TAs, Your Opinio On This Reply From Richmonde Eastwood

Question

Hi guys,

I reviewed Richmonde Hotel in Eastwood Quezon City when I stayed there over the New Year's Eve holidays seen here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298574-d2002080-r122386487-Eastwood_Richmonde_Hotel-Quezon_City_Metro_Manila_Luzon.html

Management replied as follows:

Annie Dioso, Public Relations Manager at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, responded to this review

June 25, 2012

Thank you so much for your review. We are glad that despite some inconveniences you were able to enjoy your stay. We shall look into the improvement of the soundproofing of the rooms and also the charges for internet and local calls. While it is the standard for our hotel and for most hotels in Manila for that matter, to charge for wi-fi and local calls, we shall take your comments into serious consideration.

Since an appropriate number of towels are already provided for each room’s registered occupants, we regret that as part of the hotel’s eco-friendly practices, fees are required for any additional requests. Nevertheless, we shall likewise look into this matter.

Regarding your comment about the brunch offerings, in the Philippines we usually mean to take “brunch” literally and prepare a buffet spread that includes both breakfast and lunch items.

NOW, I have lived in the Philippines all my life except for a couple of years in Melbourne. What I can't seem to digest is the last paragraph stating that "in the Philippines we usually mean to take "brunch" literally and prepare a buffet spread that includes both breakfast and lunch items". I think it's a load of **** but is there anyone in the forum (preferably one who grew up in the Philippines that agrees with what the hotel management said? I'm just curious...

leftovertoo · Accepted Answer

The eco friendly garbage is an excuse hotels use to save money, simply put. No excuses.

Brunch is both meals pulled into one.Isnt that the same everywhere?

Many hotels provide free wifi now as ifs pretty much a free service overall that can be absorbed into rooms costs. Paying for call is standard.

viajeroManila · Answer

@leftovertoo, agree on the excuse thing.

As to brunch, I was kind of transported into the twilight zone when they had a prime rib carving next to bacon and eggs...

Business hotels in the region provide free local calls. HK and Sin to be specific. And wifi, in my opinion can be made free to in house guests the way other regional hotels do.

A Tripadvisor Member · Answer

Viajero, what would be your standard brunch?

viajeroManila · Answer

@edwinic, good question. I suppose we all have different exposures to what a brunch is, but for me, it has always been a heavy breakfast, more on the standard breakfast fare (eggs, breakfast meats, fruit, coffee, juice, etc) taken in the late morning to early afternoon (say 10AM-2PM). I suppose one can make an argument for putting standard lunch fares (e.g. the prime rib and potatoes, salads, etc), but haven't experienced any with a mishmash of both until then.

I guess I was just taken aback by the management's response generalizing "In the Philippines we usually mean..."

A Tripadvisor Member · Answer

Brunch, isn't that an amalgamation of breakfast and lunch? A sort of late breakfast / early lunch. So given that both breakfast and lunch choices were provided, what is your complaint? What were you expecting to eat?

viajeroManila · Answer

@sirenna, see previous post... Like I said, it's what we were exposed to I suppose... But the it's the generalization/lecturing about "in the Philippines we..." that got to me.

kegler747 · Answer

I think if the word "literally" is omitted then I suppose you would just shrug it off. I would not agree nor disagree with any party but I find the comment to be sarcastic.

viajeroManila · Answer

@Keg, perhaps. It just didn't read right to me...

A Tripadvisor Member · Answer

I've never, ever heard of brunch being described as a meal eaten in the afternoon (wouldn't that be more of a 'merienda'?). In my experience it is a mid-morning meal, something to tide you over till lunch, or to accommodate late risers. In most of the world I believe this is so. Did they not provide anything you found palateable?

A Tripadvisor Member · Answer

Perhaps their comment came across a bit sarcastic but maybe they expect most people to know what brunch (and commonly served brunch food) is! A meal at lunch time is lunch, not brunch. An afternoon snack could be considered a 'late lunch', not brunch!

TAs, Your Opinio On This Reply From Richmonde Eastwood - Quezon City Forum

TAs, Your Opinio On This Reply From Richmonde Eastwood

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