I can’t lie – WFH has lost its magic for me. Certainly, I still like the fact that I don’t have to waste time in traffic, and I charge my gas and money for other things I actually love, like food.
But in return, I sacrificed the company and camaraderie of my colleagues. I miss them and that is why I did not hesitate to express my interest when my boss announced that he was opening his personal employment relationship to anyone who wanted to join.
Initially we booked a 2 bedroom apartment but Ritz-Carlton KL we kindly upgraded our room to a 3 bedroom apartment and planned a meal plan during our stay.
Disclaimer: The hotel did not sponsor the accommodation as we wanted this to be our small way of supporting the local hotel industry, but the upgrade was kindly offered to us at no extra cost. This work process took place long before the start of MCO 3.0 and the hotel staff had all the necessary SOPs available for our safety.
You said exactly how exactly?
The apartment we had for ourselves for 3 days spread over approximately 2261 square meters and each bedroom was very spacious and allowed us to have our own beds.
That was the first good sign right away. When you are in a work meeting with your colleagues, you will still want a little personal space and privacy.
Bedrooms are an important part of any group stay, but one type of room that is equally important but often neglected until someone really needs it is … the bathroom.
Luckily for us, we were spoiled to choose from 3 private bathrooms and 2 (still spacious) separate toilets available for blessing. That’s 5 people who can “go” on the go! The master bedroom had the largest bathroom, along with a bathtub that helped you relax in the evening.
Outside the bedrooms, the kitchenette had a stove, large refrigerator, oven and closet full of glasses and other cutlery suitable for entertainment. Of course, accessories are also provided. The appliances, in addition to what we had at our disposal, were mostly tools for dining, not so much cooking, but the hotel reception was prepared to deliver all the necessary pots and pans.
Not even a working holiday without a job
With all the space we had, we did not lack space for installation, but in terms of a suitable workstation, there was only one, in a separate space. It had a bay for your laptop or books, along with nearby outlets and an office chair.
Our video editor accepted that, and the rest of us worked at the dining table where we could talk. Even on the higher floors (we were above the 30th floor), the speed and availability of the WiFi network was fairly stable. The entire apartment is also soundproofed, which helped reduce external interference.
We encountered the first problem when we realized we hadn’t brought our own extension cord for multiple device charging sockets while we were working.
The dining room we were in had 2 sockets nearby, but they were not enough. When we called the front desk to request an extension cord, unfortunately, the units were no longer available. So we coped with the alternating charging of our laptops.
Although we told them to let us know if it would be for us during their stay, that request could not be met.
Jobs will be the new WFH
That alone was not enough to ruin our working relationship, as the rest of The Ritz-Carlton KL’s service was flawless. They sent us multiple deliveries to the hotel, including food, extra toiletries, a cooking pot and extra glasses. The staff sent it all off with smiles that never gave up.
It showed us that the hotel provided excellent service to guests there for a holiday.
But a crowded workplace like ours has slightly different needs, ones for which the hotel should be more prepared in the future. In addition to having multiple extension cords, items like extra mouse and mouse pads, USB adapters, or even WiFi adapters are always handy because you just know someone bound forget one or the other.
During the pandemic, the hotel industry lost tourists and domestic guests, especially with the current travel restrictions. Locally, we may not see a full return to normal life and travel for just a few more years, and globally it may take longer.
One crowd that would actually hurt to get out of their houses and find new work spaces would be the crowds of WFH.
Admittedly, WFH at this point is no longer a convenience for us who have been doing nothing but that for more than a year. It must have been comfortable when we were in the office, and now it’s just a daily routine.
In that sense, we anticipate that the work programs will become the new “WFH”, a new benefit that younger Gen Z employees would eventually hope to expect from companies if they start their careers during a pandemic.
This means that players in the hotel industry must be prepared to cater to this specific target market (i.e., individuals or companies in the workplace), even more than before.
Is the Ritz-Carlton KL ready for this?
Area CEO Mahmoud Skaf of The Ritz-Carlton told the Vulcan Post that they had already anticipated this change in consumer behavior.
Marriott International (which owns the Ritz-Carlton hotel brand) announced in late 2020 a new program for guests who can work anywhere with Marriott Bonvoy.
“New to Marriott Bonvoy Day Pass, Stay Pass and Play Pass packages are designed as flexible options whether guests are looking for a one-day stay from early morning to evening for a change from their WFH environment, in [an] extended overnight stay with early morning check-in and evening check-out or several days of escape to the destination for work and leisure, ”Mahmoud shared.
These packages are created with the contribution of customers, hotel businesses and corporate partners.
Commenting on our experience with the extension cable requirement, Mahmoud said, “We are usually able to meet the requirements for extension cords, various cables for different devices and chargers, unfortunately, at the time it was crowded for us, hence limited availability. “
However, he assured us that their team would be much better equipped for future demands of this nature.
This is a necessary step if The Ritz-Carlton hopes to satisfy guests who come not only to relax, but also to be productive.
Although more than two decades old, it keeps pace with the times and has a collection of 16 meeting and conference spaces that can supply groups of 6 people for intimate discussions.
These rooms include flip-cards with felt-tip pens, writing pads, pens and are equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment with virtual capabilities, Mahmoud shared.
Let’s be realistic, a job at The Ritz-Carlton KL is as fancy as you can get at home, and while is investment, it is not an experience that will be easily forgotten, we can confirm it.
After all, what are the benefits of a job if they don’t stand out from what you can do on a daily basis?
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