Kalboz

I would call them a disinterested bunch ... I experienced the same yesterday (this morning) upon check-in ...

Tak

If you get nothing from SGS next time, no upgrade, no breakfast, no internet, and spend more points for award or more Bahts for paid stay, do you still like SGS?

SGS is the good hotel for sure, but if you expect such lucky ungrade all the time, eventually you will be disappointed.

AS the GOLD member, you had better not count on the upgrade or free something if you compare with two/three hotels.

kevino

The rates are usually higher at the Conrad, sometimes much higher.

As a Hilton Diamond, I have never gotten an upgrade to a suite at the Conrad. At the PA, I've gotten a suite 80% of the time.

Plaza Athenee, BKK (Starwood)

Very sorry - posting error!

OnAMileHigh

Tak, your point is well taken. I admit that I was spoiled by the SGS which has been my Bangkok "home" for several years now. Even without the perks, I would have to say I still prefer the SGS. The staff at the SGS just seem friendlier and more hospitaliable. I also love the SGS pool area.

As for the PA the rooms have freasher look and feel then the SGS. The bedding is also more comfortable then the SGS. It really comes down to the staff at the PA being less then welcoming and seemingly bothered to have to deal with guest questions or requests. I just don't get that intangible Thai hospitality vibe here that I do at the SGS. I am going to spend the rest of the week here at the PA so maybe it will grow on me and I can ammend this post after I complete my stay.

Tak

I still feel SGS could be the best for me.
I like the smaller lobby,and a lot of employees recognize me so I feel comfortable to stay there.
One of the most convenient hotel for me except evening traffic.

However, pricing on Bangkok SPG hotels have been pretty accurate and well balanced(SGS>Westin>PA).
If those hotels charge me the same rate, I would stay at SGS.
But the discount/promotion by PA made me stay at PA, and I never regret.

Also, PA lurker here is the BIG + now.
I felt the hotel cared what we feel/think, and his support/assistance made me feel comfortable.

Plaza Athenee, BKK (Starwood)

To update on the above - we do take these comments seriously and do our utmost to ensure that this impression does not linger for the future. The same applies for the Lobby as does for our Pool area.

Any other feedback is greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
Plaza Athenee, BKK (Starwood)

Kalboz

By SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION
Published on September 19, 2009

Plaza Athenee Bangkok, a Royal Meridien hotel, has completed construction and renovation of facilities and meeting rooms worth Bt400 million. The changes are aimed at retrieving meetings and conferences from overseas and local markets.

The hotel has added 11 function rooms, including a huge meeting space, Crystal Hall, which can accommodate up to 1,500 persons. The hotel is now able to offer 28 meeting rooms and conference halls.

Georges Baurin, hotel general manager, expects that the new facilities will attract more meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) events from both local and overseas companies and other groups.

Although hotels in Bangkok are facing difficulties in the MICE market this year due to the global economic crisis and internal political unrest, some indicators show Bangkok is getting closer to being "back on track".

"In the past months, there has been widespread resistance to considering this destination, but things will recover soon," he said

To deal with the slowdown, the hotel is working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) to promote Thailand as a "best value" meeting destination.

Over the last 12 months, representatives from the hotel have travelled to India, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Eastern Europe and the Middle East to introduce the hotel's new functions.

Meanwhile, all sales and marketing units of the hotel's mother management company, Starwood, are assisting in promoting the hotel's new attractions.

Hotel manager Patrick Schaub said the changes include training staff and bringing the number of chefs to 120 in order to cope with huge meetings. It will soon introduce a "wedding gallery" to capture wedding business.

According to Baurin, the hotel expects to fill 25-30 per cent of room nights by next year.

Revenue from MICE business is also expected to increase from 25 percent in 2008 to 29 percent this year and to rise to 35 percent by 2011.

The hotel invited Preeda Tantemsub of the Thai racing car team to promote facilities, as MICE participants appreciate speed and will see that the hotel "runs faster" than rivals located nearby.

The hotel has extended its current promotion "Free Meeting & Free Nights" to the end of March.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009...s_30112572.php

alanslegal

After, like, serious decision making issues on where to stay here in BKK given the very good Starwood choices, I am spending the last two nights here at the Plaza Athenee.

A brief 20 second review; No suite upg as a Platinum though got a Royal Club Room if that makes any difference? Room is nice and very old-world if that is your style, and this makes me feel much much older than my 29 years of age Staff friendly and relatively warm but not much interaction as this hotel is way too big (for my liking).

This PA stay is immediately after two SUPER DUPER nights at the Le Meridien Bangkok where I will almost declare here - that it has to be one of the best hotel stays I've had - so maybe my impression of the PA is slightly hindered

The PA pool area / garden area is nice and open - though I much prefer the SGS's lovely intimate and green covered pool area. Yes I am fussy - but overal the PA would be a good choice for most people - probably not just for me, not just yet

carberrie

I am GOLD and was just here last week... I got a room upgrade to a higher floor (room 2303 and then 1701). The rooms were nice but I honestly found them a bit old, especially the bathrooms. The service was fine.

I'm sure if I were Platinum, I'd love the lounge, but I have yet to see it... maybe next year!

Dr. HFH

Stayed for 16 nights on the FT rate in August/September. I agree generally with the comments about the staff being disinterested for the most part. While, for example, I'm perfectly capable of opening the door myself, I do find it odd that three staffers would stand near the front door (there are two large front doors, actually, relatively close to each other) furthest up the driveway and watch me open and enter the hotel through the one closer to the street. This happened more than once. A far cry from the SGS which (though admittedly, it has only one front door) has two staffers assigned to the front door (one to each half) for the sole purpose of opening it.

I wrote some postcards, and, each time, took them to the concierge desk for mailing. Each time, whoever was behind the desk told me that the postage to the U.S. was 20 baht each, which I paid in cash. The one I sent to my office just arrived, bearing 13 baht of postage. Now, I can't get terribly excited about 7 baht, but why?

The lobby is huge, with a very high ceiling, grand, and impressive. However, it is the only hotel lobby I've ever been in which has no place to sit near the front doors while waiting for your ride. Seems to me that it would be easy enough to put a sitting area, perhaps including a sofa, a few easy chairs, a large plant or two, near the front door.

Room was fine, more or less. Internet in the room went down on average once/day, for between 2 minutes and four hours.

Also, and I know that this is not in the hotel's control, the taxi touts at the end of the driveway got really old after a couple of days. I almost always prefer to walk and/or take the Skytrain. Every time I walked to the end of the driveway to turn right towards the Skytrain, I was peppered with questions as if by a bargirl or ladyboy, -- "Hello, where you go?" If I wanted a taxi, I would have waited up near the door and asked the doorman to summon one for me. While not in the hotel's control, the fact remains that it doesn't happen at the SGS or WGS.

All in all, it's nice enough, but with a relatively small amount of effort could be much better. The staff needs some re-education, -- the service is far from the warm and attentive Thai style to which I've become accustomed. I'd probably stay here again at the low FT rate, but definitely not at regular price.

That said, kudos to the management for implementing the FT rate and inviting us all to provide comments. Shows me that management cares. It will be interesting to see what response(s) we get, and what, if any, changes are implemented as a result of all of our comments.

Sphinx

Interestingly, a few years ago there used to be a few seats in the lobby where one could wait for the ride. For some mysterious reason the PA management must have decided to remove them.

mario33

Have you tried walking out of (or back to) the WGS at night ?

Kalboz

There are still few seats, tables and sofas adjacent to and between Glaz Bar & the dining area but not in the middle or near the hotel's double glass doors.

yosithezet

The first time they ask me if I need a taxi I just say "may ao krap" (~no needed /politely/) and they never ask me a second time. Also, I don't make eye contact with them. It isn't that I'm avoiding it, but it just doesn't happen.

About 45 times in the past 2 years. Never been approached by a taxi driver, only seen them slow down to see if you are looking for a ride. Also never been approached by the SWs as I simply don't make eye contact.