Hero of hospitality Lebua- Tower Club Bangkok

Lebua- Tower Club Bangkok is a 5- star luxury hotel. The property is indeed fabulous.  It’s all rooms are suites. The view from my two-bedroom suite on the 55th floor is stunning. The pool is relaxing. But then who would expect less from a reputed name like Lebua.

I have been to Bangkok more than 20 times but I still keep going back for more. I just can’t get enough of the Kingdom. Credit is due here to the Tourism Authority of Thailand; they always manage to keep their country on the top of the list of destinations for Indian travellers in spite of any local troubles.
I was in Bangkok again last month. What a fabulous time I had! After all these visits, I still never tire of strolling the flea markets, getting massages and hogging on the delicious food. This trip I decided to stay at the Lebua- Tower Club

Sure the hotel was great! All the rooms were suites. The view from my two-bedroom suite on the 55th floor was stunning. The breakfast was delicious. The pool was relaxing. But then I expected nothing less from a 5- star luxury hotel with a reputed name like Lebua.

But what really made an impression on me was the personality of the hotel. Everyone in the tourism industry loves to throw around the word ‘hospitality’ frivolously. They fact is that very few people actually understand what it means. The Tower Club at the Lebua seems to be one of the rare few that have realized its essence. I say so because I instantly felt at home at the property. The only difference was that unfortunately my real home isn’t a skyscraper with 221 suites, breath taking views of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River and world class bars and restraints. Moreover, my house doesn’t have an efficient staff of hundreds working behind the scenes like little elves and fairies working tirelessly to ensure that everything runs smoothly but all the while constantly greeting me with the warmest smile. But that’s a story for another day.

I arrived late at night at the hotel. The minute I went to the reception I found that my room was ready for me and they were simply waiting for a passport copy so I could quickly check in and relax. This sounds very basic but at the end of a tiring journey, all a traveller really requires. Is a quick check in so they can have a nice hot shower and jump into bed? Yet, so many hotels make you wait at the front desk for seems to be an eternity to get checked inn. It never ceases to amaze me! Now I am from the new generation and for me free and fast Wi-Fi is as much a necessity in a hotel as light, or housekeeping. I know however I am not the only one obsessed with the internet. In today’s day and age Wi-Fi is essential to contact people, complete assignments and stay abreast of the latest happening. It is a necessity more than a luxury and I think a hotel charging astronomical prices for a Wi-Fi is an outrage. It is like the hotel asking you to pay the electricity bill or foot in the bill of the concierge.  The other outrage is the charges for using the mini-bar. No can of coke can cost so much. Unless the hotel industry is secretly getting customized cans that are gold-plated. I was obviously satisfied to learn that the mini-bar and unlimited in-suite broadband Internet access was complimentary. In fact, the hotel went the extra mile; I had access to the Tower Club Lounge from morning to evening. I could enjoy a delicious continental breakfast buffet in morning, light lunch in afternoon, high tea in the evening or canapés and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day. I had called the concierge to make several restraint bookings for me one evening before leaving for shopping. When I came back to my room the details of my reservations were neatly printed out and lying on the entrance table of my suite. I was also given suggestions of alternative restaurants I might want to try out. One evening I decided to dine at the hotel’s restraint Breeze. My five-course meal was sumptuous. I am not a big eater but I stuffed myself because it would be a shame to waste such utterly delicious food. Again, what I loved the most was the heart of the restraint. Breeze is a fine dining restaurant and its stature has been rising consistently among food connoisseurs over the years. However, it was nothing like the stuff snooty fine dining restaurants, I have eaten at before. The manager welcomed me with her warm smile and came to check on me after every course. After, the meal I felt I had gained a friend.  In addition to the five pounds from hogging on all the food of course!

In today’s fast paced, high-tech, ostentatious environment. I hear a lot of ideas hotels come up with to impress guests. They want to emboss your name on flashing on the largest most high definition TV screen and your name embossed on the serviettes   of their extravagant restaurants. All this is very nice no doubt, but what guests really need is the most basic.  They need hospitality. There are thousands of hotels in Thailand alone. It is very possible that a lot are newer and more flamboyantly done up than the Lebua. However, it is their service and hospitality, which gives them a clear advantage over their competition. People prefer to deal with people they like. Especially, when they want the interaction to be recurring.

My heartiest congratulations to Deepak Ohri, CEO, Lebua and his entire team for learning how to develop lasting relationships with your guests and clients. I hope other hotel follow suit!