Some photos, better late than never (perhaps!)....
 |
We went looking for some Balinese clay pottery. Not much available and all
expensive ($US 100+) and twice as much again to ship to Hong Kong! |
After our stay, I wrote this letter to Mr P. S Oberoi ("Biki") the son of the founder and current Chairman of the Group. I'd met Biki in 1997, when I was with DFS and he was a stripling of 68. I went to his Farm, where he still lives. It's just outside of Delhi and if you can imagine simply the most elegant, grand place in the best Indian (Raj?) tradition, with attentive servants and a gracious host, you've got the picture.
The cc. of the letter is to Vikram, Bikki's son, third generation in charge of Oberoi Hotels. They are truly wonderful hotels -- I've also stayed at the one in Cairo, which overlooks the pyramids, so strongly recommended! (yes, pricy, but worth every penny...):
LATER (9 OCT): Mr Oberoi's response to my letter (below his)
H.E. Prithviraj Singh Oberoi (P.V.)
Chairman Oberoi Group
Oberoi Farms
Palam Farm, Delhi, India
Dear Chairman Oberoi,
You may recall we met at your beautiful farm in 1997. I was then working for the American company Duty Free Shoppers, based in Hong Kong. We discussed a possible joint venture shopping centre in New Delhi, a project that sadly did not materialise.
I’m writing today to tell you about our very good experience at your hotel in Bali.
We stayed at the hotel in late May, flying in from Hong Kong, and stayed at one of the lovely Pool Villas. (My apologies for such a late “thank you” note!)
The main reason for writing is that your staff went well beyond the “call of duty”, in handling our stay. Before we arrived, I had written a rather stern letter to the management, expressing disappointment with the fact that the Villa did not include a limousine transfer from the airport and that breakfast was not included. Now the fact is: this was my fault. I had not read the Terms and Conditions carefully. But rather than pointing out the T&C, your staff instead gave us the airport transfer and the breakfasts included in our tariff. They also invited us to an evening cocktail party with the management, and made sure we were involved in the release of baby turtles into the sea – which was a truly marvelous experience.
One of your senior staff , Arie Ermawati, Executive Manager (Rooms), was particularly keen to ensure our stay was as memorable as it was.
I should be grateful if you could pass on our warmest thanks to all the Bali Oberoi staff. They said they felt that working in the Oberoi Group was like “being in a family”. That feeling is clearly genuine. It is a tribute to your late father, to yourself, to your son and to all the family and staff involved in the business.
We shall always stay at an Oberoi Hotel wherever there is one, and will recommend them warmly to family and friends.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Forsythe
9 Siena One
Discovery Bay
Hong Kong
|
cc: Mr Vikram S. Oberoi, MD & CEO
EIH Ltd, 7 Sham Nath Marg, New Delhi
110054 India
|
