So Much Potential

As mentioned on my previous entry, we were mightily disappointed with the place we chose to stay during our Kuala Kangsar weekend. So, I did a bit of digging.

The resort was built by the City Council and was completed in 2000. It was fully run by the Council, which explained the quality of service. Clearly the management did not have much interest in running the place. I was sure they were either elected or tasked to run. And from the conversation I had with them, they clearly was not planning to give a great service.

The main reception, and the restaurant located by the entranceThos were the extra mattresses - which we were charged handsomely forThere was a separate partition to the main bedroom. Idlan and Irfan slept there.The cleaners were mainly "expatriates", by which we meant Bangladeshi or Indonesians to whom the phrase "customer service" never registered in their dictionary.

My feeling is that the place was set up to cater for the various government meetings and symposium at the area. The place was almost always full according to the manager, but it didn't look that much of the investment returned to maintaining the facility.

Table with a mirror in the main bedroom, looking into the loungeCouple of couches at the loungeA table of courseWe stayed in a suite, which set us back RM260 per night, not including breakfast. It may not be much as far as hotels went, but it was the top of the range room. And what did we get? Not even hot shower! And there were no room to complain. The manager just smiled and I clearly felt that she couldn't give a rat's ass in her mind!

At least the air conditioning was working and we had a few Astro channels to watch, but I wouldn't say that this was value for money. Having bad service was one thing, not giving a hoot about it was another ....

Back to the lobby area

The field right at the back of our room. We should've brought our ball with us.This was where our rooms were. It was a bungalow building with four suite unitNice field looking towards the other guestroomsAnd the Sayung bridge was right behind our roomsIn saying that, the place got so much potential. The location was spot on, with great vantage points and it being located right next to the river. There were plenty of space to expand, including space for barbecues, team building, and even water sport. Imagine what a private chain could do with the place with proper management. Alas!

What an opportunity missed!