Top guests say Asian hotels are best in the world

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 33

Top guests say Asian hotels are best in the world

JOSEPH de RIENZO

By

through NZPA Bangkok

Globe-trotting fat cats, film stars, government leaders and executives whose company expense accounts can afford them consistently rate Asia’s top hotels the world’s best Why? For starters, Asian hotel staff seem to take more pains to cater to the whims of the well-heeled traveller. Bangkok’s Oriental, rated best hotel in the world in an “Institutional Investor” magazine poll every year since it began in 1981, soothes finicky V.I.P. demands with alacrity. “One hundred kilos of frozen frog legs? Right away, President Omar Bongo of Gabon.” When Brunei’s Prince Sufri Bolkiah says “Boy, my bags ...” a commando of bellhops has all 92 suitcases and a consignment of 70 foul-smelling durian fruit ready to go in no time. And President Reagan can safely assume that if he ever returns to take over the entire Hotel Okura in Tokyo its staff will be better run than his National Security Council. The “Institutional Investor,” a New York business magazine, rated the Oriental, the Hong Kong Mandarin, the Okura and the Regent of Hong Kong the four best hotels in the

world in 1986. The 100 leading bankers polled, some of whom spend nine months a year on the road, rated their service unbeatable. Ten of the top 50 hotels listed were in Asian cities: Bangkok, Hong Kong (3) — all in the top 10 — Japan (2), Singapore (2), Seoul and Manila. One Washington banker said: “The Oriental’s facilities are magnificent Everything is good here.” History is another lure. Not long before she died Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco photographed each other in the 110-year-old original wing of the Oriental, its suites named for former guests like Somerset Maugham and Noel Coward. Maugham and Rudyard Kipling immortalised Singapore’s Raffles Hotel. Although not on the list of 50 best it is a State treasure and popular with world travellers. “Air tourists coming to Singapore must come to Raffles,” said the Italian manager, Roberto Pregarz. “If not for a meal or the cultural show, at least for a Singapore Sling” — a gin cocktail concocted by Raffles bartenders in 1915. The Okura was built in 1962, but combines traditional grace with Western convenience — and two staff for every room. Last May it absorbed

without a hiccup President Reagan and a crush of aides, machine-gun packing secret servicemen and computer-toting reporters for the Tokyo economic summit Swiss and other European staff- are thick on the ground in many Asian hotels. Not in the Okura. It is run entirely by Japanese, although about one-third of its staff have had training abroad. All employees speak at least basic English. Okura quality is not cheap. Room rates range from 21,500 yen to 350,000 for the Imperial Suite — Reagan’s lair. Service and taxes can add another 20 per cent to the bill. “It’s best not to convert to dollars,” one hotel executive said. But plenty of travellers do pay the SUSISI to SUS2I6O ($289 to $4147) per day it costs to stay there. Oriental rates start at SUSIIS ($220) but you can have the entire sixteenth floor with a private elevator “on application.” Hong Kong’s Mandarin charges from $ US 150 (SNZ2BB) per night for a room. The traveller can get more for less in Bangkok and Singapore where over-building of hotels has led to fierce competition, with occupancy rates below 50 per cent. Even travellers who cannot afford the very best are enjoying improvements as competing

Aslan hotels hustle to get prestigious “Institutional Investor" recognition. The Hong Kong Peninsula is fully booked until next spring. No reservation at the Oriental? There would have been no room at that particular inn for you this Christmas. Raffles, with rates cut up to 25 per cent to meet competition, says more than 85 per cent of the rooms are occupied. Singapore opened the 73-storey Westin Stamford last July — the highest hotel in the world, says the “Guinness Book of Records.” Three new big hotels will open there in a few months. Such competition spurs even better service, according to Asian hotel executives. Asian hotels are sending more staff to train at the best hotels in Western Europe and North America. The Mandarin in Hong Kong will be getting a SUSI 3 million ($24.9 million) facelift over the next two years. Kurt Wachveitl, West German general manager of the Oriental, makes his own trips abroad to spy on trends and innovations in the trade. The Oriental takes extra care of its staff, giving top pay, welfare benefits and incentives such as family outings. In return, even junior staff take such interest in their jobs that they can

remember names of guests who return after long absences, according to its public relations manager. Guests* tastes are kept on file and staff mustered every other day for service, cultural and technical briefings. Recognition given such leading hotels by the “Investor," “Time,” “Newsweek,” “Queen” and other magazines helps ensure they maintain and improve standards. Mr Wachveitl said in a recent interview that world-wide publicity had spurred guests to be more picky about identifying shortcomings in hotel questionnaires. Restaurant, disco and shopping concessions in the hotels are also required to maintain high Integrity and service, said hotel executives in the region. Thai staff at the Oriental think the secret weapon keeping their hotel at the top of the heap is their ability to smile through the toughest of . spots. If Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew insists his room be just this warm or his beer just that chilled, it’s done with a smile. • "Throw everyone out of the pool so Mr Prime Minister can swim in total security?” — Can do, without undue inconvenience for other guests. .