Originally Posted by MikeFromTokyo
(Post 25551473)
In fairness to the chef, a lot of factors could have caused the food to be less than perfect, and he might also be a victim of the owner's poor decision to open prematurely. Similarly, management might not entirely be at fault for service lapses if they were not given enough time to properly train their employees before opening.
I have hated hotels on my first stay, but after excellent service recovery ended up a very loyal and satisfied guest. In this case your first stay was abysmal, but in such a case I would give them one more chance in about a year before completely writing off the hotel. It's important to give the hotel the opportunity to recover. Especially since the issues you experienced, while unforgivable for a Four Seasons, can be attributed to a premature opening and insufficient employee training. I didn't completely write it off but didn't expect to be back here so soon. Long story short my partner had a difficult day and brought her to spa here. Ended up having a kaiseki meal at Kioku and didn't want to drink and drive. on FSPP, same room type minus the sinus pressure. Kioku is definitely one of Seoul's finest Japanese restaurants for ambience, appearance and food. |
Originally Posted by Aventine
(Post 25552153)
Sure. I believe Mirae Asset wants this cash cow making it's own revenue. Management still ok'd or let the Korean breakfast go out for public consumption. That one is on them Mike.
I didn't completely write it off but didn't expect to be back here so soon. Long story short my partner had a difficult day and brought her to spa here. Ended up having a kaiseki meal at Kioku and didn't want to drink and drive. on FSPP, same room type minus the sinus pressure. Kioku is definitely one of Seoul's finest Japanese restaurants for ambience, appearance and food. |
Originally Posted by MikeFromTokyo
(Post 25552209)
You're already staying again? I sure hope they're ready to produce a proper breakfast this time! Hopefully there will be some major service recovery too.
I was told they're still working on breakfast and I don't hold it against them since I didn't plan to be back 3 days after. |
Originally Posted by Aventine
(Post 25552234)
It was an unintentional stay. They graciously pulled out all the stops for the Kioku dinner and the spa. Service recovery is happening as one would be expected. I just wanted to give them the proper time to get ready for a nice room some other date. This one is on me. Don't want to be a mooch.
I was told they're still working on breakfast and I don't hold it against them since I didn't plan to be back 3 days after. |
Hope they bent over backwards this time!
What treatment did you go for? |
Originally Posted by MikeFromTokyo
(Post 25552296)
How was the spa? I would hope that management will do whatever it takes to ensure that your breakfast is acceptable this time.
Originally Posted by scented
(Post 25552388)
Hope they bent over backwards this time!
What treatment did you go for? One final thought from the same Premier room (sans new room fumes and headaches). The bathroom can be separated. The wall does move to cover the bathtub from bedroom. I guess I didn't pull hard enough the first time. Not really sure about how soundproof it can be and still prefer isolated stand alone bathrooms. Not a design flaw. |
I've been following this with interest, as the hotel scene in Seoul is very weak. I dislike the PH Hyatt and the Shilla is too far out of the way for my hosts to accommodate.
I've opened three 5* hotels and I wouldn't recommend it. The only positive experience of the three was FS Denver. I was literally the first person the front desk person checked in. They had flown in experienced managers and personnel from all over the USA to help with that opening. Clearly they had not done that in Seoul. I'd add that I opened Alpina Gstaad and that was MUCH worse that what Aventine is reporting at FS Seoul. I've not returned to Gstaad, but others here have lead me to believe that they fixed the *many* issues from the opening. I'd bet the FS Seoul will fix the issues. but it might take 12 months. |
Originally Posted by mike_la_jolla
(Post 25553475)
I've been following this with interest, as the hotel scene in Seoul is very weak. I dislike the PH Hyatt and the Shilla is too far out of the way for my hosts to accommodate.
I've opened three 5* hotels and I wouldn't recommend it. The only positive experience of the three was FS Denver. I was literally the first person the front desk person checked in. They had flown in experienced managers and personnel from all over the USA to help with that opening. Clearly they had not done that in Seoul. I'd add that I opened Alpina Gstaad and that was MUCH worse that what Aventine is reporting at FS Seoul. I've not returned to Gstaad, but others here have lead me to believe that they fixed the *many* issues from the opening. I'd bet the FS Seoul will fix the issues. but it might take 12 months. The new room smell/fumes was one of those 1/100 scenarios that I guess my sinus sensitivity happened to have the misfortune to be assigned too. Service recovery is happening for that. I think things will be different here in 12 months. Would your hosts be willing to put you up here in FS Seoul, Gwanghwamun, mikelajolla? The location is even worse than Shilla for someone needing to be south of the River. At least at Shilla you can go down Dongho bridge or swing around and use Hannam bridge. My commute driving from PH was about an hour in yesterday's rushhour traffic. |
Originally Posted by Aventine
(Post 25553940)
Would your hosts be willing to put you up here in FS Seoul, Gwanghwamun, mikelajolla? The location is even worse than Shilla for someone needing to be south of the River. At least at Shilla you can go down Dongho bridge or swing around and use Hannam bridge. My commute driving from PH was about an hour in yesterday's rushhour traffic.
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Originally Posted by mike_la_jolla
(Post 25554075)
Haven't asked. My guess is that they will say 'no'. When I asked about the Shilla, they reacted with horror.
I guess not surprising for a new hotel in internet speed demon South Korea but here's the speedtest results for FS Seoul. This is the free, non premium wifi internet. Double what I got at PH Seoul! http://www.speedtest.net/result/4739864009.png |
Originally Posted by Aventine
(Post 25554199)
I guess not surprising for a new hotel in internet speed demon South Korea but here's the speedtest results for FS Seoul. This is the free, non premium wifi internet. Double what I got at PH Seoul!
http://www.speedtest.net/result/4739864009.png |
Originally Posted by pricesquire
(Post 25554371)
What's the website for checking the speed? Going to do the same thing at the Four Seasons Bogota this weekend.
I think FS Seoul's room service card needs to have Eggs Benedict on it. Should be standard on every luxury hotel's menu. |
Originally Posted by Aventine
(Post 25552452)
GM just learned that I stayed behind at 11pm. Id give them a pass for breakfast this time. ...
Originally Posted by Aventine
(Post 25554607)
I think FS Seoul's room service card needs to have Eggs Benedict on it. Should be standard on every luxury hotel's menu.
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Round 2 Four Seasons Seoul breakfast
I didn't dare order a Korean breakfast for this unintentional stay. Something told me three days was not enough time for them to internally set things right. It would have broken my heart to go from Chef Sawadas solid, great Japanese evening to a untried, untested cobbled together Korean effort. Just a gut feeling.
The Western breakfast was much better. Appearance and taste wise. Getting up there to the FS standard from the initial horror offering. I also specified in great detail on the menu card for more fruit, the correct juice blends, sides orders, French toast w/toppings and waffles. I recommend everyone use the menu card rather than the iPad app. There's no Eggs Benedict there but just write it on the card and the kitchen will make it. Will post some pictures later. Early days still but slowly getting better. :) |
Originally Posted by Aventine
(Post 25554607)
I think FS Seoul's room service card needs to have Eggs Benedict on it. Should be standard on every luxury hotel's menu.
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