hotel trying to turn full service lounge to "SELF SERVICE LOUNGE"
Oct 20, 2018, 3:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: Accor Platinum, IHG DA
Posts: 664
hotel trying to turn full service lounge to "SELF SERVICE LOUNGE"
mercure bugis singapore is planning to change their way of operating the lounge maybe starting next month, they called it SELF SERVICE LOUNGE.
highlights: NO staff to provide service in lounge except evening 6-8pm, hence:
# no more priorirty check-in at premier lounge
# no breakfast to be served in lounge, but platinum or club access guest can take their food from the main restaurant and bring into the lounge
# there will be coffee/tea/drinks throughout the day, but you have to self service.
# evening cocktail will still be served at lounge, but from recent stays i personally felt the quality dropped, lesser food and drinks.
This hotel has a new GM since June2018, and former GM left in March2018 to join Pullman Jakarta Central Park.
this is the first time i see a hotel downsizing the lounge and benefits this way.
what do you think?
highlights: NO staff to provide service in lounge except evening 6-8pm, hence:
# no more priorirty check-in at premier lounge
# no breakfast to be served in lounge, but platinum or club access guest can take their food from the main restaurant and bring into the lounge
# there will be coffee/tea/drinks throughout the day, but you have to self service.
# evening cocktail will still be served at lounge, but from recent stays i personally felt the quality dropped, lesser food and drinks.
This hotel has a new GM since June2018, and former GM left in March2018 to join Pullman Jakarta Central Park.
this is the first time i see a hotel downsizing the lounge and benefits this way.
what do you think?
Oct 20, 2018, 4:26 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: Dynasty Frequent Flyer (Elite Plus),Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,866
To be honest my expectation for a Mercure would not be very high. If it was a Pullman or Sofitel I would be very disappointed. Not so much as I wouldn't expect a Mercure to have much of a lounge and it is still quite rare in Asia and no hotel outside of Asia has one. Novotel is usually the lowest level brand in Asia usually with a lounge (although the quality is still lower than a Pullman or Sofitel) and that is because it is more business orientated. It would be good however if they could have a hotline phone in the lounge which directly connects to a person at the front desk so a guest can call if they have any issues and still relax in the lounge while the staff downstairs sort it out. I am okay with checking in downstairs.
Oct 21, 2018, 9:27 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Accor Plus platinium, Marriott silver, GHA platinium, Hhonors Gold, Krisflyer Silver
Posts: 130
Stayed there a couple of times. If there is no staff manning the lounge, I wont be too disappointed apart from the check in process. The lounge offering is nothing to shout about.
Oct 21, 2018, 11:33 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ASIA
Programs: TK Elite, ALL Plus Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,530
The location which the lounge staff had to work out of was so cramped and imo a complete afterthought in the design of the lounge. So freeing up that space would not be a bad thing.
Oct 22, 2018, 12:18 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Accor Plus platinium, Marriott silver, GHA platinium, Hhonors Gold, Krisflyer Silver
Posts: 130