|
tikay
|
 |
« on: March 20, 2007, 12:21:55 AM » |
|
....when it comes to taking on board customer feedback.
I attended a Fesie of theirs last year, & was mightily impressed with the self-contained card-room, the dealers, & the TD.
I was not so impressed with the food selection, or the lack of warmth from some of the stony-faced the Reception staff, & I said as much, politely like.
I had an e-Mail a day later from the Manager - "we will do better next time, on both counts".
And I had another e-Mail from the one young Lady on Reception who DID smile - "sorry, we had a bad day".
And even the TD's Mum, and I'd larged up her Son, wrote & thanked me!
Anyway, I trundled all the way down there twice last week - 3 hours + each way, ffs! - but I gotta say, they got everything spot on this time, in my opinion.
Food - much better, bigger selection, pre-comp cold buffet, mid-comp Curry buffet, & a better selection of sarnies at the Bar.
Valets - breathtaking. I shall say no more on this, except God Bless Slovakia.......
Dealers - as good as ever. Oddly, most of them deal the turn & river to the left of the flop cards, which I found a little odd, but theres no rule against it, & it's OK once you get used to it.
Reception Staff - smiley-wiley Lady was on each time I atended, beaming from ear to ear, making good eye-contact, "how are you Tony?". Customer-friendly reception staff is very important, especially if they make you feel wanted, & special, & not just a nuisance.
The TD, Adam Lawlor, aka blondeite "Lurkio". As good as ever, maybe better. DTD's Yogi aside, it's hard to think of many better than Adam. He has that Yogi "quiet air of authority", & he does not waste it either.
And I saw what was almost a first for me in UK Tourney Poker (though an everyday occurence in Mainland Europe) - a player given a 20 minute time-penalty for persistent rule abuse! And there was some rowdiness & mouthing off in the cash game, threats & such like - Mr Rowdy was removed from the Table, AND the Casino within minutes!
When there were Rulings, & the almost inevitable afters", Adam was having none of it "enough!, get on with the game, I don't wanna her another word about it".
As to the Main Event, he kept to the scheduled start times, & 10 minutes breaks were what they said on the plasma - 10 minute breaks. To the second. A "pet thing" I have, I know, but it's professional & organised, & it's the way it should be. Why advertise 10 minute breaks which then stretch to 30 minutes?
Top Man, Adam!
There was some hoohah on another thread about the finishing time on Saturday, but not half as much as there woulda been if they had finished at 02.30 & brought 27 back for Day Two. Common-sense prevailed, & every player agreed.
The structure was just hunky-dory too. It took about 3 hours on Sunday to get from 18 players to the 9 man Final, though once there, Mick "The Bulldozer" Fletcher blitzed everyone, & it was all over in 45 minutes. I'd like a quid for every time I've shared a Final Table with Fletch & seen him do that, I tell ya. It was kinda similar to Bolton last year, when I sat there quietly while Fletch busted all & sundry & I laddered effortlessly into £6,000, ditto yesterday & £3,600. The poker purists may well crucify me, but bankroll is bankroll in the real world.
Anyway, a big thank you to Adam, the Dealers, the Valets, Reception staff, & of course the locals, who are a great bunch, & much fun, we bantered the whole way, from start to finish, never had so much fun. i-Pods, who needs 'em?
PS - I'd like to get in touch with one of the players, I think he Bubbled. I christened him "Canada", he was a Pro Ice Hockey Player for Chelmsford or somesuch, & I think he bubbled. Tremendous character, & enormous fun. Well, just enormous, in truth, but a top top geezer. He's a candidate to go on the Telly!
|
Author