Feb 27, 2018, 2:35 am
Last edit by: sxc
Discussion of The Deck continues here:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-marco-polo-club/1895979-deck-opens-22-march-2018-a.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-marco-polo-club/1895979-deck-opens-22-march-2018-a.html
Confirmed: CX lounge operator change to Sodexo
Jan 14, 2018, 2:03 am
#16
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What was the issue re the change from HKSH to PP? I found a la carte dining to be the same - no big change there - in fact I thought it got better!
Jan 14, 2018, 2:05 am
#17
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Jan 14, 2018, 2:19 am
#18
Join Date: Nov 2007
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There was a 3-6 month period when Pier F was an absolute basketcase after the switch. Orders being forgotten in the kitchen, wrong things brought out, food taking 40 minutes, etc.
Jan 14, 2018, 4:38 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2017
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@QRC3288 I think the inference is that all lounges will change over to Sodexo. So a la carte dining will be in scope.
I was positive prior to the Plaza Premium takeover. I have a negative sentiment re Sodexo. Firstly given Time to Win, Im sure the budget is not higher than before. And sodexos reputation isnt high.
I was positive prior to the Plaza Premium takeover. I have a negative sentiment re Sodexo. Firstly given Time to Win, Im sure the budget is not higher than before. And sodexos reputation isnt high.
For example, in Cambodia you can obtain a Mercedes bus, which has little to do with the German brand, other then the star on the front and a partial ownership of the effective manufacturer of the vehicle (I think, it's Mitsubishi).
Jan 14, 2018, 6:19 am
#20
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Sodexo? Is that a joke?
Any food catered by Sodexo is hideous and laughable. I went to one of the top boarding schools in Canada and where catering was switched to Sodexo and is stilled catered by them; completely inedible (Jack Ma's son attended, Lai Sun's Peter Lam and his son also attended, Nicholas Tse, and numerous others). Hospitals and prisons in Canada are catered by Sodexo.
Let's just say the food was so bad that people would rather just eat outside instead of at the cafeteria and once, the headmaster was seen dumping his plate of food in the trash after a bite. Sodexo became a running joke and meme around the the school to the point some individuals had #sodexo on one of the patches for their grad jackets.
I hope this is just a bad joke.
Any food catered by Sodexo is hideous and laughable. I went to one of the top boarding schools in Canada and where catering was switched to Sodexo and is stilled catered by them; completely inedible (Jack Ma's son attended, Lai Sun's Peter Lam and his son also attended, Nicholas Tse, and numerous others). Hospitals and prisons in Canada are catered by Sodexo.
Let's just say the food was so bad that people would rather just eat outside instead of at the cafeteria and once, the headmaster was seen dumping his plate of food in the trash after a bite. Sodexo became a running joke and meme around the the school to the point some individuals had #sodexo on one of the patches for their grad jackets.
I hope this is just a bad joke.
Sodexo is garbage. My employer uses them for our on-site cafeteria. On my first day of work, the individual that hired me best described it as "The Rip-Off Cafe." The food is horribly overpriced and the quality is awful, at best. I avoid it at all costs, and will venture out in the middle of a snowstorm to get a slice of gas station pizza rather than put up with the filth that Sodexo throw on a plate and tries to pass as "food".
For anyone affected by this potential change, this sucks.
Jan 14, 2018, 6:45 am
#21
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Having said that Sodexo manages the Virgin lounge at LHR so they do have the capability to run a quality show.
They also run run the AA LHR lounge - not so amazing.
So as mentioned, its all about their job spec, budget and how CXmanages them. Any shortcomings lay at CXs feet.
They also run run the AA LHR lounge - not so amazing.
So as mentioned, its all about their job spec, budget and how CXmanages them. Any shortcomings lay at CXs feet.
Jan 14, 2018, 7:01 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: BOS/SIN
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Having said that Sodexo manages the Virgin lounge at LHR so they do have the capability to run a quality show.
They also run run the AA LHR lounge - not so amazing.
So as mentioned, its all about their job spec, budget and how CXmanages them. Any shortcomings lay at CXs feet.
They also run run the AA LHR lounge - not so amazing.
So as mentioned, its all about their job spec, budget and how CXmanages them. Any shortcomings lay at CXs feet.
Jan 14, 2018, 10:32 am
#23
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in september i went into the lounge and waited for 10 minutes. Then i just walked to the bar and self-ordered.
and let me try dig up a pic of my table...
basically food residue on the floor..
Jan 14, 2018, 8:53 pm
#24
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I think that we're rushing to judgement a bit on Sodexo. It currently caters nearly 200 airport lounges including:
● VS at LHR, LGW plus five US cities, South Africa and Hong Kong
● EK at LGW
● AA, 36 Admirals Clubs
● UA, 23 lounges
● MH at LHR
● GF at LHR
That's a pretty wide variety. Put me on the list of people who think that they can provide whatever quality the airline is willing to pay for. It's up to CX, not the caterer.
● VS at LHR, LGW plus five US cities, South Africa and Hong Kong
● EK at LGW
● AA, 36 Admirals Clubs
● UA, 23 lounges
● MH at LHR
● GF at LHR
That's a pretty wide variety. Put me on the list of people who think that they can provide whatever quality the airline is willing to pay for. It's up to CX, not the caterer.
Jan 15, 2018, 1:24 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: FRA
Posts: 2,175
When CX changed to Plaza I spoke with a top manager of them and he said everything will be much better than it was with Peninsula.
As a matter of fact, as longer as Plaza was managing the lounges as further quality went down.
Let us hope that the new change is for good.
As a matter of fact, as longer as Plaza was managing the lounges as further quality went down.
Let us hope that the new change is for good.
Jan 15, 2018, 3:25 pm
#27
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Given the CX's attempted cost-cutting rumor and losses, I had no hope at all.
You heard wrong. UC (United Club) is managed by Plaza Premium.
Jan 15, 2018, 3:48 pm
#28
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Jan 15, 2018, 5:54 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2007
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I had assumed.... obviously wrongly.....that the lounge manager was a CX employee. At a franchised hotel, for example, a lot of times with new franchisees the manager is an employee of the brand, not franchisee. The brand in this case is CX and the franchisee is the operator. (HKSH / PP / Sodexo).
Not revolutionary to some folks on her I'm sure, I just assumed something incorrectly.
Jan 15, 2018, 11:03 pm
#30
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
Back on the topic at hand, I'm hopeful IF this change occurs, CX puts the proper budget behind it. I would kill for a Danny Lee or AustralianBT to do an analysis piece, where CX mgmt goes on record saying a few things they're trying to fix, and are spending more in certain areas. Obviously it would be promotional for CX mgmt, but it'd be great for mgmt to publicly tell us a little bit behind what is the plan. And why we should continue spending money with CX when the trend is obviously so negative (and CX becoming less competitive, dollar for dollar in J and F, and Y as well for that matter) for a few years now.
It would be fascinating if CX is indeed spending equal or more on Sodexo vs PP. Although it's probably wishful thinking.
Back on the topic at hand, I'm hopeful IF this change occurs, CX puts the proper budget behind it. I would kill for a Danny Lee or AustralianBT to do an analysis piece, where CX mgmt goes on record saying a few things they're trying to fix, and are spending more in certain areas. Obviously it would be promotional for CX mgmt, but it'd be great for mgmt to publicly tell us a little bit behind what is the plan. And why we should continue spending money with CX when the trend is obviously so negative (and CX becoming less competitive, dollar for dollar in J and F, and Y as well for that matter) for a few years now.
It would be fascinating if CX is indeed spending equal or more on Sodexo vs PP. Although it's probably wishful thinking.
Last edited by sxc; Jan 16, 2018 at 12:25 am Reason: Removed irrelevant part after thread split.