Conrad Tokyo {JPN}
Jan 3, 2019, 6:56 pm
#227
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
Reasonable minds can certainly disagree. This is entirely subjective. I'm glad you have found the breakfast at Conrad Tokyo to be one of the best city hotel breakfasts that you've ever had. I disagree and have different expectations. As for your question -- other hotels of similar size in large cities find ways to do it. Perhaps having a a bigger dining area without increasing the number of hotel guests would solve the problem? One could also think of a number of other creative solutions to this problem as well (see my next post).
1). They were turning away non-guests.
2). They had a lady standing near the elevator lobby to catch people getting off the elevator and welcoming them to the breakfast, as a tactful way of picking out guests from non-guests.
3). They had opened up the restaurant next door for more tables (not sure if they'd done this in the past).
The hotel was sold out, and there were still short queues that had formed from time to time. However, I never saw people waiting too long.
Jan 3, 2019, 7:05 pm
#228
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
upgrade!
This was maybe our 4th stay as a Diamond and, for the first time, we got an upgrade... from standard city view room to bay view suite no less!
I never ever ask for an upgrade at hotels in Jpn (as a Japanese, I find it awkward to ask for that type of favour in Jpn). Meanwhile you see gaijin guests hogging up the EL desk, taking up tons of time probably doing all kinds of negotiations. I started to think all the upgrades were going to them. But on this occasion, I again didn't ask for anything but they just gave me a suite upgrade!
Not only that, this time they never brought up the EL access fees for our two kids. This is something they always brought up in the past. I wonder if this is something they've decided to back off on.
I never ever ask for an upgrade at hotels in Jpn (as a Japanese, I find it awkward to ask for that type of favour in Jpn). Meanwhile you see gaijin guests hogging up the EL desk, taking up tons of time probably doing all kinds of negotiations. I started to think all the upgrades were going to them. But on this occasion, I again didn't ask for anything but they just gave me a suite upgrade!
Not only that, this time they never brought up the EL access fees for our two kids. This is something they always brought up in the past. I wonder if this is something they've decided to back off on.
Jan 3, 2019, 7:30 pm
#229
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 590
I too am of the opinion that Conrad's breakfast buffet is fabulous. In fact, it's probably the best I've ever had. I do agree with you that the size of the dining area is a problem. But I think they've worked to improve the situation. This is what I saw them do this past weekend:
1). They were turning away non-guests.
2). They had a lady standing near the elevator lobby to catch people getting off the elevator and welcoming them to the breakfast, as a tactful way of picking out guests from non-guests.
3). They had opened up the restaurant next door for more tables (not sure if they'd done this in the past).
The hotel was sold out, and there were still short queues that had formed from time to time. However, I never saw people waiting too long.
1). They were turning away non-guests.
2). They had a lady standing near the elevator lobby to catch people getting off the elevator and welcoming them to the breakfast, as a tactful way of picking out guests from non-guests.
3). They had opened up the restaurant next door for more tables (not sure if they'd done this in the past).
The hotel was sold out, and there were still short queues that had formed from time to time. However, I never saw people waiting too long.
Jan 3, 2019, 8:42 pm
#230
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: HOME
Programs: HH Dia;SPG Plat;Marriott Plat;GHA Black
Posts: 334
For one it's overlooking the park and since its a distance away from the buffet table, it is much less crowded.
Jan 4, 2019, 5:02 pm
#231
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Jan 5, 2019, 1:17 am
#232
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
They seated me and my guests at the restaurant when I stay there last May during golden week, which I found much better compared to the actual breakfast space.
For one it's overlooking the park and since its a distance away from the buffet table, it is much less crowded.
For one it's overlooking the park and since its a distance away from the buffet table, it is much less crowded.
So I guess they're really doing what they can with the breakfast situation.
Jan 5, 2019, 10:10 pm
#233
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 187
Jan 6, 2019, 6:16 pm
#234
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Marriott PPE, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 7
Seems like they still block off standard rooms for the entire March and April. Any idea if they open it up eventually?
I managed to get an April reservation in August, but had to cancel due to a schedule change, and the rooms never came back.
I managed to get an April reservation in August, but had to cancel due to a schedule change, and the rooms never came back.
Jan 7, 2019, 2:16 am
#235
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,912
I just booked for 03-05 April thanks to an alert I received from OpenHotelAlert.com (highly recommend using them if you're waiting for blocked rooms to open). Rates for the standard rooms were going for around $1200/night (including taxes).
-FlyerBeek
Jan 9, 2019, 2:28 pm
#236
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 689
All be said, overall I found the staff great, had a sound nights sleep and enjoyed my stay there.
Jan 9, 2019, 5:02 pm
#238
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Jan 10, 2019, 4:19 am
#239
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,084
Jan 10, 2019, 5:44 am
#240
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: IAH
Programs: HH Diamond, Bonvoy something
Posts: 126
