JD H.
Yelp
A downgrade of stars post-COVID is in order. Much of what I loved about this property pre-COVID was notably absent during this visit. The property re-opened in January, 2022 and it seems to be in the awkward phase of trying to re-establish itself. Time will tell if it is able to do this. For now, there are definite lapses from what it used to be.
First, there is a bait and switch issue going on. I booked a "Residence Club" room which is their executive club amenity. I really enjoyed this level of service on previous visits. It used to get you a room on a high-floor (there are 30+ floors of rooms) exclusive for club members, entry to the club for breakfast, a nice work space, evening cocktails with food, and a stunning Manila Bay view at sunset. Upon checking in, I was told that their Residence Club was not being operated post-COVID but I was being given a larger, club equivalent room . My "upgraded" room was on the 12th floor which is not high nor is it exclusive as there were loud party-type occupants coming in at 4 am after nights of drunken debauchery that you generally do not get on executive level floors. It was a larger corner room so it was a plus I guess. Additionally, they upcharged me $700 pesos for breakfast (which used to be included in the club price of the room). Apparently now it is not. Nowhere in the reservation process does it state that the club is not open or that breakfast is going to be an upcharge. I was allowed to reserve a club grade room at a club room price and then had to pay extra for the privilege of breakfast with this club room at check in. Essentially my room upgrade was paid for by my breakfast upcharge in my opinion. The club level room reservation is now a scam for them to charge you more. I tried arguing this with the front desk staff on 2 occasions and they both told me the following: The club level reservations are allowed because this allows you to get a nicer room. But it now no longer includes an operating executive club so it does not include breakfast. When I pointed out that there is nowhere on their site or in the reservation that states this (I even showed them my reservation and confirmation email from them where it is not stated), they gave me a typical customer service response in the negative: "We are sorry sir that our reservation confirmation does not tell you this. Thank you for your feedback on this. We will take this to our management for them to take into consideration in the future." I actually wanted to cancel my reservation right then and there and take my business elsewhere but they were going to then charge me a cancellation fee so they had me by the short hairs.
I also noted that the staff were all a little rusty on their service delivery and several were either out of practice or the hotel had to hire a bunch of new people who had never done hospitality work before. Many of them seemed a little slow in their roles or a little unsure of how to respond to guest requests or complaints. The responses to my breakfast upcharge complaint and the notification that they failed to deliver on their executive club product was a good example of this. Definitely not polished or professional like I remembered from 2018 and 2019. I even noted 1 staff member who had a very ill-fitting uniform (like they did not bother to take the time to have her fitted) and seemed particularly unsure of herself in a few interactions which suggested to me that she was probably a new hire being rushed through the new employee process to simply get a body in to the role to work. I totally get this and am very understanding of it but it was just another example to me of a previously great hotel that has taken post-COVID shortcuts in its staffing and operations.
Finally, there is evidence that there are cost-cutting measures in play here. Had I not stayed here before, I would not have noted the differences but things such as small areas of the room that need to be repaired (see photos) and items such as the removal of linen napkins from the table (replaced with paper...see photo) as well as entire areas of the breakfast buffet eliminated were things that stood out to me. Because this hotel caters to many Asian visitors, they typically have a selection of food items at breakfast to cater to the different countries and their palates. In this case, I noted that the entire country of Korea and its food offerings were missing in action. Not a deal-breaker but definitely a hit to the breakfast selection.
Overall, this visit was a big disappointment for me and they missed their opportunity to make things right with me despite bringing it to them twice. The bait and switch reservations that they are not taking accountability for and the "surprise" breakfast upcharge at check in are unfair and abusive practices to the consumer because you have no way of knowing about them until you are checking in and then you cannot back out. I'm pretty sure I am staying somewhere else next time.