jkc22

Yes, and we have toned down our expectations A LOT based on the premise that we are going to be freeloading (room wise).....

BUT our biggest issue with the staff is that the majority simply DO NOT UNDERSTAND.....and that I mean also an element of English competency. And I fully understand why, as none of them had ever worked in the hospitality industry before. (Background, this atoll and the south are relatively new in terms of hospitality, as opposed to those in the north, so the staff found in the southern atolls do not have service industry backgrounds and most are just learning it here at the Park Hyatt for the first time).

A stark example is a seemingly trivial request that has failed us morning after morning.....every morning we wanted a blended/mixed fruits and vegetable juice -- on the menu as individual juices, but we prefer ours blended. So, we requested one of orange, grapefruit, beet, celery, cucumber, and carrot. Despite many tries, we ended up either with a glass of EACH of the juices or simply faced with "we don't have......" On mornings with a manager present, the request was met with explanation in excruciating detail, but you'd think they will UNDERSTAND and GET IT the next morning....Nope. So we ended up either with 4-5 glasses of juice each and blended them at our table or simply nothing at all.

Another is the pacing of the courses....on multiple course meals, they like to just present everything at once, or there's a huge lag between courses.....We had to have a certain Asian F&B manager present at every dinner to ensure just the adequate service (and formality) you would expect from a decent dining establishment. They fail simple progression like the salad preceding the soup, main courses coming together, sides coming out after the main, or the carbs (pasta or rice) coming after the protein, etc....they screw up the order all the time without a manager present.

They do, however, know how to service wine well, and I attribute that knowledge to the French-Canadian manager who used to be with Fairmont, who is responsible for the wine program.....

Anyway, yes, expectations needs to be inline.....but truthfully, this resort operates at the service level of a 4-star hotel in India or Africa. Just don't expect city center Park Hyatt standards.

I may come across as sounding like we didn't enjoy our time there, but given the value and the relatively private nature, once getting over the hang up on the service formality, it's a good place of tranquility and tropical retreat.

RTW1

To me your post says it all...... Why travel to these remote areas when you know your western peculiarities will not be met. Stay in places where the rich have been oppressing the poor for a while and where all your whims will be taken care of with the right formality (or is it fear of losing a job). For those working here your request must be so far out of their world that they are simply incomprehensible.

But hey, travel the world and educate the less fortunate on why it's totally unacceptable to offer 5 types of juice but not offer all varieties in combinations thereoff

And, yes I know that the hospitlity industry should cater to your whims. But it sure helps to not push that to the extreme...... You might even enjoy a stay now and then when you adept to the local pace.

m0hamed

I would rather Hyatt employ local staff who need training, and support the local economy than import employees. We had an exceptional female bartender who looked after us every evening. She was kind, delightful and couldn't have cared less that we were a gay couple despite local custom. In fact, she wished us a happy anniversary.

We tipped her more than any other staff member in cash because she had an impact on us.

You can choose to have your perspective as glass half full or half empty. If you are going to be bothered over not having a difficult blend of juice, then you should save your energy, time and money because Paradise is wasted on you. The World is not a Starbucks where you can order a ridiculously specific coffee that is, in fact, anything but.

peter42

On the Maldives they have to hire a major percentage of local staff, regardless if trained or not.

MikeFromTokyo

I feel sorry that your unreasonably high expectations of the property detracted from your stay in a beautiful location.

There are resorts, such as Cheval Blanc, Taj Exotica, One and Only Reethi Rah, etc... that would have met or exceeded your service and F&B expectations. Obviously these resorts are at an entirely different price point from that of the PH.

scented

Some of the best hospitality companies in existence (FS, Aman) hire staff for their character over skills. Many of the local staff have never worked in the service industry before, let alone in a luxury hotel/resort. This is not a problem, as long as they are willing to learn with an open mind and have senior staff (from other established properties) on hand who can teach them.

The requests described here are clearly those of a discerning guest, but they aren't out-of-this-world type of requests? There are better and more high end resorts in the Maldives (O&O, Cheval Blanc, FS), but you can do a lot cheaper, too. The Park Hyatt is positioned as a luxury resort and marketed as such. A simple juice, ordered off menu, shouldn't be a huge drama when brought up to the F&B manager. He/she didn't ask for a 1947s Petrus.

@RTW1: Is the local staff at those resorts described above any different from those working at PH? Are those requests less incomprehensible to them? I wouldn't think so. Maybe they're just more used to it and better trained? Social disparity is a fact, but not one to be discussed in this thread.

The reality seems to be that PH is not (no longer?) in the league of the highest end resorts in the Maldives, because they don't (can't?) command the rates necessary to run an operation like that. So expectations should be aligned.

On a different note, in my opinion the PH has one of the most beautiful islands in all of the Maldives. I have yet to find a house reef of that quality anywhere. O&O with its artificial beaches just can't compete. Nature is unsurpassed at PH. This is such a gift for them and anyone who visits. The real reason to visit...

RTW1

The PH is not a truly luxury resort, nor does it have the rates for one. MFT has named a few that will do better, only not on points.

The location determines the price here. You get a villa and a pretty decent service. But I'm sure the locals don't get it when these high-maintenance-for-no-reason demands are made, frankly neither do I. But some people always seem to come up with something "special" that's not on the menu, must be the CA influence :-).

But to let that impact a vacation in a spectacular setting is a bit beyond me. It's like going to the Caribean and expecting everybody to be in the same rush as in NY. Doesn't work that way and you are only annoying yourself (and maybe others).

It's probably the language barrier and people not used to "western" standards here.

Private Pyle

We had one or two service issues but I wouldn't/couldn't make a big deal out of it.

We got friendly with 'Jack' who was often serving in The Dining Room for breakfast and then the grill in the evening. He was excellent, we never had a problem when ordering through him.

Others weren't so hot but honestly I couldn't make an issue out of it.

People make mistakes, people need to be given a break.

MikeFromTokyo

+1, exactly.

Big_Foot

No, they are not. That's the point. PH Water Villa is in the $2000 range.
This is not cheaper than many amazing resorts around.
Yes, some are more expensive, like Cheval Blanc which raised the prices
by 50% between 2014 and 2015. But you don't have to go there, there
are AMAZING options, actually cheaper than PH.
And those resorts don't charge you for the undrinkable "water" - well,
it's even worse, PH charges in the restaurant, but doesn't in the villa.
That only shows the moronic management decision.

BTW Jack in the restaurant is the best, most amazing person in this resort.

MikeFromTokyo

ADR is undoubtedly lower at PH. Comparing entry level rates at said resorts to top category at PH is not a useful comparison either.

Big_Foot

You obviously chose to see what you want to see
or you simply stretching it to "prove" your point.
Next Feb, the highest overwater villas (cancelable rates) -
Water sunset Villa at PH (btw, new lame "category"): $1880,
Maalifushi, sunset Water Villa: $1800
Cocoa, one-bedroom Water Villa (by far the highest): $1800
Both Maalifushi and Cocoa are way bigger and better, M. has a private pool.
Yes, Cheval Blanc, Niyama etc are over $2000, but to be fair those villas
are way bigger and all of them have a private pool. The quality of all those
resorts is million times higher than PH.

nighthawkrs

Something completely different:
Anyone here at the moment?

edbyu

Yes, my wife and I are here right now. Leave tomorrow.

tsolin01

Are you enjoying your stay or is it as bad as some others here suggest?

I think we all have different thresholds of what we consider luxury and what we consider value for our money / points. The generally positive reviews of this place lead me to believe it will be fine for most people that are looking for a private, relaxing experience in the Maldives.

It's good to see some negative reviews though to see the other perspectives. I tend to be more of a laid back person and try not to stress out during vacation because well... I'm on vacation. None of the things described are really a deal breaker in my opinion but I would probably not go out of my way to pay for a water villa / sunset villa.