Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 8,813
Haha, I like the Transjakarta idea, local experience.
As to Ayana, I feel it is similar (not quite as bad) to the demise of the former Ritz-Carlton Bali in Jimbaran that Ayana also took over.
They added some weird interior design elements to the public spaces and rooms that seem to be intended to create the impression of updated rooms which they are not as hardware is the same. F&B such as the very good Indonesian food has become "meh" and service staff was a very mixed bag probably due to losing (or firing) a good chunk of previous IC staff.
Also, at least in the initial months after taking over they tweaked room rates seriously upwards at the times I was considering staying there with the former entry level rooms running around 200USD ++ for flex rates unless you got a bargain / offer. Our corp rate at Kempinski is now similar with Ayana (actually slightly less) which was never even close before. Lately I have seen advance purchase rates in the 130-140USD ++ range though we used to get rates even below those price level as full flex with breakfast included (corp rates).
Maybe I was / am too jaded with the previous IC experiences and price levels after years and years of staying there, but Ayana just doesn't work for me. YMMV.
Last edited by demue; Feb 11, 2018 at 11:10 pm