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 SIAM @ SIAM |
Patumwan BANGKOK |
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With over a 96% occupancy since its mid ’07 opening, Bangkok’s Siam @Siam obviously is doing something right. This design-hotel demonstrates a demand away from the homogenous beige motifs so prevalent elsewhere. The lobby hosted a vintage Nissan Figaro when we last stayed, and its naked concrete and burnt russet/orange is a throwback to the 70s. But cutting edge it ain’t. Inconvenient swipe cards instead of newer touch cards are the norm – quite a nuisance in the lift – and room televisions are the square analog boxes phased out elsewhere. The hotel insultingly charges for ice to complement its expensive mini bar sales, and no choice of pillow comfort. On the plus side, the sheets were high count cotton percale. The room service menu is uninspiring – and a hamburger we ordered had absolutely no taste. Zero, zilch, nada. Worse, reservations needs to get its house in order, as we suffered the ignominy of no response after repeated emails and faxes. On the plus side, free internet. Location is uber central, near the National Stadium Skytrain, and great shopping. |
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www.siamatsiam.com |
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rave: july 2008 |
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| THE ORIENTAL |
BANGKOK |
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Bangkok's Oriental regularly tops the charts as the world's finest hotel. Consequently, we often schedule the Oriental river cruise dinner for our gala farewell to food tour guests. Credit for the hotel's 5-star plus reputation goes to Kurt Wachtveitl, the German-born general manager there. He just celebrated his 40th anniversary at the hotel, along with guest relations veteran Ankana Kalantananda, who has herself been at the hotel for 60 years. These are certainly records in an industry beset with staff turnover. Wachtveitl began his career at The Oriental at the tender age of 30, and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award from his peers in '06.
“The inhabitants of great hotels are the most pampered creatures on earth," says Wachtveitl. "As a hotel manager you have no choice but to develop your staff. I am lucky that Thais have great potential for the hospitality industry because of their warmth and caring attitude. We are all looking forward to the future and to many productive years ahead."
But Wachtveitl's taste for "developing staff" recently soured, when he accused rival lebua hotel (sic -- it's always spelled lower case) with poaching his best employees, as well as teams from other esteemed Bangkok hotels. Seems he was piqued over loosing many favored workers, only to have them slink back to their former employer months later, caps in hand, begging for their old jobs back. Front page headlines hit the Bangkok Post on our last day there, when lebua shot back with a defamation suit. But the lebua antics are likely to backfire: with people asking 1) why it has such high staff turnover rates, and 2) the source of lebua's seemingly unlimited budget. |
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http://www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/ |
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rave: july 2008 |
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