Jun 2, 2014, 12:50 am
Last edit by: lcpteck
Hotel email address:
lemeridien dot kualalumpur at lemeridien dot com
reservations dot lmkl at lemeridien dot com
supervisor dot lmkl at lemeridien dot com
General Manager email address:
michael dot delargy at lemeridien dot com
LAUNDRY (FEB 29 2020)
Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [Master Thread]
Jul 31, 2022, 1:39 pm
#541
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Thanks for the update - sad but not surprising given how low the rates were for quite a while. The news about suite ug is also of importance to me - was thinking of doing a KL run from BKK in a few months in part b/c of how well I was treated here (also lt titanium with many stays here).
I'll be interested in your stay at the Majestic - status recog was ? there - had to involve a high level manager a few times b/c front desk INSISTED that ug was only 1 level - eventually sorted out but still issues on my next stay. The old wing is definitely old, but has a charm and place feeling that the newer wing doesn't have -each has a charm. The pool out by the road (near the "lounge" - which if open you may have to fight to get access - it is minimal - not much food and limited drinks - nothing like LM) was really nice for me b/c it was generally warm - not in buildings shadows - unlike their other one and the LM pool which I always found chilly (YMMV).
I'll be interested in your stay at the Majestic - status recog was ? there - had to involve a high level manager a few times b/c front desk INSISTED that ug was only 1 level - eventually sorted out but still issues on my next stay. The old wing is definitely old, but has a charm and place feeling that the newer wing doesn't have -each has a charm. The pool out by the road (near the "lounge" - which if open you may have to fight to get access - it is minimal - not much food and limited drinks - nothing like LM) was really nice for me b/c it was generally warm - not in buildings shadows - unlike their other one and the LM pool which I always found chilly (YMMV).
I have been staying here for a week a month since March 2022, and thought I should update how things are at LMKL post-Covid.
The bad news, like in most hotels anywhere, is that there is no good news. The Italian restaurant Favola remains closed, the pool closes at 7pm, prices have shot back up to near pre-Covid levels and a lot of functions are now being staffed with fresh faces (albeit I still recognise a lot of the old faces at reception). The plentiful breakfast buffet is back to full-strength, but the signature lemongrass crêpe with mushrooms has changed recipe and is now just a hot, oily mess.
Two main things bug me. First of all, the Lounge, which used to be one of the most generous offerings in the Bonvoy system, has diminished greatly. The hot buffet has been replaced with a salad and cold vegetable bar (LMKL veterans may remember there was a salad bar on the side anyway), and the live noodle station, dimsum and pastry oven are gone. There is now a daily live station serving three warm appetisers, but it tastes pretty ordinary to me. I can't comment on the quality of the free-flow alcohol as I never drank it even pre-Covid.
Secondly, suite upgrades. I stayed many, many nights at LMKL prior to Covid, and would have qualified for Titanium for many years just based on LMKL nights alone. The loyalty was reciprocated, and I had an near-100% suite upgrade rate. Post-Covid, it has dipped below 25%, and it is incredibly disheartening because the standard rooms at LMKL are the tiniest of any Bonvoy hotel in KL and lack a proper workstation / desk. I understand that many of the suites are out of commission and therefore out of inventory, which goes some way to explaining the discrepancy but perhaps not all of it.
I am going to explore the Majestic Hotel, Autograph Collection (down the road from LMKL) in a couple of months and will report back.
The bad news, like in most hotels anywhere, is that there is no good news. The Italian restaurant Favola remains closed, the pool closes at 7pm, prices have shot back up to near pre-Covid levels and a lot of functions are now being staffed with fresh faces (albeit I still recognise a lot of the old faces at reception). The plentiful breakfast buffet is back to full-strength, but the signature lemongrass crêpe with mushrooms has changed recipe and is now just a hot, oily mess.
Two main things bug me. First of all, the Lounge, which used to be one of the most generous offerings in the Bonvoy system, has diminished greatly. The hot buffet has been replaced with a salad and cold vegetable bar (LMKL veterans may remember there was a salad bar on the side anyway), and the live noodle station, dimsum and pastry oven are gone. There is now a daily live station serving three warm appetisers, but it tastes pretty ordinary to me. I can't comment on the quality of the free-flow alcohol as I never drank it even pre-Covid.
Secondly, suite upgrades. I stayed many, many nights at LMKL prior to Covid, and would have qualified for Titanium for many years just based on LMKL nights alone. The loyalty was reciprocated, and I had an near-100% suite upgrade rate. Post-Covid, it has dipped below 25%, and it is incredibly disheartening because the standard rooms at LMKL are the tiniest of any Bonvoy hotel in KL and lack a proper workstation / desk. I understand that many of the suites are out of commission and therefore out of inventory, which goes some way to explaining the discrepancy but perhaps not all of it.
I am going to explore the Majestic Hotel, Autograph Collection (down the road from LMKL) in a couple of months and will report back.
Aug 5, 2022, 12:40 am
#542
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SG
Programs: Marriott Plat Amb, oneworld Ruby
Posts: 132
Thanks for the update - sad but not surprising given how low the rates were for quite a while. The news about suite ug is also of importance to me - was thinking of doing a KL run from BKK in a few months in part b/c of how well I was treated here (also lt titanium with many stays here).
I'll be interested in your stay at the Majestic - status recog was ? there - had to involve a high level manager a few times b/c front desk INSISTED that ug was only 1 level - eventually sorted out but still issues on my next stay. The old wing is definitely old, but has a charm and place feeling that the newer wing doesn't have -each has a charm. The pool out by the road (near the "lounge" - which if open you may have to fight to get access - it is minimal - not much food and limited drinks - nothing like LM) was really nice for me b/c it was generally warm - not in buildings shadows - unlike their other one and the LM pool which I always found chilly (YMMV).
I'll be interested in your stay at the Majestic - status recog was ? there - had to involve a high level manager a few times b/c front desk INSISTED that ug was only 1 level - eventually sorted out but still issues on my next stay. The old wing is definitely old, but has a charm and place feeling that the newer wing doesn't have -each has a charm. The pool out by the road (near the "lounge" - which if open you may have to fight to get access - it is minimal - not much food and limited drinks - nothing like LM) was really nice for me b/c it was generally warm - not in buildings shadows - unlike their other one and the LM pool which I always found chilly (YMMV).
I had the conversation today with a very senior person in sales at Majestic, and they gave me the same line you heard about the one category upgrade. I said that in my view, under the Marriott T+Cs, Titaniums were entitled to Standard Suites, but I didn't think Junior Suites (one level up from the basic Deluxe Room) were it because they aren't really suites as such, and the next category up is the Grand Suite (only the Premier Suites sit above that). They feigned polite and interested surprise, but I think that was just Malaysian courtesy. In any event, they have only 11 Grand Suites in the inventory, so the odds will not be good anyway.
Aug 5, 2022, 3:35 pm
#543
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Wow, yes checked for early Dec and rates are about 50% more than pre-covid. So they'll be missing (discretionary) revenue from me as well - might have paid a bit more when everything (benefits) were in full swing, but not a chance to pay higher rate when lounge and ug are likely not in play 
Majestic just won't play by the rules (sad) that even after extensive conversations with multiple higher status holders they just are intransigent.
Well, it's not like there is a shortage of places to stay - esp. when I'm not tied to being "bonvoyed", but still very sad about the staff who became friends and the good memories I have of LMKL.
Majestic just won't play by the rules (sad) that even after extensive conversations with multiple higher status holders they just are intransigent.
Well, it's not like there is a shortage of places to stay - esp. when I'm not tied to being "bonvoyed", but still very sad about the staff who became friends and the good memories I have of LMKL.
I tried to make October bookings today...LMKL rates are now RM575++ for a basic room, which is significantly higher than it was pre-Covid. I nailed down a Majestic corporate rate last week for 40% less; LMKL politely declined to give me a corporate rate in early July and asked me to wait until September when things had settled down. I hate to say it but LMKL may be losing a lot of my business in future if the difference is going to be RM 225++ a night!
I had the conversation today with a very senior person in sales at Majestic, and they gave me the same line you heard about the one category upgrade. I said that in my view, under the Marriott T+Cs, Titaniums were entitled to Standard Suites, but I didn't think Junior Suites (one level up from the basic Deluxe Room) were it because they aren't really suites as such, and the next category up is the Grand Suite (only the Premier Suites sit above that). They feigned polite and interested surprise, but I think that was just Malaysian courtesy. In any event, they have only 11 Grand Suites in the inventory, so the odds will not be good anyway.
I had the conversation today with a very senior person in sales at Majestic, and they gave me the same line you heard about the one category upgrade. I said that in my view, under the Marriott T+Cs, Titaniums were entitled to Standard Suites, but I didn't think Junior Suites (one level up from the basic Deluxe Room) were it because they aren't really suites as such, and the next category up is the Grand Suite (only the Premier Suites sit above that). They feigned polite and interested surprise, but I think that was just Malaysian courtesy. In any event, they have only 11 Grand Suites in the inventory, so the odds will not be good anyway.
Aug 25, 2022, 11:26 pm
#544
Join Date: May 2017
Location: YEG, SFO, VCA, JR JY-13
Programs: hahaha
Posts: 919
No surprise, and even though I thought I could be the exception, the one-category upgrade limit policy is still in effect. No latitude. At least three suites on sale over the course of my stay. With regrets, I wish I had chosen the Westin instead. Maybe the rest of the stay will improve!
Suite upgrades usually aren't important to me, but my sister was coming in and I wanted to impress her, and failing to heed all warnings of previous posters above, I ended up booking this property! lol
I'll just head over to the Westin next time or even try my luck with the new Hiltons being announced opening next year
Suite upgrades usually aren't important to me, but my sister was coming in and I wanted to impress her, and failing to heed all warnings of previous posters above, I ended up booking this property! lol
I'll just head over to the Westin next time or even try my luck with the new Hiltons being announced opening next year
Aug 25, 2022, 11:54 pm
#545
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SG
Programs: Marriott Plat Amb, oneworld Ruby
Posts: 132
No surprise, and even though I thought I could be the exception, the one-category upgrade limit policy is still in effect. No latitude. At least three suites on sale over the course of my stay. With regrets, I wish I had chosen the Westin instead. Maybe the rest of the stay will improve!
Suite upgrades usually aren't important to me, but my sister was coming in and I wanted to impress her, and failing to heed all warnings of previous posters above, I ended up booking this property! lol
I'll just head over to the Westin next time or even try my luck with the new Hiltons being announced opening next year
Suite upgrades usually aren't important to me, but my sister was coming in and I wanted to impress her, and failing to heed all warnings of previous posters above, I ended up booking this property! lol
I'll just head over to the Westin next time or even try my luck with the new Hiltons being announced opening next year
Aug 26, 2022, 5:43 am
#546
Join Date: May 2017
Location: YEG, SFO, VCA, JR JY-13
Programs: hahaha
Posts: 919
Le Méridien! Did I confuse the two?? I've been extensively reading all KL threads (to try and go for the upgrade) and may have crossed the wires.
Anyway I've finished checking in and there's no wiggle room on the policy. Even the loyalty manager checked me in, so it seemed as if that role, at face value, dictated absolute rule.
Anyway I've finished checking in and there's no wiggle room on the policy. Even the loyalty manager checked me in, so it seemed as if that role, at face value, dictated absolute rule.
Aug 26, 2022, 2:31 pm
#547
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Le Méridien! Did I confuse the two?? I've been extensively reading all KL threads (to try and go for the upgrade) and may have crossed the wires.
Anyway I've finished checking in and there's no wiggle room on the policy. Even the loyalty manager checked me in, so it seemed as if that role, at face value, dictated absolute rule.
Anyway I've finished checking in and there's no wiggle room on the policy. Even the loyalty manager checked me in, so it seemed as if that role, at face value, dictated absolute rule.
Aug 26, 2022, 9:05 pm
#548
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SG
Programs: Marriott Plat Amb, oneworld Ruby
Posts: 132
Le Méridien! Did I confuse the two?? I've been extensively reading all KL threads (to try and go for the upgrade) and may have crossed the wires.
Anyway I've finished checking in and there's no wiggle room on the policy. Even the loyalty manager checked me in, so it seemed as if that role, at face value, dictated absolute rule.
Anyway I've finished checking in and there's no wiggle room on the policy. Even the loyalty manager checked me in, so it seemed as if that role, at face value, dictated absolute rule.
But I think that's a big part of why @estnet and I are feeling a bit aggrieved. Having given them hundreds of nights and built up relationships with so many of the staff, we are suddenly back to square one with regards to elite recognition. I did get a suite this week, though, ha ha.
Oct 14, 2022, 9:32 am
#551
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,206
It’s not as good as it was before Covid. Lounge isn’t any good, breakfast is not bad downstairs, location is boring. Pool and gym are both still top notch but I think currently there are better Bonvoy properties in KL.
Oct 14, 2022, 11:53 am
#553
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
How has the lounge changed? What is different about breakfast?
Oct 15, 2022, 7:57 pm
#555
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,716
Although I scored a suite many times at the LeM, my last stay was before the pandemic. Have another KL trip coming up later this month and I was concerned to read up thread that their suite inventory has shrunk, leading to fewer upgrades. The lounge going downhill was also disappointing. Which other Marriott hotel in KL would you suggest, without busting the bank. Both a good lounge as well as an upgrade are important. I am a Titanium, BTW.
