Regent Hotel program

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