'No water, no power': Hong Kong tourist vows never to return to Singapore after stay at Downtown East resort
PHOTO: Stomp
PUBLISHED ONMAY 02, 2024 10:51 AMByONG SU MANN
She called it the worst hotel in the world.
Stomp contributor Jojo, who is from Hong Kong, had such a bad experience at D'Resort @ Downtown East that she does not want to come to Singapore any more.
"No water and no power for the whole night," alleged the Stomp contributor. "No refund. No apology. Only poor hospitality."
She recounted: "When l checked in at night on April 1, the staff told me there would be no power from 2am to 5am because of an annual check.
"The staff knew my worries and told me the shutdown would not last for such long time, not exactly for three hours from 2 to 5am. Maybe around 15 to 20 minutes. No worries. l thought a few minutes was acceptable. It was too late and expensive to change hotel."
The Stomp contributor shared a photo of a notice informing guests of the power interruptions but claimed she was not informed about the lack of water.
"Unfortunately, the fact was there no water from around midnight, then no power until next morning," alleged the Stomp contributor.
"I couldn't sleep with a sweaty body, having just landed. The weather was super hot, almost 40 degree C. No air conditioning and no windows could be opened. l couldn't breathe! l wanted to open the door, but the corridor was super hot too! I almost fainted in that terrible dark, hot room."
But she told Stomp that having no water was worse.
"My hair was full of shampoo and body was full of shower gel, but no water to wash. I felt sick and had skin allergy after that awful night," said the Stomp contributor.
"It totally ruined my holiday! I cancelled all meetings in the following days.
"I had already seen the doctor twice after the trip. The doctor said l got heatstroke that night and the shower gel caused skin allergy. I am still seeing the doctor and taking medicine now."
In response to a Stomp query, a spokesperson for D'Resort @ Downtown East said: "The guest arrived at 5.50pm on April 1 to check in, and the front desk staff duly informed her regarding the notice of the shutdown scheduled from 2am to 5am on April 2. They explained that there would be intermittent disruptions to the power supply due to the maintenance being conducted in blocks of timing."
Guests can choose not to check in with the resort providing a full refund, according to the spokesperson. The Stomp contributor claimed she was not given this option when she asked the staff what she could do.
The spokesperson continued: "The shutdown for the guest block commenced at 3.29am, and the power was restored at 4.12am.
"Separately, when the guest called at 12.40am on April 2 to inform the resort of the low water pressure, the staff apologised to her, mentioning that we would check immediately.
"A technician was immediately dispatched, and it was found that the water pump on level five had tripped. The technician was instructed to fix it, and the water supply was restored to normal shortly after.
"The resort has responded to the guest's emails and apologised to her (again) for the inconvenience caused, as well as extended a 50 per cent discounted rate for her next visit, valid for one year."
The Stomp contributor is unlikely to take up the offer.
"l stayed at many hotels in different countries and never had such a terrible experience, even in some developing countries.
"I liked Singapore before, even wanted to emigrate to Singapore, but l have changed my mind now. It seems to have no consumer protection which is very basic in civilised countries," said the Stomp contributor who added that she had reported the hotel to the Consumer Association of Singapore and Singapore Tourism Board.
"I won't go to Singapore any more!"
