"If you enjoy friction, hassle and a financial haircut as a business traveller then this is the place for you.
1. Cut cost for the hotel, work for housekeeping: you are forced to hang an indicator on the door to have your room cleaned. If you forget you come back to a dirty room. The default should be clean the room NOT don't clean.
2. Cut cost for the hotel, Zero bathroom amenities, and I mean none: If you have your shower and have forgotten your tooth brush, run out of tooth paste, forgot your comb, or as a lady forget sanitary items, then you have to get decent, phone housekeeping and wait for the requested item. No bathrobe or slippers either.
3. Cut costs for the hotel, air conditioning: I you like a cool room below 22 degrees to sleep in, forget it, zero control over temperature below this. Choice, you have, open the window if it is cooler outside and be woken by the noise or be woken by being too hot.
4. Help marketing reduce cost: If you want to have free Wi-Fi, room number and name OK, but to get connected forced to fill in forms and join the loyalty programme.
5. Help F & B reduce cost: if you want a coffee in between breakfast and lunch, walk 500 meters to and from to a coffee shop, in the rain as I had to. You can RENT an umbrella!
The first 3 points above are dressed up a in the cloak of sustainability “your stay your choice” to make you feel guilty about complaining!
Positive: the receptionists and the duty managers are well trained, and excellent at listening to complaining residents, I think, lots of experience.
Example: complained about the air conditioning, very sympathetic, and promised 17 degrees, I replied, would not happen, I was right, opted to open the window for the 3 nights.
I spent 97 nights in hotels on business last year, hopefully less this year, ALL I need is zero friction, no hassle and most of all a good night sleep, none of which I got at the Crowne Plaza.
I don’t need free drinks and vouchers for bubbles and bits and excellent sympathy for poor sleep, which were all offered.
What is next I wonder? Hire a room cleaning kit? which, if not returned in good condition, then apply a surcharge! Meters on bathroom water usage and electricity? Window blind rental? Comfortable pillow rental. Just a few ideas for the cost management department.
I stayed for 3 nights, two of my staff stayed as well for 3 and 4 nights respectively, total cost €5,000+
Point to note: when I did help housekeeping and put the sign out, the bins were not emptied on the first day I stayed.
I expect a sympathetic reply along the lines of; “Very sorry for your experience, we will take on board your feedback, we will improve” etc. in my opinion, will anything change? My prediction no.
So, if you or your P.A. or your conference organiser is booking rooms here be forewarned and best of luck!"
