the meaning of good service
Aug 27, 2013, 3:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,277
the meaning of good service
Probably 80% of my hotel stays are at Starwood properties, but occasionally
I have to, or want to, stay at other properties.
I have one " special " requirement when I sleep - I do not like heavy covers
or duvets. I prefer to turn off the AC, and sleep with just a top sheet.
At those hotels ( and there are many in Asia) where only a duvet is provided,
I will always take the duvet out of the cover, and sleep with just the cover
as a sheet.
Among the properties I stay at regularly, only the SGS in Bangkok seems
to remember this, and provide only a sheet for me.
Now to my story. I travel several times a year to Zhuji in China, and stay
at the Yaojiang New Century Grand Hotel, a member of the Kaiyuan hotel group. They know my preference ( due to a very sharp housekeeper), and
usually my bed is ready with a sheet, not a duvet. Yesterday I showed up
there without an advance reservation, and was given a room with standard
( duvet) bedding. But I had not been in the room for even 4 minutes when
there was a knock at the door, and housekeeping came to replace the duvet
with a sheet. Now , that is excellent service in my mind.
Why can't the other Starwood properties, at which I stay 4-5 times a year,
and have done so for over 20 years in some cases, not do the same?
I have to, or want to, stay at other properties.
I have one " special " requirement when I sleep - I do not like heavy covers
or duvets. I prefer to turn off the AC, and sleep with just a top sheet.
At those hotels ( and there are many in Asia) where only a duvet is provided,
I will always take the duvet out of the cover, and sleep with just the cover
as a sheet.
Among the properties I stay at regularly, only the SGS in Bangkok seems
to remember this, and provide only a sheet for me.
Now to my story. I travel several times a year to Zhuji in China, and stay
at the Yaojiang New Century Grand Hotel, a member of the Kaiyuan hotel group. They know my preference ( due to a very sharp housekeeper), and
usually my bed is ready with a sheet, not a duvet. Yesterday I showed up
there without an advance reservation, and was given a room with standard
( duvet) bedding. But I had not been in the room for even 4 minutes when
there was a knock at the door, and housekeeping came to replace the duvet
with a sheet. Now , that is excellent service in my mind.
Why can't the other Starwood properties, at which I stay 4-5 times a year,
and have done so for over 20 years in some cases, not do the same?
Aug 27, 2013, 4:47 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 466
Have you asked the Front Desk of those properties to put a note in your profile (the one in the local hotel system) with your preference?
That has always worked for me.
That has always worked for me.
Aug 27, 2013, 5:31 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Shanghai, Singapore
Programs: SQ*G, SPG Platinum, FPC Premier
Posts: 339
Perhaps it boils down to the individual housekeeper and not even that hotel?
I'm not sure if updating your SPG profile might help; I've successfully had some of my pillow preferences "remembered," but not always. At mass hotel chains I guess we just have to live with being yet another digit passing thru...
I'm not sure if updating your SPG profile might help; I've successfully had some of my pillow preferences "remembered," but not always. At mass hotel chains I guess we just have to live with being yet another digit passing thru...
Aug 27, 2013, 5:34 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2000
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Ambassador/Lifetime Titanium, Accor Silver, Club Carlson Gold, BW Diamond
Posts: 2,432
Will you be happy when you are not upgraded? If a certain room is "prepared" in advance, how will you receive the best room that is available upon arrival.
It's a trade off.
It's a trade off.