I’ve stayed at several hotels in Macau with butler service before, and this time I chose a suite at Studio City's Celebrity Tower specifically because of their advertised butler service. I even paid a premium and opted for a non-basic suite type, hoping for a superior experience. To be frank, the initial check-in experience was somewhat disappointing.
First, the positives:
- The hotel's facilities are very new, and even the toilets are smart bidets.
- The instant noodles, Ferrero Rocher chocolates, and almond cookies in the mini-bar are all complimentary.
- The hotel pool and changing rooms have long opening hours (until 11 PM) and are well-equipped, which is a definite plus.
- Additionally, the hotel is very close to the City of Dreams Water Park, and guests get a 20% discount on water park tickets with their room card.
On the downside, the team's performance was inconsistent, and some staff members seemed insufficiently trained, leading to service that didn't meet expectations. For example:
- When I called the butler hotline to request luggage unpacking, a basic hotel butler service, the operator didn't even know what it was and required multiple explanations.
- The hotel's welcome amenity was fruit, including watermelon. When I asked the butler to cut it for me to enjoy, I was told there would be an additional charge based on the weight of the fruit. To offer fruit as a gift but then quibble and charge for basic assistance in consuming it, using such a rigid and petty billing logic, is simply absurd and completely inconsistent with the definition of five-star hotel butler service.
- The butler service felt formal and superficial, lacking a personalized or thoughtful touch. For instance, before checking in, I had detailed all my itinerary and requests for butler assistance via email, and had even used the butler team to book a buffet dinner at the Spotlight Restaurant. However, during my stay, I found that many frontline butlers hadn't done their homework; none of them knew my itinerary, and even for the restaurant booking arranged through them, the butler was unaware, requiring subsequent re-confirmation. This made me question if the butler service was merely a name with no substance.
- There was an issue with the room bill, as I was overcharged for in-room dining that should not have been charged. This required rectifying with the front desk afterwards...
Fortunately, after I raised these issues, the service did improve. I'd like to specifically commend Russell and Yorkin from the butler team. Both were diligent in their work, made an effort to listen to guest needs, and tried their best to satisfy me, attempting to salvage the team's reputation. It was precisely because of their performance that my impression of the butler service slightly improved by the time I left the hotel, and it made me feel that I could give Studio City another chance and consider staying at Celebrity Tower again next time. Otherwise, this paid suite experience would have been an absolute disaster.
Additionally, their butler hotline doesn't offer WhatsApp or WeChat contact numbers for guests. All service requests generally have to be made by calling from the room phone, which is very inconvenient. I hope that next time I stay, they can learn from other five-star hotels in Macau and provide WhatsApp or WeChat options for guest communication.
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