Originally Posted by
Koby
But the OP is from (or based in) Bangkok. And I think expectations might be different in that part of the world when it comes to budget hotels...?
I'm in an Ibis in Singapore now, and during check-in they apologised because they could not offer slippers and free water in the room...
Originally Posted by
Siambob
[...] The reason that prompted my post was that I have stayed in many of the I.C. hotels in Asia and from my experiences, most of these Asian hotels generally out perform their USA counterparts. I just never expected that an Asian Holiday Inn would offer less than what is given in the USA.
[...]
Unfortunately (or not), this is the state of (new) HIX hotels in Asia. It's a budget brand; staff certainly shows 'Asian hospitality' and most of the time go above and beyond (for plats) and you are more likely to get a drink voucher here than in EMEA. However, those days where a HIX was more like a HI or full service hotel in Asia are gone and I can see some unique benefits like slippers or large breakfast buffets disappear within the next decade.
US HIX have always outperformed their EMEA/Asian countrparts, which are simple standardized budget hotels.