Originally Posted by bamboola

I spent two nights this past weekend at the CCS. As a Diamond member, I was upgraded to a room on the 31st floor and given lounge access. From earlier posts, I knew the fourth floor lounge was under renovation and that I could use the 31st floor lounge.

While most lounges offer food and drinks for a two-hour period between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m., the CCS lounge offerings are extended from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. I checked in at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. I had expected the 5:30 crowd to have already vacated the lounge, but it was still packed at 7:00 p.m. People were literally elbowing each other at the buffet table. It took some time before I found an empty table and for a server to take a drink order.

I have stayed here a handful of other times and had not witnessed such a busy lounge on prior stays. In addition to the main room, there were three other nearby rooms that had been converted for use by lounge patrons. I only saw children in one of the nearby rooms so I presume children are not allowed in the main room.

The following morning I had the opportunity to speak with a member of the management team. I spoke candidly with him and said that many Diamond members are not happy about the two-tier Exec Lounge system. I commented on the previous "champagne on 31 and sparkling wine on the fourth floor" policy. He assured me that once the fourth floor lounge reopens, the food and beverage offerings would be exactly the same in both lounges. Champagne in both lounges? Yes, he confirmed. However, there will be a difference in the dress code; shorts will be permitted in the fourth floor lounge. Children will also be allowed on the fourth floor. The 31st floor will be open to all eligible guests who meet the dress code. The hope is that business people will gravitate to the 31st floor lounge and that tourists will head to the fourth floor. The manager also revealed that on this particular weekend, there were well over 100 Diamond members staying at the hotel.

I asked about eliminating the buffet system to avoid congestion and switching to a delivered tray of food - a system used by the Conrad Tokyo and Bali. The manager stated that due to the offerings at competitor hotels, a buffet was necessary. How about switching to sparkling wine in both lounges as a cost-cutting measure? "Absolutely not," he replied. "We are a Conrad property!"

The manager asked what I thought of the newly renovated rooms. On prior stays, I had always stayed in a Centennial Suite so I couldn't comment on the changes to an Executive room. The manager pointed out that the bathroom now has two sinks (definitely a "must" in my eyes). He also pointed out that most room occupancy is now 2.5 people - parents, plus a child. The long sofa along the window can serve as a bed for the child.

My chat with the manager was an eye opener for me. I thought I had answers to some perceived problems, but the CCS has to consider the nature of its clientele, staying competitive in the market, and upholding the Conrad brand reputation. The chat has helped me to think twice before I have a future DYKWIA moment.

Originally Posted by bamboola

I asked about eliminating the buffet system to avoid congestion and switching to a delivered tray of food - a system used by the Conrad Tokyo and Bali. The manager stated that due to the offerings at competitor hotels, a buffet was necessary. How about switching to sparkling wine in both lounges as a cost-cutting measure? "Absolutely not," he replied. "We are a Conrad property!"

Originally Posted by orbitmic

Originally Posted by rhu171

I find the champagne remark by the manager to be very funny, considering that two years back, the official reason given of why they dropped champagne from the lounge offerings was so that they could be more aligned to the Conrad's brand standard.

Thanks bamboola for the update! Did the manager elaborate on the required dress code to enter the lounge on the 31st? The last time I was there back in April, I was allowed access to the 31st floor lounge but I didn't really remember any special dress code aside from the usual no shorts, no gym attires, no sandals, etc.

Originally Posted by Cynicor

Originally Posted by orbitmic

The lady at the table next to mine yesterday explicitly asked if they had "any other Champagne" and was told that this was all they had (the Australian sparkling). I can only hope that this is a temporary issue.

I agree with others that brand consistency is far less relevant than local competition. Look at what happens in a place like Hong Kong where the quality of hotels' lounge offerings has pushed many a brand to offer far more than they are used to.

On other notes, the CCS lounge cocktail food is generally nice but I find the Oscar breakfast average in quality. Admittedly the quality of both restaurants and hawkers food in Singapore means that even "good "quickly feels mediocre in comparison, but there is a general feel of cutting corners a little.