Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima

Courteous front and restaurant staff. Excellent views from the room. Breakfast very delicious and sumptuous.

the location is great

Overall Experience: As a frequent traveler to Japan, I was deeply disappointed with my recent stay at Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima, which unfortunately was the worst service I have experienced so far in Japan. The management exhibited poor leadership, and the lack of empathy towards guests left me feeling unwelcome and distressed, particularly during a challenging personal situation. Pros: 1. Room Quality: Despite the overall disappointing experience, there were some positives. I booked a superior corner room on a high floor, offering a stunning view. The room although old was quite also clean. 2. Some exceptional Staff: While the majority of the staff lacked training and basic hospitality skills, there were standout individuals such as Miss Forde from Barbados and some lunch staff who provided excellent service and warmth. Cons: 1. Front Desk Service: The front desk service, particularly by the assistant manager, Miss Shinagawa, was abysmal. I had a family emergency and had to extend my stay one more night, but could not book the same room type online. My fiancé also could not join me last minute and I wanted to see if I could get a refund on the 2 breakfasts that was paid for. Miss Shinagawa displayed coldness and impatience, refusing to listen to my concerns and kept interrupting me. This lack of empathy left me deeply distressed and upset, and only the intervention of Miss Forde helped salvage the situation. The manager, Miss Sasaki, although appearing apologetic, failed to provide any meaningful solutions or compensation for the poor treatment. I canceled my last night here, and Miss Sasaki recommended other hotels in the area, instead of trying to retain me as a guest. In the end, I was given an early check-in as I was crying in the lobby due to my family emergency and the lack of empathy shown. 2. Amenities: The hotel's amenities were disappointing, with additional charges for even extra basic necessities like water. The rooms were outdated and in need of renovation. 3. Breakfast: While the breakfast itself was satisfactory, the service left much to be desired. The management's poor oversight was evident when I was abruptly chased out of the dining area before finishing my meal, despite only 10 mins after last order and the staff was still cleaning up. The refusal to accommodate my request to take the remaining fruits to my room highlighted the lack of consideration for guests' needs. They would rather throw away some grapes I had left instead of letting me finish eating them. In conclusion, my experience here was marred by incompetent management, lack of empathy, and poor service standards. I would not recommend this hotel to fellow travelers seeking a comfortable and welcoming stay in Hiroshima. There are better and more modern hotels in the area, at lower prices and better trained staff, one example is The Knot hotel.