's involvement in the community after the tsunami. The Thai Red Cross has also been both prepared and present -- deserving our continued support.
It was very strange being among the few tourists in Phuket in January. The tsunami is a subject of all conversations, and many people have lost family, friends, businesses, jobs. Khao Lak and PhiPhi Island areas remain severely damaged. The emotional impact of this disaster remains strong, even though we were not there at the time the waves hit.
At this point, shops, bars, restaurants in Patong are reopening, but most were empty of customers. Phuket Town was not directly damaged. Tuktuks and taxis stand idle. Tours are now running, but on limited schedules because of the lack of business.
Hotel room cancellations have been high across Phuket, leaving hotels empty and supporting businesses idle. Rooms are readily available at the Marriott, even though this is high season for Phuket tourism.
The locals are giving one consistent answer to our question "What more can we do?" -- "Bring tourists back to Phuket! We need the business!"
(similar post under Hotel Programs > Marriott Rewards)
Feb 6, 2005, 8:22 pm
#2
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Originally Posted by tesuque
Linda Seafood, up the beach from the Marriott, was closed for several weeks while repairs were made to their facility, but all are safe, and they are now furnished new kitchen, chairs, tables, menus -- they only suffer now from lack of customers!
Feb 7, 2005, 10:00 am
#3
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Location: Northern Minnesota, US
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Tesuque,
We are going to be at the JW in April. Which restaurant is closed, and do you have a sense of when it will re-open? How empty is the hotel ... I have heard of 10% occupancy in some forums.
Thanks
We are going to be at the JW in April. Which restaurant is closed, and do you have a sense of when it will re-open? How empty is the hotel ... I have heard of 10% occupancy in some forums.
Thanks