What is acceptable price for a steam rice in a holiday inn in Thailand?
May 9, 2018, 12:00 pm
#32
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Berlin, TXL
Programs: OW Emerald, *A gold, Skyteam elite plus, Hilton gold, SPG gold
Posts: 339
Such a good point. I dont know much about the process at the Holiday Inn properties but I know some service workers at other Intl properties I have visited in BKK often commented on how many hours they spend on food hygiene training etc., that costs money. There is the facilities costs as well as you mention. Of course Intl hotel chains are also looking for a higher margin than a street vendor often is. Just a lot of factors involved in pricing.
We have quite a conversation in this thread and we dont even know why the question was asked!
We have quite a conversation in this thread and we dont even know why the question was asked!
May 9, 2018, 1:08 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,819
Yes, I am aware of the minimum wage in Thailand. There are of course more things in the cost of F&B at a hotel than just minimum wage which isn't always the wage paid to restaurant workers depending on the property.....but again, the employ wage is just one item in the equation. I am simply explaining the economics of a street vendor versus an international hotel restaurant.
May 9, 2018, 3:20 pm
#34
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
Programs: Spire RA, 1865 Voyager, Bonvoy Titanium, FB LP, LH SEN.
Posts: 3,104
May 9, 2018, 11:17 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,167
And the room rates equals their monthly salary. So what? This is neither surprising nor unique. The target group of an international hotel is not the minimum wage worker in Thailand. By the way: the minimum wage in Germany is something in the range of €66 a day minus tax minus social security which equals about €45. A 1/4 pounder beef-burger with chips in the Intercontinental Dusseldorf costs about €20. The beef burger in McDonald’s costs about €5. Food prices in international hotels have nothing in common with domestic local markets.
May 17, 2018, 9:14 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,732
Acceptable price is set by the market.
If you agree to pay the price offered, you have accepted.
If you don't agree, it is not acceptable to you (though it may, to others). If enough people don't accept it, then a rational vendor may take steps to reduce the price, or go out of business.
Remember when you are dining in a hotel, you are not just buying the bowl of rice -- you are buying the convenience, and perhaps other aspects such as safety and sanitation. In the case of room service, an even higher degree of convenience (and likely even higher price).
You should expect virtually anything in a hotel is significantly more expensive. Up to you whether you pay it or not.
If you agree to pay the price offered, you have accepted.
If you don't agree, it is not acceptable to you (though it may, to others). If enough people don't accept it, then a rational vendor may take steps to reduce the price, or go out of business.
Remember when you are dining in a hotel, you are not just buying the bowl of rice -- you are buying the convenience, and perhaps other aspects such as safety and sanitation. In the case of room service, an even higher degree of convenience (and likely even higher price).
You should expect virtually anything in a hotel is significantly more expensive. Up to you whether you pay it or not.
May 17, 2018, 9:19 pm
#37
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,732
And the room rates equals their monthly salary. So what? This is neither surprising nor unique. The target group of an international hotel is not the minimum wage worker in Thailand. By the way: the minimum wage in Germany is something in the range of €66 a day minus tax minus social security which equals about €45. A 1/4 pounder beef-burger with chips in the Intercontinental Dusseldorf costs about €20. The beef burger in McDonald’s costs about €5. Food prices in international hotels have nothing in common with domestic local markets.
Big Mac Index
McDonald's Menu
Although I love the fact you can get a McRib, as well as a beer, in McD's in Germany
Last edited by vsevolod4; May 17, 2018 at 9:24 pm
May 18, 2018, 1:19 am
#38
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
Actually the Big Mac costs about 4 euro ($4.80) in Germany ...
Big Mac Index
McDonald's Menu
Although I love the fact you can get a McRib, as well as a beer, in McD's in Germany
Big Mac Index
McDonald's Menu
Although I love the fact you can get a McRib, as well as a beer, in McD's in Germany
I have a Thai wife , and last month flew my Mother in law and 2 Nephews from Chiang-rai to Bangkok for 3 days and on to Phuket for a week. Mil who has done some International travel with us was, as expected horrified by the prices in Phuket. She would expect to pay 10 baht for a bowl of steamed rice. Once she got over the prices in Phuket she accepted the fact that costs were higher and so drove up prices.
It was great to see the looks on my Nephews faces 11 and 16 on their first trip out of Chiang-rai. They just accepted the pricing for what it was, and were delighted to go jetskiing banana boating etc. They had no comparison of what these things cost as they were not available at home.
May 18, 2018, 1:45 am
#39
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,409
May 18, 2018, 4:21 am
#40
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Berlin, TXL
Programs: OW Emerald, *A gold, Skyteam elite plus, Hilton gold, SPG gold
Posts: 339
And the room rates equals their monthly salary. So what? This is neither surprising nor unique. The target group of an international hotel is not the minimum wage worker in Thailand. By the way: the minimum wage in Germany is something in the range of €66 a day minus tax minus social security which equals about €45. A 1/4 pounder beef-burger with chips in the Intercontinental Dusseldorf costs about €20. The beef burger in McDonald’s costs about €5. Food prices in international hotels have nothing in common with domestic local markets.