Still one of the best breakfast buffet selections but the service has declined rapidly. They are clearly under staffed and operating with inexperienced wait staff resulting in service levels of a 3 star breakfast buffet, rather than one of the best hotels in the World.
Service issues experienced during breakfast included:
- No one there to seat us on arrival just after breakfast opening (6.35/6.40am). Had to go 'looking' for a staff member to seat us.
- Several hot buffet items were not there on opening and didn't appear for 10-15 mins until after open.
- Often took 2-3 requests to get water served or refilled
- When items were run out often not replaced. They had 6 almond croissants out in the morning. Once they were gone there were no more - seriously, a supply of 6 for a buffet that size.
- Most of the staff seemed new and VERY inexperienced. Felt like a bad Holiday Inn, rather than a leading hotel in the World. Staff didn't know how to clear tables without making you pass them plates and not once offered to refill water glasses, etc.
The host on our first 2 days (Tues/Wed 17/18 May) did her best but she was short staffed first thing in the morning and seemed to be having to do everything herself. Even when staff did join her as the morning went on they were so inexperienced it still fell to her to do most things.
Things improved a lot on 19 May when the long serving thai supervisor / host returned from time off and she definitely improved things (she's been at the hotel a long time). Even then though she was having to rely on inexperienced staff.
The General Manager did a walk thought as did another Western lady manager (maybe F&B manager?) every morning we were there. I'd strongly advise them to:
1. Do a spot check at opening (6.30am) to see if the full buffet is there and if staff are there to greet guests. They generally did their walk through at 7am.
2. Actually sit down and have breakfast there and observe the awful level of service being offered by the inexperienced wait staff and ask themselves whether what they are seeing is truly worthy of a hotel at this level.
It is a beautiful restaurant and one of the best quality breakfast buffets in the World.
I really hope they can perhaps attract back some of the old team members who delivered first class service to match the breakfast buffet.
If not, then they need to recruit more experienced staff - as some of them appeared to have NEVER actually waited tables before, yet were being asked to serve in a top end 5 star hotel.
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