Regent Hotel program
I'm writing about the recent campaign held by Regent Hotel Jakarta. The campaign is promoting the Platinum Plus Program wherein a new member is entitled to a (1) complimentary stay; (2) vouchers worth 75 percent off the room rate; a 750 milliliter bottle of wine or liquor to be consumed at the Regent bar, a discount card for dining and one month membership at the health club given that one enrolls for three consecutive months.
All of these are yours if you pay the annual membership fee of Rp 1,250,000. The complementary stay as well as the 75 percent discount vouchers can only be used on the weekends. I am ashamed to admit that, unfortunately, I was victimized by the sweet talk of one of their telemarketers.
A few weeks after paying the membership fee, I tried to book a room, but was shocked and dismayed to learn that I had been fooled. How?
I first inquired, not mentioning that I am a member and holder of a voucher, and was informed that they have a weekend package worth Rp 800,000. So thinking that this would be discounted further using the voucher, I immediately booked for two consecutive nights but this time stating that I am a voucher holder. To my surprise, the voucher accordingly cannot be used in the said package but instead would be used with the regular rate charges which were US$140. Converting to rupiah after discount, I still had to pay Rp 700,000, which was just Rp 100,000 with the weekend package but without a complementary breakfast. Adding the breakfast charge will yield almost the same amount with the weekend package. So what do you get for being a member?
I started to analyze the Rp 1,250,000 membership fee and have concluded that the amount is for the free night and the bottle of wine. The wine of course can be bought cheaper in some places in Jakarta notwithstanding that you'll have the privilege of enjoying it at your own living room. The vouchers and the rest are just part of the campaign to fool prospective guests like me. I know that there is no way to get my money back but I just hope that Regent Hotel Jakarta will be more professional, honest and fair to their current and future guests and members.
DENNIS VARGAS
Karawang, West Java