hello eveyone,
i'll like to share my horrific experience on carton.
My fiance and i had wanted to confirm our wedding package at the Empress 4 & 5 ballroom and had an appointment with one of the banquet sales person, Winnie Lo. Few days before our appointment, she called to ask if I have already book with another hotel. I was shocked as we are supposed to be meeting her that weekend to pay the deposit and confirm the booking.
This is chronologically what happened.
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27 May
Was referred to Winnie handling our event. We fixed an appointment to meet on 31 May.
She replied also to say that out of our requested dates, 2, 9 & 30 June 2012 on waiting list.
Met on 31 May
1 Jun
Wrote to Winnie that we are keen, and we are looking at 30 Jun. Ask her to inform us once it’s available.
Winnie replied that “ Currently 30 June 2012 for Empress 4 & 5 is available.†However, 30 June 2011 is a auspicious date therefore there is additional of $30nett per table incurred
2 Jun
Email to Winnie to ask if Ballroom 3 can also release to us if we require more tables, or how many tables do we have to book to secure the ballroom 3 as well for us. And some misc questions.
11 Jun
Email to Winnie to ask if she can reply to our queries as we have not heard from her.
She called back to say she did not receive the email. I forward it again to her immediately.
13 Jun
Winnie sent an email : “Thanks for your call a moment ago. Further to our discussion. The only option is to guaranteed 50 tables then I can open up Empress 1 - 5 for your wedding dinner. At this current moment I am unable to offer Empress 3 - 5 for your wedding dinner on 30 June 2012. I can only confirm with you 2 month prior to your wedding.
I have already block put empress 4 & 5 for your wedding dinner. Therefore please revert to me by 20 June 2011, as we are changing our wedding package rate soon. “
Also some other perks were discussed via Winnie’s email to us.
17 Jun
My fiance wrote the email to Winnie (cc me) if she is available to meet us on 19 Jun, as we’ll like to confirm our wedding package
Winnie reply to say she is not working on 19 Jun, and if we can meet with her the following sat or sun (25 or 26 Jun).
My fiance reply that it was stated that we need to revert by 20 June, and if the rate and offer still stands since she can only meet us later.
To which, Winnie reply : I will hold the date and rates till 26 June 2011. I will arrange to meet you on 26 June at 1.00pm.
22 Jun
Winnie called me and ask if I have signed up with another hotel. I was confused and replied to her that we were suppose to be meeting her this Sunday. And she say she did not receive my fiance’s email. I forward the email to her and she say ok, can we meet at 3pm instead, which I agreed. Shortly after, she called again to inform me that the ballroom was released to another couple on the same date, 30 Jun 2012.
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We were shocked.
This is totally unprofessional, especially from a hotel, which emphasis was given to organising wedding events, as seen from the efforts it puts into renovation and attention to details to having the perfect wedding.
As everyone here would have understood, much efforts and discussion have been put together by 2 families to come together in agreement to the date and venue. We are appalled by the carelessness of the team handling the most important day of someone’s life!
We have since changed our venue for our wedding, and the new coordinator at Sheraton is much more professional than this!
