Welcome / Greeting ceremonies, process
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,805
this is likely one of the things that those here who deal solely with management would communicate with management in advance >
and some who use agents have their agent do so
two here posted about gallivanters guide getting them in touch with managers who then provided great service in india, and gallivanters is not a travel agency nor concierge service
delhi and mumbai are not especially well regarded here. some had great experience at lodhi under robyn and husband, both aman and after aman. others had issues with their personalities at lodhi and previously other amans. bagh is no longer peak as it was under veterans like harish. one variable at ikhas is who butler is. seems some oberoi may not be what they were. thankfully seems taj palace umaid bhawan remains at peak although i forget when bhrubin was there.
seems bhrubin at lodhi after robyn and husband left / retired.
and some who use agents have their agent do so
two here posted about gallivanters guide getting them in touch with managers who then provided great service in india, and gallivanters is not a travel agency nor concierge service
delhi and mumbai are not especially well regarded here. some had great experience at lodhi under robyn and husband, both aman and after aman. others had issues with their personalities at lodhi and previously other amans. bagh is no longer peak as it was under veterans like harish. one variable at ikhas is who butler is. seems some oberoi may not be what they were. thankfully seems taj palace umaid bhawan remains at peak although i forget when bhrubin was there.
seems bhrubin at lodhi after robyn and husband left / retired.
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Oct 25, 2018 at 6:57 pm
#47
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Leave it to me to be the blunt one who has objectedsometimes strongly. As politely as I could at first...but sometimes more bluntly when disregarded or ignored. At Turtle Island. At Azura Benguerra. At the IC Tahiti. I had to get VERY blunt at Azura and Turtle Island.
#49
#50
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
this is likely one of the things that those here who deal solely with management would communicate with management in advance >
and some who use agents have their agent do so
two here posted about gallivanters guide getting them in touch with managers who then provided great service in india, and gallivanters is not a travel agency nor concierge service
delhi and mumbai are not especially well regarded here. some had great experience at lodhi under robyn and husband, both aman and after aman. others had issues with their personalities at lodhi and previously other amans. bagh is no longer peak as it was under veterans like harish. one variable at ikhas is who butler is. seems some oberoi may not be what they were. thankfully seems taj palace umaid bhawan remains at peak although i forget when bhrubin was there.
and some who use agents have their agent do so
two here posted about gallivanters guide getting them in touch with managers who then provided great service in india, and gallivanters is not a travel agency nor concierge service
delhi and mumbai are not especially well regarded here. some had great experience at lodhi under robyn and husband, both aman and after aman. others had issues with their personalities at lodhi and previously other amans. bagh is no longer peak as it was under veterans like harish. one variable at ikhas is who butler is. seems some oberoi may not be what they were. thankfully seems taj palace umaid bhawan remains at peak although i forget when bhrubin was there.
We had a very positive experience at the Lodhi, even after the air con went out on our first night--and that's saying something for me. Delhi wasn't a big highlight for us, but I'm also not a fan of most big cities. But we'd gladly stay at the Lodhi again. No welcomer ceremony. Horray.
We had a very positive experience at the Oberoi Udaivilas, and perhaps a bit less so with the Oberoi Amarvilas. Neither burdened us with welcome ceremonies, though we did a very brief meet and greet with the Amarvilas GM on arrival.
The Taj Nadesar Palace in Varanasi and Taj Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur were both spectacular--but the Umaid Bhawan is something truly incredible. And its befitting royalty welcome ceremony was amazing and very enjoyable for us.
#51
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Phuket
Posts: 69
Taj Umaid Bhawan welcome is certainly spectacular and memorable...we arrived direct from the desert, dusty and very casually dressed after doing drugs with the village elders so somewhat surprised and confused by the mass of people waiting for us!
Amarvilas welcome was weird, we were taken to a room, given a drink and then two members of staff just stood there looking at us, we had to ask to go to the room after 10 minutes of silence.
Taj Pashan Garh was very sweet the first few times, literally every member of staff is waiting for you, even the chef and they start clapping as you drive up. But they do this twice a day when you come back from the drives so gets a bit tiring especially when you have to decide what you want to eat for the rest of the day after the early morning drive.
All other Taj and Oberoi were standard drink and towels and off to the room with exception of Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai where there was nothing.
Would not stay at any Leela if you paid me and their welcome was pretty pathetic compared to others!
Also loved The Lodhi, 2 am arrival and taken to the room immediately...no hassle.
Amarvilas welcome was weird, we were taken to a room, given a drink and then two members of staff just stood there looking at us, we had to ask to go to the room after 10 minutes of silence.
Taj Pashan Garh was very sweet the first few times, literally every member of staff is waiting for you, even the chef and they start clapping as you drive up. But they do this twice a day when you come back from the drives so gets a bit tiring especially when you have to decide what you want to eat for the rest of the day after the early morning drive.
All other Taj and Oberoi were standard drink and towels and off to the room with exception of Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai where there was nothing.
Would not stay at any Leela if you paid me and their welcome was pretty pathetic compared to others!
Also loved The Lodhi, 2 am arrival and taken to the room immediately...no hassle.
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,203
A cruise, not hotel. Our private guide thought we had gotten engaged and on going to dinner he was grinning from ear to ear congratulating us. Then we heard a band start to make their way through the back areas of the kitchen and restaurant. I looked at my partner and said "please god, don't let them be coming for us". Sure enough they were. There was a band of about 15 people walking toward us. We had to stand up and they all formed a group around us as they played. We then had to sit on some special chairs as they continued to play for us. They made a speech and we had to cut a cake. We had Asian tourists now taking pictures of us and everyone was clapping and cheering. All I could think of was OMG let this be over!!!
#53
A cruise, not hotel. Our private guide thought we had gotten engaged and on going to dinner he was grinning from ear to ear congratulating us. Then we heard a band start to make their way through the back areas of the kitchen and restaurant. I looked at my partner and said "please god, don't let them be coming for us". Sure enough they were. There was a band of about 15 people walking toward us. We had to stand up and they all formed a group around us as they played. We then had to sit on some special chairs as they continued to play for us. They made a speech and we had to cut a cake. We had Asian tourists now taking pictures of us and everyone was clapping and cheering. All I could think of was OMG let this be over!!!
#54
A cruise, not hotel. Our private guide thought we had gotten engaged and on going to dinner he was grinning from ear to ear congratulating us. Then we heard a band start to make their way through the back areas of the kitchen and restaurant. I looked at my partner and said "please god, don't let them be coming for us". Sure enough they were. There was a band of about 15 people walking toward us. We had to stand up and they all formed a group around us as they played. We then had to sit on some special chairs as they continued to play for us. They made a speech and we had to cut a cake. We had Asian tourists now taking pictures of us and everyone was clapping and cheering. All I could think of was OMG let this be over!!!
#55
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posts: 3,213
Oy veh!
At Chable Maroma, Guests are welcomed with a shaman-led ritual in the Spa’s open-air reception.
https://robbreport.com/travel/resort...shops-2892105/
At Chable Maroma, Guests are welcomed with a shaman-led ritual in the Spa’s open-air reception.
https://robbreport.com/travel/resort...shops-2892105/
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,203
I'd hate a big greeting.
Only time I had a convoluted welcome was being sung happy birthday at reception at a Fiji hotel. I forget which one now. Might of been a Sheraton
Only time I had a convoluted welcome was being sung happy birthday at reception at a Fiji hotel. I forget which one now. Might of been a Sheraton
#57
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posts: 3,213
Next week I am headed back to Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Cabo for my fifth respite. The welcome ceremony there includes a management sort (sometimes the GM) or two, plus a “butler” as well as a mariachi quartet and the offer of a small drink. I forget if there are chilled cloths which are truly welcome. I’ve always felt awkward during this ritual SO ... I screwed my courage to the sticking point this time to request no such “welcome” in favor of a swift escort to the villa where an iced pitcher of rum punch awaits.
We’ll see.
We’ll see.
Last edited by KatW; Aug 17, 2020 at 7:44 pm