Elitayilitang
December 22, 2024
It was Christmas, and the hotel's decorations did not disappoint me: the Christmas tree in the lobby stood tall, the lights were bright, and the gingerbread house exuded a sweet aroma, like a performance specially arranged for the holiday. However, this gorgeous decoration did not dilute my later doubts about the service, and even in some details, it made me feel that there seemed to be a lack of real care behind these pretense.
Breakfast is really good
The next morning, I went to the restaurant for dinner. Hot noodles, freshly fried eggs, freshly cut fruits, everything looked exquisite. Although there are not many varieties, it is enough to make people full and warm. I sat down with a bowl of hot soup noodles, and the light from the window came in, as if this hotel wanted to prove that it is more than just beautiful in decoration. However, the warmth of breakfast did not cover up my complicated feelings about the various experiences of the previous day.
Service attitude and differences
From the check-in, the problems gradually emerged. The front desk handed me the room card, but only said a few words, without mentioning how to access the Internet or how to apply for hotel parking. They gave me two drink coupons, but there was no text on the coupons indicating where to use them, and the front desk receptionist did not explain. I asked one question and the answer was cold. However, when dealing with foreign guests, the waiter smiled and patiently explained various details. This difference reminds me of a saying: "If you treat others less than you should, you have lost your duty." I have no intention of asking for special treatment, but I just hope to get basic respect as a guest.
The room problem was not spared. I was initially assigned to the 9th floor, and the view outside the window was blocked, making the room dim. I asked for a room change, and the front desk's answer was very straightforward: "There are no rooms." I repeatedly explained my needs, but they never gave in. It was not until I expressed my dissatisfaction in English that I found that they immediately changed their words and arranged a room on the 11th floor for me. This attitude reminds me of some old dramas I watched when I was a child. They were calm on the surface, but they secretly acknowledged "different treatment" in their bones.
The trouble of night and check-out
The sound insulation problem at night is also difficult to ignore. At 10 o'clock in the evening, the noise from the room next door was too loud, making it hard to fall asleep. I called the front desk to complain, and the duty manager offered to upgrade me to an executive suite. I refused because it was too late and I didn't want to go through the trouble of moving around. The duty manager called again later and said that he had reminded the guests in the next room.
The experience of checking out was even more ridiculous. Because I didn't rest well the night before, I asked the duty manager in advance to delay my check-out, and the answer I got was "it can be extended to four o'clock." However, at two o'clock, I found that the room card was no longer usable. No one answered the phone at the front desk, so I had to go downstairs to change the card myself, and finally checked out at more than three o'clock. These trivial matters accumulated together, which inevitably made me feel tired: hotel services, seemingly exquisite, are actually just face-saving efforts.
Parking fee issue
Finally, let's talk about the parking fee. I had asked about the parking policy when I checked in, but I was charged 80 yuan for parking when I checked out. For this reason, I was asked to submit payment records and was told that the refund would take a week. This way of handling things makes me shake my head: Is the hotel's process so complicated to this extent to save the guests' troubles or to save themselves troubles?
Epilogue
Fudan Crowne Plaza Hotel does have its advantages. The Christmas decorations are beautiful, the breakfast is warm, and the location is excellent. However, all these good things are discounted by the details of the service. Especially the difference in the treatment of Chinese guests and foreign guests is even more disappointing.
I write these words not to complain, but to hope that the hotel can really face the problem. Service is not decoration, not a facade, but the most basic responsibility. If even this cannot be done, no matter how good the environment is, it is just a facade.
I hope that one day, when I come back here, Fudan Crowne Plaza Hotel can tell me with actions: change is not difficult.
Original TextTranslation provided by Google