A Rumor About The Shangrila And Four Seasons Hotels

[venturalaw]

My post was in response to the Shangri-la being opened or closed. Everything looked fine meant that it was opened, not closed. Understand?

Yes i understand now. Why didn't you say it was opan notb closed. Not say it was fine.

You should have written " it was open on saturday" saying it was fine gives readers the impression that it has no problems current or potential. Take away the expats and the staff and the two remaining people could i suppose have had a together.

English clearly is not your first language. It is mine. You appear to be the only one expressing confusion regarding what I posted. Let's leave it at that.

Good observation. English is not my first language.

n

And how many foreign languages do you speak. You really love yourself, don't you.

The fact remains: The Shangri la was "fine " Saturday because there was a meeting there but is not doing well and seems to have lost direction. Try glossing over it if you want - and for what ever reasons - but there are better places for a lunch for example ( and that is not from me but another poster on this thread)

You don't handle criticism well, do you? I attempted to point out why you were incorrect in your assessment of my response. You do not want to accept it. That's fine - but there is no reason to cast aspersions. You most likely speak more languages than I speak. Good for you. Do you love yourself, for I do not understand the logic of suggesting that I am a narcissist. However, you are still incorrect in your instructing me as to how I should have responded.

[elektrified]

I hear you can get the Meridien for 3000 baht now.. Shangri La probably too. And STILL they don't fill any rooms. There's just very little market in the high-end in Chiang Mai and if there is then it's in the more boutique type places, not those huge slabs of concrete that are the Meridien and Shangri La.

Compare to that the 'former' top-end hotels and what they cost these days... You can get the Amari Rincome for a little over 1000 baht. (1200 or so). Orchid Hotel a bit below that still. Empress: Same. Porn Ping: Lower still. All these older places aren't going away, when the economy improves they only need to do some very limited refurbishing and they're in a perfect position to kill off the 'new' top-end, the Meridiens, D2s and Shangri Las of this world, especially without a business market of people who want to stay in their regular top-end place with (or for) the points.

I'm actually VERY interested in what the rooms at the Amari Rincome look like these days... 1200 baht, in a hyper trendy area of town.. They're in a killer position, and those 'grande old Thai companies' for sure have the stamina to weather any economic storm.

Of course when you can get a large, clean, comfortable room with hot water, air con, cable TV and a mini-fridge for 500 baht or less at a large number of guest houses, why does anyone stay in a hotel?

spudly news flash !! some poeple have money and do not have to stay in peasant quarters.. news flash!!!! concrete slab???.. mr.spud i was in shagrala three days this past weekend ...it is beautiful ,pool grounds like unreal...plus the big bonus it is practically empty.. the rincom is 40 yer old and looks it!!! i was there in 1980 and it was old then...

dude?? a guest house

new flash>>>> not everbody has to use/wants to use the 2 baht toilets of t-land...

how on earth you say shangrala and rincom in same paragraph?? two different animals...

I too was impressed with the Shangri La when I hung out there earlier in the month when a guest was in town and stayed there. I'd been there before but had not had a chance to see as much as I did this time. The grounds and pool area are beautiful (never saw one guest at the pool in 3 days but the guy was always ready with the towels!) and the lounges are nice. It is almost empty which is great if your hanging out there...like a private fantasy kinda thing... The buffet restaurant was not bad; nice selection of desserts, etc.

[heybruce]

I hear you spudly news flash !! some poeple have money and do not have to stay in peasant quarters.. news flash!!!! concrete slab???.. mr.spud i was in shagrala three days this past weekend ...it is beautiful ,pool grounds like unreal...plus the big bonus it is practically empty.. the rincom is 40 yer old and looks it!!! i was there in 1980 and it was old then...

dude?? a guest house

new flash>>>> not everbody has to use/wants to use the 2 baht toilets of t-land...

how on earth you say shangrala and rincom in same paragraph?? two different animals...

Actually the peasant quarters I stayed in in the old city were much larger, cleaner, and more comfortable than the room I had for a few days at Pornping, and cost less than half as much. Although I agree some people are willing to spend large sums of money to add a few minor conveniences that they may or may not use to their stay.

[venturalaw]

I hear you can get the Meridien for 3000 baht now.. Shangri La probably too. And STILL they don't fill any rooms. There's just very little market in the high-end in Chiang Mai and if there is then it's in the more boutique type places, not those huge slabs of concrete that are the Meridien and Shangri La.

Compare to that the 'former' top-end hotels and what they cost these days... You can get the Amari Rincome for a little over 1000 baht. (1200 or so). Orchid Hotel a bit below that still. Empress: Same. Porn Ping: Lower still. All these older places aren't going away, when the economy improves they only need to do some very limited refurbishing and they're in a perfect position to kill off the 'new' top-end, the Meridiens, D2s and Shangri Las of this world, especially without a business market of people who want to stay in their regular top-end place with (or for) the points.

I'm actually VERY interested in what the rooms at the Amari Rincome look like these days... 1200 baht, in a hyper trendy area of town.. They're in a killer position, and those 'grande old Thai companies' for sure have the stamina to weather any economic storm.

Of course when you can get a large, clean, comfortable room with hot water, air con, cable TV and a mini-fridge for 500 baht or less at a large number of guest houses, why does anyone stay in a hotel?

spudly news flash !! some poeple have money and do not have to stay in peasant quarters.. news flash!!!! concrete slab???.. mr.spud i was in shagrala three days this past weekend ...it is beautiful ,pool grounds like unreal...plus the big bonus it is practically empty.. the rincom is 40 yer old and looks it!!! i was there in 1980 and it was old then...

dude?? a guest house

new flash>>>> not everbody has to use/wants to use the 2 baht toilets of t-land...

how on earth you say shangrala and rincom in same paragraph?? two different animals...

I too was impressed with the Shangri La when I hung out there earlier in the month when a guest was in town and stayed there. I'd been there before but had not had a chance to see as much as I did this time. The grounds and pool area are beautiful (never saw one guest at the pool in 3 days but the guy was always ready with the towels!) and the lounges are nice. It is almost empty which is great if your hanging out there...like a private fantasy kinda thing... The buffet restaurant was not bad; nice selection of desserts, etc.

I have gone to the lunch and dinner buffets several times. Great bargain as far as I'm concerned. Good selection of quality food at a most reasonable price. And you are right - not crowded. Like your own private palace.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I think someone wasn't really reading my post, but that's okay. I can't really be arsed to say the same thing again, but the short version is that I don't think the market is very good for 5 star mega hotels and won't be for a long time. If any 4-5 star place is going to turn the corner it will be the smaller non-chain boutique ones. Face it, the Shangri la and Meridien are just too big for Chiang Mai to be successful. That was clear to me 5-6 years ago when the plan of 'building a handful of big 5 star hotels' was hatched. Of course they have a nice empty lobby. Of course they can do a buffet. I'm not saying they're not nice at a certain level, I'm saying that market just isn't there in Chiang Mai.

[gatorhead333]

I think someone wasn't really reading my post, but that's okay. I can't really be arsed to say the same thing again, but the short version is that I don't think the market is very good for 5 star mega hotels and won't be for a long time. If any 4-5 star place is going to turn the corner it will be the smaller non-chain boutique ones. Face it, the Shangri la and Meridien are just too big for Chiang Mai to be successful. That was clear to me 5-6 years ago when the plan of 'building a handful of big 5 star hotels' was hatched. Of course they have a nice empty lobby. Of course they can do a buffet. I'm not saying they're not nice at a certain level, I'm saying that market just isn't there in Chiang Mai.

market is very weak for 5 stars for sure by the time CM grows into them they will be a decade old but...

what ? me worry? No!! who cares if these big boys make money?

the people that own them are huge have the juice to lose money and the shangri-la is more than a beautiful lobby... the pool area and grounds in back are paradise,the 11 floor with free wine and food 5-7:20p.m. is super...

so it is great when people come to town that have money ,that want finer things, stay there call me up and say come here.....

luxury is great ,big is nice and empty or not that place is quite grand!

Edited May 28, 2009 by gatorhead333

[venturalaw]

I think someone wasn't really reading my post, but that's okay. I can't really be arsed to say the same thing again, but the short version is that I don't think the market is very good for 5 star mega hotels and won't be for a long time. If any 4-5 star place is going to turn the corner it will be the smaller non-chain boutique ones. Face it, the Shangri la and Meridien are just too big for Chiang Mai to be successful. That was clear to me 5-6 years ago when the plan of 'building a handful of big 5 star hotels' was hatched. Of course they have a nice empty lobby. Of course they can do a buffet. I'm not saying they're not nice at a certain level, I'm saying that market just isn't there in Chiang Mai.

market is very weak for 5 stars for sure by the time CM grows into them they will be a decade old but...

what ? me worry? No!! who cares if these big boys make money?

the people that own them are huge have the juice to lose money and the shangri-la is more than a beautiful lobby... the pool area and grounds in back are paradise,the 11 floor with free wine and food 5-7:20p.m. is super...

so it is great when people come to town that have money ,that want finer things, stay there call me up and say come here.....

luxury is great ,big is nice and empty or not that place is quite grand!

So true. And the loss of income is a tax right-off for them. No big deal. They are positioned so that if and when gambling ever comes to Chiang Mai, they are going to clean up.

[meadish_sweetball]

The Shangri-La's lunchtime buffet was ever so popular I would say until a couple of months ago.

I last ate there a few days ago and apart from a large table of Korean mum's, in the 2 hours that we we're there, I saw 3 other diners. Initially the buffet was 169b inclusive and then a salad bar was added at an extra 50b (optional) cost . Today the price has increased (including avery limited but quite tasty salad bar) to 235b(inclusive of taxes). I would imagine that their increases have significantly affected lunchtime trade . I really hope the buffet continues (I could go there just for the bread selection!) but with such a self opinionated chef, who knows.

Lesson 1 in the restaurant business: understand your market and adapt accordingly.

regards Bojo

The way I understood it, the 'self-opinionated chef' was at Le Meridien and not at the Shangri La.

The Shangri La is not planning to close down, but they have very low occupancy at the moment and it is common practice to close off sections of the hotel at such times. I am sure there are other hotels doing the same thing.

As for the assessment of the 5 star market I agree fully with winnie.

[Ulysses G.]

The way I understood it, the 'self-opinionated chef' was at Le Meridien and not at the Shangri La.

Kudos on actually reading the posts, instead of just making stuff up. Sometimes I wonder.

Edited May 29, 2009 by Ulysses G.

[Ricardo]

The way I understood it, the 'self-opinionated chef' was at Le Meridien and not at the Shangri La.

Kudos on actually reading the posts, instead of just making stuff up. Sometimes I wonder.

Well I guess that we're not all tabloid-reporters from Limey-Land !

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I wrote:

I hear you can get the Meridien for 3000 baht now..

Friend just booked it for 2400 baht including breakfast.

That's................. incredible.

[sleepyjohn]

With regards to Shangri La,.................. But I recall going in there on Christmas Eve 2007 and meeting the General Manager, an American guy, who told me that it had just opened that day or the day before. He told me the rate was USD $300/night and I knew it was destined for doom!

Incorrect I was in there for dinner recently.

We checked out a couple of rooms afterwards. They were what you would expect. Very well appointed in a ShangriLa sort of way, but didn't turn me on. I personally find the decor in the public areas rather dull though ostentatious though the restaurant's very comfortable.

The lady said rooms were 4500 and if booked in a Thai name would be less, I think about 25% was mentioned. Maybe a large suite would be $300.

As I hate eating large lunches I like the ShangriLa dinner buffet.

I would like to know if they are open Sunday for the buffet if anyone can help......

cheers

[Mapguy]

The way I understood it, the 'self-opinionated chef' was at Le Meridien and not at the Shangri La.

Kudos on actually reading the posts, instead of just making stuff up. Sometimes I wonder.

Well I guess that we're not all tabloid-reporters from Limey-Land !

Wait a minute! Wait a minute!

Does this discussion really proceed somewhat upon the basis of what was purportedly heard while listening in on a nearby table at a restaurant ??!! What is that worth?

Oy!

Edited May 30, 2009 by Mapguy

[IanForbes]

That is why I always laugh at the prices of accommodation in Thailand. You can get a perfectly adequate room with a comfortable bed and private bath for about 5000 baht "A MONTH". Everything else is just window dressing. Unless you actually entertain guests in your room, why would you stay in an expensive hotel?

[JimGant]

Unless you actually entertain guests in your room, why would you stay in an expensive hotel?

'Cause you can (and those kind of folks don't hang out here )

[WinnieTheKhwai]

That is why I always laugh at the prices of accommodation in Thailand. You can get a perfectly adequate room with a comfortable bed and private bath for about 5000 baht "A MONTH". Everything else is just window dressing. Unless you actually entertain guests in your room, why would you stay in an expensive hotel?

I can appreciate both.

Sometimes I stay at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hong Kong. Because it's nice, and because in a place like Hong Kong it does make a difference. And they have some nice restaurants, and some nice views..

Sometimes I stay at a nondescript wooden guest house in Chiang Mai's old town for 150 baht. I like that too.

And I would most certainly not want to be limited to either end of the spectrum..

Edited May 31, 2009 by WinnieTheKhwai

[IanForbes]

Unless you actually entertain guests in your room, why would you stay in an expensive hotel?

'Cause you can (and those kind of folks don't hang out here )

True. And then I had to laugh at myself because I DO entertain "guests" in my humble room with a view. Sometimes the guests stay for a week or more and sometimes only for an hour.

I gotta admit that I do like the huge buffet breakfasts that usually come with your room at the better hotels. I can eat enough to last me all day and I only need a snack in the afternoon to last until beer time.

[wayfarer108]

I hear you can get the Meridien for 3000 baht now.. Shangri La probably too. And STILL they don't fill any rooms. There's just very little market in the high-end in Chiang Mai and if there is then it's in the more boutique type places, not those huge slabs of concrete that are the Meridien and Shangri La.

Compare to that the 'former' top-end hotels and what they cost these days... You can get the Amari Rincome for a little over 1000 baht. (1200 or so). Orchid Hotel a bit below that still. Empress: Same. Porn Ping: Lower still. All these older places aren't going away, when the economy improves they only need to do some very limited refurbishing and they're in a perfect position to kill off the 'new' top-end, the Meridiens, D2s and Shangri Las of this world, especially without a business market of people who want to stay in their regular top-end place with (or for) the points.

I'm actually VERY interested in what the rooms at the Amari Rincome look like these days... 1200 baht, in a hyper trendy area of town.. They're in a killer position, and those 'grande old Thai companies' for sure have the stamina to weather any economic storm.

It's not just the storm. May, June and September are the slowest months of the year, visitation-wise. Every year at this time we hear people say 'Chiang Mai is so quiet.' Sure it's probably even quieter than usual now but you must also factor in the season. It should pick up again in July and August, then die for Sep/Oct, and come alive Nov-April. Of course compared to three years ago both the highs and lows will be lower, until the economy kicks back.

I also agree there may have been a miscalculation on the part of the developers when it comes to stocking CM with 5-star hotels. So that should be factored in as well. In the end I doubt they'll lose money though.

[gatorhead333]

I hear you spudly news flash !! some poeple have money and do not have to stay in peasant quarters.. news flash!!!! concrete slab???.. mr.spud i was in shagrala three days this past weekend ...it is beautiful ,pool grounds like unreal...plus the big bonus it is practically empty.. the rincom is 40 yer old and looks it!!! i was there in 1980 and it was old then...

dude?? a guest house

new flash>>>> not everbody has to use/wants to use the 2 baht toilets of t-land...

how on earth you say shangrala and rincom in same paragraph?? two different animals...

Actually the peasant quarters I stayed in in the old city were much larger, cleaner, and more comfortable than the room I had for a few days at Pornping, and cost less than half as much. Although I agree some people are willing to spend large sums of money to add a few minor conveniences that they may or may not use to their stay.

when compared to the new beautiful luxury 5 star hotels mentioned above

the Pornping hotel being 40 years old certianly qualifies as justs another " peasant quarters" as being just another old re done 10 times hotel with 40 year old bathrooms....maybe cost more than old city place since you can stumble down stairs to hot shot or bubbles listen to music and maybe find a girl..this is saves the cost of a tuk tuk at least....

Edited June 1, 2009 by gatorhead333

[gatorhead333]

That is why I always laugh at the prices of accommodation in Thailand. You can get a perfectly adequate room with a comfortable bed and private bath for about 5000 baht "A MONTH". Everything else is just window dressing. Unless you actually entertain guests in your room, why would you stay in an expensive hotel?

I can appreciate both.

Sometimes I stay at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hong Kong. Because it's nice, and because in a place like Hong Kong it does make a difference. And they have some nice restaurants, and some nice views..

Sometimes I stay at a nondescript wooden guest house in Chiang Mai's old town for 150 baht. I like that too.

And I would most certainly not want to be limited to either end of the spectrum..

normally peoples spectrum is limited due to the amount of cash they have.

why on earth would one stay is a 150 baht guest house unless they had to! Old thai wood houses bring to mind Malaria ,Dengy fever and cock roaches to mention a few health concerns .

Edited June 1, 2009 by gatorhead333