Kanan Dhru
Google
I hardly ever write reviews for Taj properties. This is because it has held a standard in my mind for what counts as superior hospitality. My family and I have always stayed in Taj or ITC properties every time we travel outside and feel like it is our home away from home. The comfort, the personal warmth and caring hospitality is class apart.
However, staying in Taj MG Road Bangalore was a strange experience. There was a perpetual atmosphere of stress and anxiety. I wondered if it is to do with being in Bangalore but I have stayed at the ITC previously and haven't felt the same vibe. What was most surprising was the breakfast hour - there was a complete sense of disarray and crisis. The tables were not laid out properly, nobody bothered to check in us at the table (so unlike Taj experience!) and worst of all, the staff members were seen fighting in front of the guests!
I was traveling with my elderly parents and my mother was fasting on that day. She asked the attendent if she could suggest something she could eat. Very rudely, the staff responded 'Eat whatever is there!' We were shocked and didn't create an issue (also because nobody cared to check in with us even once). When we were finally leaving, the manager asked if everything was okay and I told him what had happened. His response was 'Oh, fasting? You should have told us before because we have to make preparations.' Anyway, some fries were sent to the room to make good for the behaviour.
Next morning, I hoped things could have improved - but it was back to the same story. Rude brush offs by the staff continued, tea or coffee didn't come on time - at every table, the guests were asking for things and the staff was barely able to cope. "They are still being trained" was consistently told to me.
Taj hospitality is known to be of the world class standard. World has seen what happened in 26/11 but at Taj M G Road, I got the feeling that the staff will be the first to throw the guests under the bus if there was such a situation.
Serious attention should be given by the senior management to improve the situation. Else no need to keep the show going.
