bhrubin

^^^

I think many Amanjunkies take a bit too much ownership in the Amanresorts and often pay as much attention to corporate/property operations as the actual guest experience. You see that in the "many negative statements lately" about GMs leaving Aman and/or switching properties and about the corporate takeover scenarios. It's a compliment that Amanjunkies take such ownership of the operational aspects of Aman; it also can be annoying when those reflections don't necessarily reflect anything to do with the guest experience. Management always changes, just as hotel groups/chains do. Some seem to have trouble accepting this fact with Aman.

I agree that Aman still is an amazing portfolio of properties and guest experiences. As has always been true, some Aman properties are more noteworthy than others, and some Aman properties appeal to more types of Amanjunkies than others. To a lesser extent, I also think that some GMs happen to be more notable and more personable than others. But that doesn't always impact the overall guest experience. As Aman has grown, there has been increased frustration by those Amanjunkies who were there from the start and accustomed to the incredible stability of GM and GM experience, not to mention of property location--and these are the ones who seem to comment most frequently on the changes.

I also think Aman's interest in increasing occupancy is alarming to many original Amanjunkies. Unfortunately, that is the nature of a hotel enterprise--to make more revenue and profit. Amanjunkies enjoyed low occupancy for quite a long time; now that aspect is being adjusted by a new ownership. That isn't at all surprising. Luxury hotels the world over all aspire for higher occupancy; Amanresorts is just later to that game.

We have only returned to Amangani on several occasions; otherwise, all of our Aman stays have been single experiences as we travel this wonderfully vast world of ours. Yet we gladly would return to Amanjiwo, Amankila, Amandari, Amanusa, Amansara, and Amangiri (our most recent stay in April 2015). We were less fond of Aman Summer Palace Beijing and Amanwana, but those reflect our own personal tastes and propensities and may not necessarily reflect those of other Amanjunkies or luxury travelers.

I doubt that the commentary on GM changes/departures will stop anytime soon. But it is worth noting that a GM change nor even a change in corporate ownership does not necessarily reflect a concomitant change in the Aman guest experience.

FlyingDoctorwu

My recent stay at amanyara was disappointing primarily due to the management. Beautiful property but some issues and when brought to the attention of the management the service resolution wasn't the greatest. Maybe this is just amanyara but it was enough to make me reconsider my spring stay at amanjena. That all being its a great property and we had a great time but I don't think it meets the Aman standard. When I have some time I'll write things up more so that y'all will have the info.

Fdw
Oh and the food wasn't as bad as had been portrayed.

Kagehitokiri

a new thought on this: corporate reductions could be offset by individual property owners maintaining spending

bhrubin, you do not travel during holiday periods. what if aman has 100% occupancy every day?
my point is not re 100%, it is that you would no longer have the option of avoiding such periods
aman is/was not only one to choose high rates over occupancy, and many still have annual rates
even FS only more recently changed to dynamic rates, they used to have ratecards on FS website

isnt that just one person?

(existing) aman properties will always remain unique, and im not sure (it seems unlikely) that there will ever be a brand that competes with the 'brand' that consists of the existing aman properties, pretty much regardless of any changes made under new corporate owner

bhrubin

I do avoid travel during holiday periods. That being said, occupancy was 100% for my most recent April 2016 stay at Amangiri. Sometimes, you can't avoid it if the property is so popular. We had a fabulous stay at Amangiri even at 100% occupancy.

As with all my luxury hotel selections, if an Aman (or any luxury hotel) can't deliver when it's at higher occupancy, then I and likely many others--gasp, even other Amanjunkies--might decide the cost/benefit isn't worth it. Then occupancy and demand will drop, and either Aman will adjust to better improve its service for higher occupancy or it won't. This is as true for Aman as it is for Pen, FS, MO, etc.

There are some hotels in every luxury hotel group that handle higher occupancy better than others. But being at higher occupancy shouldn't preclude a luxury hotel from delivering the high service that it promises. It may preclude getting room upgrades, understandably, but nothing else. I will choose accordingly--based on reviews and fellow luxury traveler feedback--and stay where I think my cost/benefit is best for me.

I agree with this--though I still think this is less true in the newer urban retreats that Aman is developing. Still, I always am much less partial to urban destinations than remote/rural destinations, so I do not match the majority of the Amanjunkie profile or profile of the new customer base that Aman is hoping to develop with these new urban hotels.

Kagehitokiri

understood re occupancy

solely re decisions made by property owners (and aman) >
tokyo (and beijing) have full facilities yet relatively few rooms
(same for gathy's aman tribeca NYC design, only 57 rooms)
edit: specifically, the owner's capital investment/expenditure

yara changes (all external hires) >
07/2015 (07/2015 replacement) exec chef (fritz)
07/2015 (08/2015 replacement) exec sous chef
06/2015 rooms division manager (jana, to zoe)
03/2015 (05/2015 replacement) resort manager (sven, to GM zoe)
11/2014
09/2014 (11/2014 replacement) guest relations officer
07/2014 (11/2014 replacement) guest relations manager (jana)
06/2014 (05/2014 replacement) F&B manager
(06/2014 hire) assistant guest relations manager >
hiring >
chef de partie - fine dining
restaurant manager (sent to nera, 10 years at yara)

before sale of aman >
2013 original naturalist Lindsay left, replaced by Jaclyn

changing subject to nera >
guest relations manager - 2 years at aman
front office manager - 6 years at aman
exec sub chef - 2 years at kora

scented

With Aman being so GM-centric, even from earliest days on, of course the guest experience will suffer. Operations are service-oriented, intuitive, few SOPs and revolve around the GM. Change that person, change the resort. Some seasoned Aman's are different, such as Puri, because they have many veterans who know how to do things and have that ethos. But as we have heard, with Fred leaving, so are many of his fellow team members.

So sorry for you. I'm afraid Amanyara is just a resort, not an Aman. I have yet to meet someone who said otherwise. I stayed back in 2012 and once is really enough. So many more interesting Amans, better value to be had, too. Do try Jena though!

Kagehitokiri

replacement GMs were aman, except >
- tokyo (pre-opening)
- beijing
- puri (ex-como instead of harish, but harish is there)
- wana

pending >
- bagh

there have been some great/good reports here for amanyara, tokyo, summer palace
amanyara july/august 2013 >
separate from GMs >
giving GMs 24 hours to vacate
and other succession planning
GMs traveling for marketing
what are reasons for departures

FlyerEC

+1
Puri : new GM is Mr. Paul L . The team members I know are there for now .
Nemu : Hisayo

At least there are a few from Pulo at Yara . But I gather , it is pretty bad for an Aman , think somewhat regional " cultural " dilemma . And it ' ll likely take only one of the true Aman GMs to rectify the situation .

Aventine

Glad to hear Hisayo san got the job. Emu should be in good hands then! Will you be going for the opening FlyerEC?

kamel123

Judging from my recent stay, this is a management issue. Some of the Philippine-trained staff was indeed excellent, but beyond that, there was no discernible difference between local and "imported" personnel. Recruiting good staff into remote locales (and retaining them) is never easy, but I wouldn't say that Turks and Caicos ranks as particularly difficult. It's a nearly year-round destination with easy flight connections into the US. In comparison, staff at Parrot Cay was more than fine.

I would be very curious. Glad that you had better luck with the food.

bhrubin

IME, service is a major problem throughout the entire Caribbean region (including South Florida), even at luxury level hotel properties. It therefore is not at all surprising that Amanyara has service issues; almost every luxury hotel we've visited in the region has had service issues not comparable to those of the luxury chain/group.

Just as we expect higher levels of service in Asia, and see better service experiences at most Asian Aman properties, you should not be surprised with lower levels of service in the Caribbean and at Amanyara--and likely at Amanera, as well.

Even Amangani and Amangiri in the USA, while fantastic, do not quite live up to the high standard set by Asian Aman properties. Because American service levels do not usually measure up to the generally high standards in Asia, either.

Obviously, these are broad generalizations. We've had tremendous service at Amangani and at Amangiri. But I'd still say the service was slightly better at most of the Asian Amans.

vuittonsofstyle

They replaced Gabriel Lousada very quickly, so they would have a GM for the Dec 5th party - it's Nicolas Ilickovic, who went through the Aman training programme. Everyone else at Amanjena has left apart from Ahmed on the Front Desk. Omar has retired.

Now playing lounge music in reception area. Open kitchen in Japanese restaurant. Kid's pool.....

Kagehitokiri

so both dayan and nemu GMs were aman

have they replaced him at dayan yet?

Aventine

Decided to wet our Aman beaks again and go to Jiwo after American Thanksgiving.

MacMyDay

Awesome. We'll be there 27th -> 31st December. Have a great time and do let us know how you found it.