During my trip on the weekend I stayed at 2 different hotels both 4 stars in Cape Town belonging to the same hotel chain. While at the hotels I noticed a few things that I felt were untoward. The service at the hotel is impeccable and will definitely stay there again. I do however feel that they need a bit of a wake up call as a team working together. The reason I say this is that at a hotel the entire staff from the valet driver to the cleaner, from front desk to the manager should all be working together to improve and maintain their establishment as this is really where their name lies. Here are some examples of what I mean.
Have a look at the following picture – It is a picture of the cupboard in the breakfast room. Note a few things, the door of the cabinet does not even close properly and the draws are missing 2 handles. I assure you this did not just happen. Have the staff reported it to maintenance? Why have they not fixed it? Not in the budget at a hotel that costs around R2000 a night?
Ok here is another example, have a look at the shower door in this picture, it does not close properly. Now again has house keeping reported it to maintenance? Now should this really be maintenance or is a poor installation that was not checked? The hotel paid for a service to have the shower door fitted and installed however it is by a substandard contractor, maybe? Then why was it not signed off prior to payment to the contractor? Have a look at the pic:
Ok now this next pic is surely a contractor that did a sub standard installation and got away with it? Why?
Maybe I am justing being picky? However surely this is team work? They are surely lacking somewhere, not to mention the fact that the door handle did not fit flush against the door, again poor workmanship that has been left to slide in a hotel that costs R2000 a night. Here is another pic which is a prime example of things being over looked.
The flag for the hotel with it’s logo has been hoisted up side down! No further comment I believe the above illustrates my point on this hotel. Now with the next hotel from the same group although a better “finished” hotel I still found the lack of team work and communication a problem. Really looking forward to a sauna I checked into the hotel and proceeded to their gym and suana. Now this is what their website advertises:
This is a screen shot from their website, guess what? No Sauna, it was closed I quote “not to sure I think a few months ago”. Nice guys! One last criticism – again maintenance – there are 10 lights in the room and 2 did not work, the hair dryer had a faulty switch and for clients in a rush to get done and check out it was not pleasant to wait 45 minutes for maintenance. Are the rooms not checked and feedback given to the rest of the team? Or do you wait for feedback from your clients before things are done? Come now….
OK this may seem a bit of nit picking however I do think the hotel chain needs to hear it and get some feedback. At both hotels they have some great additions and ideas on the go in the hotel, like the following:
OK it may look like much however it really makes it bearable showing in a bath without the curtain sticking to you. Well done! In closing I want to reiterate that the service was phenomenal I enjoyed the hotels and will use them again, I just feel that team work and communication is lacking.
