FACE-TO-FACE: Janet McNab, Four Points by Sheraton
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FACE-TO-FACE: Janet McNab, General Manager, Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok, Sukhumvit 15
1) As the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel to open in Bangkok, how well do you feel your product has fitted into the market?
The most common comment we get is on the staff and the friendliness and informal approach to the way we deal with our guests. Our guests tell us that the feel it from the moment they set foot into the lobby. This is what Four Points is all about; a great hotel experience in an environment that immediately makes hotel guests feel welcome, and comfortable all at an affordable price tag. The challenge in the beginning was to get the brand out and I am very happy to see the traction that the brand has been getting which is a credit to the team. The entire team is behind the success of the hotel and I genuinely believe the staff enjoy the core values that we represent.
2) What are the hotel’s key selling points?
We are very lucky as there are lots of positive talking points – our location to the BTS and MRT, and our rooftop bar, amBar. The pool on the rooftop in the middle of a bustling area such as Sukhumvit gives the hotel a resort feel. Then there is the BeerVault with its selection of beer. Our accommodation is comparable to most five-star properties with latest technology being built into the backbone of the hotel. It is very user-friendly. Complimentary Wi-Fi in all lobby and venues for hotel guests also makes the lobby a meeting place and helps build the atmosphere. The hotel has 268 rooms, however it has much more of a boutique feel and lots of surprising areas such as the garden area located at the Wrapped Deli.
3) You are currently making efforts to promote your F&B outlets, such as the Beer Vault and AmBar. How do you think hotel bars are generally perceived, and how are your outlets moving away from this?
The most difficult thing to do is to market bars in hotels as generally the local public feel that these bars are pricey. We have done a few things; we have marketed the bars as individual venues. Our pricing policy has taken on a very honest approach and is positioned at the same level as the bars in the local market for house pour brands. For the international brands these are a little more expensive. Again, we approached pricing along the lines of our core values of being honest and have included all tax and service charges in the prices. Customers see this favourably. Now it is just a matter of getting more customers through the door.
4) What are you doing to draw punters into your bars, and are you making any special arrangements for the famously thirsty travel industry?
‘Dips and Dash’ are available every day in BeerVault. In other words, come for an after work drink and have some munchies on us. On Friday nights travel industry thirsty drinkers can join us in BeerVault for our Buffet BBQ including free flow of beer for just THB600 (US$19.50). We have a great spread of entertainment in BeerVault and amBar from midweek into the weekend. For something a little mellower later in the evening after dinner come to amBar for a nice cocktail and a great line-up of DJs. For the most current information, you can become a fan of the BeerVault Fan Page and amBar fan page on Facebook, which offers the latest updates on our special offers.
5) How pleased have you been with the hotel’s performance since opening, and what new developments can we expect over the next 12 months?
The hotel has done better than expected with occupancies from the first month exceeding 55%. The interest in the hotel and feedback has really been overwhelming. Over the next 12 months we will stabilise and then look to see what we will do next.
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