I don't know how to separate the quotes but I actually got AN ADDITIONAL breakfast (3 people) that wasn't originally given (2 is with my status).
You are right, I do not know how the butler system works at St Regis. This is just my impression. He could have been very good at spinning the situation. And I don't think that the butler has final say over upgrades, etc. I think he inquires and tries to make it happen (and my guy SEEMED proactive and also seemed to intuitively know what we wanted, which included little things not just big likes like upgrades).
Also, it seemed like we didn't HAVE TO move to the upgraded villa if we didn't want to. It was a question. (We accepted but I almost didn't because I didn't want to deal with moving. It is a much nicer villa though.) We were also there over the highest season, Christmas/New Year's.
Also, we didn't tip until check out, so it's not like he knew how much we were going to tip.
Everything I said was not an endorsement of over tipping your butler so it comes off like a bribe. It was my impression, and still remains my impression that the butlers at the St Regis Maldives are excellent, much better than the customer service agents who were quite difficult to interact with prior to my stay. For this, I do recommend tipping and I do think they expect a tip (I saw other people tipping their butlers as well).
In conclusion, I find the customer service of this hotel to be MUCH BETTER when you are on property than beforehand, i.e. if you reach out to reservations or customer service about anything prior to your stay. This is my opinion.
Originally Posted by
MaldivesFreak
I was referring to the resort forcing you to upgrade all of your stay, not just part of your stay.
Perhaps in sub-par properties and in other parts of the world where service industry workers in direct contact with guests are unmotivated, untrained and lazy. At this property this needs to be re-phrased to: The butler is supposed to, and is responsible for, making your stay comfortable.
You got free breakfast because your status entitled you to it.
You were very lucky and there was a higher category room free for the duration of your stay or they overbooked your villa category and you got bumped. Don't fool yourself by thinking that a butler has the final say on whether a guest gets an upgrade or not. All he can do is recommend. And don't you think the reservations department know that a butler has been tipped big when he says "Upgrade Mr. & Mr.s X" without providing a reason such as for the purpose of service recovery?
As I have mentioned, this is the Maldives and if a butler at a property such as this is not performing to the brand standard, he or she will be reprimanded and given a warning.
Why not just buy the snacks yourself instead of paying 10x more for them with practically the same result. Remember, the 10% service charge is your tip....and that 10% makes up a huge portion of their salary, usually more than 50%.
I get the feeling in this thread that people feel the more money they throw at butlers the more they are going to get. While that may be true, what they fail to realize is that they are getting 10c on the dollar. "Wow, I tipped the butler a hundred bucks and I got some fruit, chocolates and I got a couple of soft toys for my kids. All stuff that the next villa down the way didn't get! Awesome to be treated like a VIP!!"
Cost analysis:
2x toys made in China worth 50c each, cost to import $1 ea., value: $2
Chocolates made in the kitchen, value $3
Fruits grown on a nearby island, value: $5
Not smart in the least but, as the saying goes, different strokes for different people.....