Thanks for the update - sad but not surprising given how low the rates were for quite a while. The news about suite ug is also of importance to me - was thinking of doing a KL run from BKK in a few months in part b/c of how well I was treated here (also lt titanium with many stays here).
I'll be interested in your stay at the Majestic - status recog was ? there - had to involve a high level manager a few times b/c front desk INSISTED that ug was only 1 level - eventually sorted out but still issues on my next stay. The old wing is definitely old, but has a charm and place feeling that the newer wing doesn't have -each has a charm. The pool out by the road (near the "lounge" - which if open you may have to fight to get access - it is minimal - not much food and limited drinks - nothing like LM) was really nice for me b/c it was generally warm - not in buildings shadows - unlike their other one and the LM pool which I always found chilly (YMMV).
Originally Posted by
HollyGlen
I have been staying here for a week a month since March 2022, and thought I should update how things are at LMKL post-Covid.
The bad news, like in most hotels anywhere, is that there is no good news. The Italian restaurant Favola remains closed, the pool closes at 7pm, prices have shot back up to near pre-Covid levels and a lot of functions are now being staffed with fresh faces (albeit I still recognise a lot of the old faces at reception). The plentiful breakfast buffet is back to full-strength, but the signature lemongrass crêpe with mushrooms has changed recipe and is now just a hot, oily mess.
Two main things bug me. First of all, the Lounge, which used to be one of the most generous offerings in the Bonvoy system, has diminished greatly. The hot buffet has been replaced with a salad and cold vegetable bar (LMKL veterans may remember there was a salad bar on the side anyway), and the live noodle station, dimsum and pastry oven are gone. There is now a daily live station serving three warm appetisers, but it tastes pretty ordinary to me. I can't comment on the quality of the free-flow alcohol as I never drank it even pre-Covid.
Secondly, suite upgrades. I stayed many, many nights at LMKL prior to Covid, and would have qualified for Titanium for many years just based on LMKL nights alone. The loyalty was reciprocated, and I had an near-100% suite upgrade rate. Post-Covid, it has dipped below 25%, and it is incredibly disheartening because the standard rooms at LMKL are the tiniest of any Bonvoy hotel in KL and lack a proper workstation / desk. I understand that many of the suites are out of commission and therefore out of inventory, which goes some way to explaining the discrepancy but perhaps not all of it.
I am going to explore the Majestic Hotel, Autograph Collection (down the road from LMKL) in a couple of months and will report back.