Perhaps the RC management should be poaching their staff from the Sofitel in Nagoya. I don't rate the actual hotel very highly, but the service and the standard of English from the reception staff was exceptional. They belonged in a 5 star establishment, they were wasted there. (Little tourist traffic goes through this hotel, I got the impression they were delighted to practice English with me.) Even the Takanawa Prince staff (4 star) and New Takanawa Prince (3 star +) have commendable English.

I dined at the trattoria at the RC in Berlin a month ago. The staff were French and as my French is infinitely better than my German (which doesn't say much) I started communication this way, as soon as they overheard me speaking to MrLapLap I was addressed in perfect English.