Originally Posted by
e53nyc
To echo the FlyerTalk consensus, this property has a ton of potential. The location is perfect, and allows for convenient daytrips to Nevis. If you never leave the property during your trip, you have made a huge mistake.
But this starts the key problem for the property. They do not exhibit the magic of St Kitts and Nevis, nor do they encourage immersing yourself in its splendor. For all the faults of the Four Seasons (to which everyone compares the PH), they embrace and exude what these islands are supposed to offer.
Hyatt imported staff from other key properties (PH Sydney... bravo), but they did not train the local hires to the expectations where they deserve to be critiqued as they have been in recent blogs. Long and short, Marriott St Kitts did not allow customer interactions until 3-6 weeks after training, and that does not appear to be the case for this property. At all.
Poolside service was quite lacking. If you sit on the beach, don’t expect acknowledgement. I disagree with most people on the pool temperature issue. While it could be warmer, it was perfectly enjoyable. From a simple branding perspective, this property has decided to offer soft soap in all restroom establishments instead of Le Labo. That is cheap and shortsighted.
Breakfast service was warm, but always felt as though they were not prepared for the guest numbers. Furthermore, they never wanted to provide the a la carte menu. We were actually dissuaded from ordering this way due to anticipated delivery times. This matches the theme of the resort to over advertising and under delivering.
From an F&B perspective, Stone Barn is a shining star. Phenominal food, but not too memorable of a setting. Fisherman’s Village always appears to be overwhelmed, but if you do go, request the private overwater pavilion. The Great House and Pool Bar are not worth your time.
The Park Hyatt is part of Christophe Harbor. Salt Plage and the Pavilion are unbelievable. Neither were encouraged by the Concierge, nor made easily accessible. The Ritz Carlton will soon be a neighbor/competitor, so it might be worthwhile to offer a limited shuttle service. Even for a fee . Andaz Papagayo/Maui/Mayakoba all embrace the local establishments and help them add to the experience. If the PH intends to exceed 52% occupancy in peak weekends, I suggest they take a deep look at their island neighbors, and rethink their isolation strategy. As of now, it is a failing one....
I'm curious how much influence a property GM has? Does the GM make most of the decisions or are their hands tied by the actual property owner? As mentioned above, who would have made the decision to not use Le Labo soap, for example. Reason I ask, is that the current GM at the property has a decent resume; he was former GM of the Marriott St Kitts and more recently a VP at Hyatt Corporate. These type of people tend to understand that spending the extra dollar goes a long way in client retention and over all brand appearance. I understand the learning curve with new local staff, but wondering if the overall experience is bound to get better.