hi bride-to-bes,
this is a mail my friend forward to me. i think the "story" is real because this is some one she knows:
here comes the mail...Prepare for the shock...
>This is really a very bad experience.....
>
>Just in case any of your friends are getting married and holding a
>dinner....
>
>So Angry that I felt I should disclose to my friends on the bad
>experience one of my friend had yesterday. True experience, as I am
>physically there experiencing it.
>
>My friend Gary had his wedding dinner at Carlton Hotel (opposite
>Chijmes).
>
>Lets begin from the initial stage when he booked his
>wedding banquet last year.
>
>Originally a Carlton Banquet MGR liased with him and
>confirmed his booking one year ago. My friend cancels all other bookings
>from other hotels.
>
>Few weeks after the confirmation, MGR called and told my
>friend that he is on waiting list cos another couple had book on that day.
>My friend was so angry. Few months later then they confirmed his booking.
>
>Then they changed another MGR and my friend had to re clarify with
>the new manager what has been agreed previously. There was no
>proper handing over and taking over on the hotel side.
>
>Most funny is such a big hotel supposed to undergo
>renovation, doesn't know about the renovation 9 months ago. The hotel
>doesn't even brief my friend that the hotel is supposed to undergo major
>renovation few months later when my friend make the booking and confirm
>with
>payment of deposit.
>
>Renovation was only found out later by my friend and upon confronted, the
>MGR promised that the renovation work will not affect the wedding banquet.
>
>Now comes the big day.
>
>The coordinator requested to meet the bride and groom and emcee and
>beverage
>coordinator at 5.30pm in the complimentary suite.
>And when we were there (your friend me was the emcee), the
>coordinator came up and get the wedding album and hard liquor down and
>claimed
>that they will set up the wedding photo album ready. No other "unpleasant
>thing" was mentioned. The coordinator even asked us to go down to the
>banquet
>hall at 6.15pm so that they can rehearse through the night plan.
>
>My friend (Eugene) pop down at 5.50pm to have a look and to his shock, the
>cocktail reception place was not properly setup. Worst of all the
>whole place was like a sauna, or even a discarded place. Air was stale.
>
>When we went down at 6.15pm to confront the co-ordinator, what we
>saw was even worse. Greeted us the moment we step out of the lift was
>"big bulky industrial fan" and many dryers (like those U find in public
>toilets where the cleaners use to dry the wet floor) lying around. Wire was
>dangling here and there and to make matter worse, they use masking tape to
>cover some of the wires. Very very unsightly.
>
>
>When we ask the co-ordinator about the aircon, they claimed that the
>air-con
>broke down since noon that day and they are repairing. When we ask how
>come such an important issue was not make known to us, they claim
>that they don't see it as a matter and their mechanic are solving the
>matter.
>They promised or hope to get the aircon up by 7pm before the start of the
>cocktail reception.
>
>When we demand to see the manager, the coordinator says he will call
>him, and he went into the banquet hall, giving excuse of looking for the
>manager. We waited for very long and still no sight of the manager and the
>coordinator.
>7pm came. Aircon still down. Everyone was sweating. We grab another
>coordinator to ask about it, and guess what we get, "today's Sunday, our
>chief mechanic is off so we cannot fix the aircon. Have to
>make-do with the fans and dryer which is blowing out hot air."
>
>We are stunned. But since the guests starts arriving, we ask the
>groom and bride to handle the guest while we look into the matter. My
>friend (Eugene) then went to tell the coordinator outfront that we are
>dissatisfied and will not pay the full dinner cost. We will negotiate after
>the
>dinner. The coordinator agreed.
>
>U know what, throughout the cocktail reception, music was not on.
>The staff stand leaning against the wall throughout and no one took the
>initiative to serve the guest drinks. Looks like the wall is falling and
>the
>staff have to lean and support the falling wall. They wait for the guest to
>get
>the drinks from them. Light was not on. The whole cocktail reception place
>was like a mortuary, no music, no aircon, stale air, dark. In the end, we
>had to get the guest to be seated in the banquet hall with air-con and
>music.
>
>U know what, if not for some guest who asked for the photo album,
>we would have forgotten about it. l I quickly grab hold of one
>coordinator and ask about the photo album. He says he doesn't know abt it
>and refer
>me to another. Luckily I managed to sight the one who get the album from
>us earlier and asked him about it. "Oh yes the album is here" was the reply
>and he walk to the groom's table to get the album, still in the carrier
>intact.
>
>I have to carry the album out myself to setup. As I couldn't find any
>photo album stand, I went in again to look for the same guy which I
>couldn't
>find of cos. Then upon asking one of the waiters, who show me to the stand.
>I have to carry the stand myself to setup. Can U imagine my temperature
>at that moment?
>
>We totally give up on the cocktail reception.
>
>Now comes the march in. I was told to get the Que. from the
>coordinator at the main entrance. When he signaled, I step up onto the
>stage
>to
>get the guests to stand and welcome the groom and bride. Lights dimmed.
>Music started. Guests clapping. For one solid minute. Nothing happen.
>Door not open even though the groom and bride standing outside the door.
>Then the door opens abruptly. Very very embarrassing.
>
>When the bride and groom marches in and onto stage for cake
>cutting and then back to their seats. I announced for the guests to be
>seated and
>dinner will be served shortly. This happen twice, on two march in.
>
>I walked back to my seat which is at the entrance. Again lights
>dimmed. Music started. Guest waited. Three minutes passed by nothing
>happen. Lights on again and music stopped suddenly, one minute gone by and
>guests starts wondering what happen. Eugene went out to see what happen.
>Guess
>what he saw? Staff coordination was in a mess. Missing staff. He can hear
>from the loud walkie talkie conversation that the coordinator are
>searching for the missing staff to start the food presentation.
>
>Then as sudden as "usual" lights dimmed and music suddenly blasted.
>Then door open and the staff paraded in "kalan kabok" . Comically,
>some waiter serve the food immediately when they are in while some still
>holding to the food in their hands until the music stop. Definitely no
>rehearsal
>beforehand.
>
>In between the dinner, U can hear waiter/waitress break glasses, cling
>clang here and there.
>
>After the dinner ended, we demand to see the manager. And finally
>he shows up. When we confront him the issue, all he tries is to find
>excuses for all the hiccups.
>
>I was so mad that I bombarded him when he claim that the hotel has done
>the best in providing backup for aircon break down. And now he indirectly
>blame us for choosing a wedding dinner on Sunday where his chief
>mechanic is on leave and no one can repair the aircon so nothing can be
>done.
>We were so fed up that we proclaimed loudly that whether his staff is on
>leave or MC is none of our concern. That's their internal problem. We are
>not
>interested at their story.
>
>We ask about the photo album set up as promised. The manager twisted
>his words and say that it is the hotel's policy to wait for the bride
>and groom to arrive at the banquet hall and ask the couple where to place
>the album.
>
>For goodness sake, there is only one entrance. And at 7.00pm sharp,
>everyone of us including the groom and bride are there at the cocktail
>reception hall. A lot of coordinators saw them but chose to ignore. None
>came up to seek the couples' idea on where to place the album. It is only
>when I went to ask for it then they realised that the album was not setup.
>What a lame excuse.
>
>When asked about the cockup at the march in and food serving, now the
>manager twisted the words that they are supposed to wait for my Que.
>(emcee). What nonsense. They are the one who ask us to wait for the Que.
>to go up stage and announce. And once the couple marches into the hall,
>we would expect the door is closed and the coordinator will start to
>line up the staff for the food presentation. But all this was only our
>expectations and not reality.
>
>Can U imagine my anger at that moment? When the manager keep on
>harping that they had done the best, not even apologizing, I just fired him
>one
>question," Carlton Hotel is charging us 10% service charge for all
>this. And how many percent of the service charge do U think your staff
>deserve?"
>The manager was dumb.
>"Honestly, speaking, none. I felt you all deserve not even one percent of
>the service charge." That's what I said to him although I almost screamed
>to
>him.
>
>Initially, he refused to give in to our demand to have three tables
>and a barrel of beer cost cut, only willing to have two tables and a
>barrel of beer.
>
>We told him that we cannot accept that and we refused to give in.
>I even threaten to stop negotiating with this manager and demand to see
>the GM. Only then that the manager went out for a while and came back to
>say that he agrees to our demand.
>
>But we told him that we will still write formally to file complaints
>to the GM.
>
>Dinner ends at 10.30pm and we have to spend 1 hour plus negotiating
>for this nonsense.
>
>This is really a traumatizing night for us and the couple. I cannot
>bring myself to imagine the embarrassment my friend is facing.
>
>Thus I sincerely urge all of U reading the mail to spread the word
>round to your friends planning to get married - not to even consider
>Carlton hotel.
>
>For your information, the cost was not cheap - they are charging S$638 per
>table (equivalent to some other 4 star hotels).
this is a mail my friend forward to me. i think the "story" is real because this is some one she knows:
here comes the mail...Prepare for the shock...
>This is really a very bad experience.....
>
>Just in case any of your friends are getting married and holding a
>dinner....
>
>So Angry that I felt I should disclose to my friends on the bad
>experience one of my friend had yesterday. True experience, as I am
>physically there experiencing it.
>
>My friend Gary had his wedding dinner at Carlton Hotel (opposite
>Chijmes).
>
>Lets begin from the initial stage when he booked his
>wedding banquet last year.
>
>Originally a Carlton Banquet MGR liased with him and
>confirmed his booking one year ago. My friend cancels all other bookings
>from other hotels.
>
>Few weeks after the confirmation, MGR called and told my
>friend that he is on waiting list cos another couple had book on that day.
>My friend was so angry. Few months later then they confirmed his booking.
>
>Then they changed another MGR and my friend had to re clarify with
>the new manager what has been agreed previously. There was no
>proper handing over and taking over on the hotel side.
>
>Most funny is such a big hotel supposed to undergo
>renovation, doesn't know about the renovation 9 months ago. The hotel
>doesn't even brief my friend that the hotel is supposed to undergo major
>renovation few months later when my friend make the booking and confirm
>with
>payment of deposit.
>
>Renovation was only found out later by my friend and upon confronted, the
>MGR promised that the renovation work will not affect the wedding banquet.
>
>Now comes the big day.
>
>The coordinator requested to meet the bride and groom and emcee and
>beverage
>coordinator at 5.30pm in the complimentary suite.
>And when we were there (your friend me was the emcee), the
>coordinator came up and get the wedding album and hard liquor down and
>claimed
>that they will set up the wedding photo album ready. No other "unpleasant
>thing" was mentioned. The coordinator even asked us to go down to the
>banquet
>hall at 6.15pm so that they can rehearse through the night plan.
>
>My friend (Eugene) pop down at 5.50pm to have a look and to his shock, the
>cocktail reception place was not properly setup. Worst of all the
>whole place was like a sauna, or even a discarded place. Air was stale.
>
>When we went down at 6.15pm to confront the co-ordinator, what we
>saw was even worse. Greeted us the moment we step out of the lift was
>"big bulky industrial fan" and many dryers (like those U find in public
>toilets where the cleaners use to dry the wet floor) lying around. Wire was
>dangling here and there and to make matter worse, they use masking tape to
>cover some of the wires. Very very unsightly.
>
>
>When we ask the co-ordinator about the aircon, they claimed that the
>air-con
>broke down since noon that day and they are repairing. When we ask how
>come such an important issue was not make known to us, they claim
>that they don't see it as a matter and their mechanic are solving the
>matter.
>They promised or hope to get the aircon up by 7pm before the start of the
>cocktail reception.
>
>When we demand to see the manager, the coordinator says he will call
>him, and he went into the banquet hall, giving excuse of looking for the
>manager. We waited for very long and still no sight of the manager and the
>coordinator.
>7pm came. Aircon still down. Everyone was sweating. We grab another
>coordinator to ask about it, and guess what we get, "today's Sunday, our
>chief mechanic is off so we cannot fix the aircon. Have to
>make-do with the fans and dryer which is blowing out hot air."
>
>We are stunned. But since the guests starts arriving, we ask the
>groom and bride to handle the guest while we look into the matter. My
>friend (Eugene) then went to tell the coordinator outfront that we are
>dissatisfied and will not pay the full dinner cost. We will negotiate after
>the
>dinner. The coordinator agreed.
>
>U know what, throughout the cocktail reception, music was not on.
>The staff stand leaning against the wall throughout and no one took the
>initiative to serve the guest drinks. Looks like the wall is falling and
>the
>staff have to lean and support the falling wall. They wait for the guest to
>get
>the drinks from them. Light was not on. The whole cocktail reception place
>was like a mortuary, no music, no aircon, stale air, dark. In the end, we
>had to get the guest to be seated in the banquet hall with air-con and
>music.
>
>U know what, if not for some guest who asked for the photo album,
>we would have forgotten about it. l I quickly grab hold of one
>coordinator and ask about the photo album. He says he doesn't know abt it
>and refer
>me to another. Luckily I managed to sight the one who get the album from
>us earlier and asked him about it. "Oh yes the album is here" was the reply
>and he walk to the groom's table to get the album, still in the carrier
>intact.
>
>I have to carry the album out myself to setup. As I couldn't find any
>photo album stand, I went in again to look for the same guy which I
>couldn't
>find of cos. Then upon asking one of the waiters, who show me to the stand.
>I have to carry the stand myself to setup. Can U imagine my temperature
>at that moment?
>
>We totally give up on the cocktail reception.
>
>Now comes the march in. I was told to get the Que. from the
>coordinator at the main entrance. When he signaled, I step up onto the
>stage
>to
>get the guests to stand and welcome the groom and bride. Lights dimmed.
>Music started. Guests clapping. For one solid minute. Nothing happen.
>Door not open even though the groom and bride standing outside the door.
>Then the door opens abruptly. Very very embarrassing.
>
>When the bride and groom marches in and onto stage for cake
>cutting and then back to their seats. I announced for the guests to be
>seated and
>dinner will be served shortly. This happen twice, on two march in.
>
>I walked back to my seat which is at the entrance. Again lights
>dimmed. Music started. Guest waited. Three minutes passed by nothing
>happen. Lights on again and music stopped suddenly, one minute gone by and
>guests starts wondering what happen. Eugene went out to see what happen.
>Guess
>what he saw? Staff coordination was in a mess. Missing staff. He can hear
>from the loud walkie talkie conversation that the coordinator are
>searching for the missing staff to start the food presentation.
>
>Then as sudden as "usual" lights dimmed and music suddenly blasted.
>Then door open and the staff paraded in "kalan kabok" . Comically,
>some waiter serve the food immediately when they are in while some still
>holding to the food in their hands until the music stop. Definitely no
>rehearsal
>beforehand.
>
>In between the dinner, U can hear waiter/waitress break glasses, cling
>clang here and there.
>
>After the dinner ended, we demand to see the manager. And finally
>he shows up. When we confront him the issue, all he tries is to find
>excuses for all the hiccups.
>
>I was so mad that I bombarded him when he claim that the hotel has done
>the best in providing backup for aircon break down. And now he indirectly
>blame us for choosing a wedding dinner on Sunday where his chief
>mechanic is on leave and no one can repair the aircon so nothing can be
>done.
>We were so fed up that we proclaimed loudly that whether his staff is on
>leave or MC is none of our concern. That's their internal problem. We are
>not
>interested at their story.
>
>We ask about the photo album set up as promised. The manager twisted
>his words and say that it is the hotel's policy to wait for the bride
>and groom to arrive at the banquet hall and ask the couple where to place
>the album.
>
>For goodness sake, there is only one entrance. And at 7.00pm sharp,
>everyone of us including the groom and bride are there at the cocktail
>reception hall. A lot of coordinators saw them but chose to ignore. None
>came up to seek the couples' idea on where to place the album. It is only
>when I went to ask for it then they realised that the album was not setup.
>What a lame excuse.
>
>When asked about the cockup at the march in and food serving, now the
>manager twisted the words that they are supposed to wait for my Que.
>(emcee). What nonsense. They are the one who ask us to wait for the Que.
>to go up stage and announce. And once the couple marches into the hall,
>we would expect the door is closed and the coordinator will start to
>line up the staff for the food presentation. But all this was only our
>expectations and not reality.
>
>Can U imagine my anger at that moment? When the manager keep on
>harping that they had done the best, not even apologizing, I just fired him
>one
>question," Carlton Hotel is charging us 10% service charge for all
>this. And how many percent of the service charge do U think your staff
>deserve?"
>The manager was dumb.
>"Honestly, speaking, none. I felt you all deserve not even one percent of
>the service charge." That's what I said to him although I almost screamed
>to
>him.
>
>Initially, he refused to give in to our demand to have three tables
>and a barrel of beer cost cut, only willing to have two tables and a
>barrel of beer.
>
>We told him that we cannot accept that and we refused to give in.
>I even threaten to stop negotiating with this manager and demand to see
>the GM. Only then that the manager went out for a while and came back to
>say that he agrees to our demand.
>
>But we told him that we will still write formally to file complaints
>to the GM.
>
>Dinner ends at 10.30pm and we have to spend 1 hour plus negotiating
>for this nonsense.
>
>This is really a traumatizing night for us and the couple. I cannot
>bring myself to imagine the embarrassment my friend is facing.
>
>Thus I sincerely urge all of U reading the mail to spread the word
>round to your friends planning to get married - not to even consider
>Carlton hotel.
>
>For your information, the cost was not cheap - they are charging S$638 per
>table (equivalent to some other 4 star hotels).
