This is an IELTS writing task 1 letter from the real general training exam on the topic of writing a letter of complaint to a hotel.
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IELTS Essay: Letter to a Hotel
You have a complaint about the hotel you stayed at while attending a meeting that was booked by the organiser of a company meeting. Write a letter to the organiser of the meeting and include
- Details about the meeting
- The problem you face
- What should be done
Dear Optimal Synergy,
I am writing from the Botanica company about the event that you recently managed for us. It was at the Continental Hotel in downtown Saigon and was held the weekend before last (the weekend of the 23rd) on the 4th floor reception area.
There were some issues during the meeting that you could have foreseen in my opinion. Firstly, the catering was late and there were few dishes that appealed to attendees. We are a local company but the majority of the food was western. Additionally, during the meeting we tried to reach your company in order to arrange for an extra hour but could not contact you. This was extremely unprofessional.
From my point of view, you should address these problems immediately by ensuring that you have catered according to the tastes of the company you are representing. There should also be a back-up number to deal with any issues that come up during the event. I hope that you will be able to make some form of restitution to us for these inconveniences.
Please reply promptly.
Best Regards,
Linh
Analysis
1. Dear Optimal Synergy,
2. I am writing from the Botanica company about the event that you recently managed for us. 3. It was at the Continental Hotel in downtown Saigon and was held the weekend before last (the weekend of the 23rd) on the 4th floor reception area.
- Address the letter to someone.
- You can begin with a greeting.
- Include the first bullet point.
1. There were some issues during the meeting that you could have foreseen in my opinion. 2. Firstly, the catering was late and there were few dishes that appealed to attendees. 3. We are a local company but the majority of the food was western. 4. Additionally, during the meeting we tried to reach your company in order to arrange for an extra hour but could not contact you. 5. This was extremely unprofessional.
- Begin to develop the second point.
- Add more detail to it.
- This one is focused on second point so include a lot.
- The more you add, the higher your task achievement mark.
- Vary long and short sentences.
1. From my point of view, you should address these problems immediately by ensuring that you have catered according to the tastes of the company you are representing. 2. There should also be a back-up number to deal with any issues that come up during the event. 3. I hope that you will be able to make some form of restitution to us for these inconveniences.
4. Please reply promptly.
5. Best Regards,
6. Linh
- Develop the last point.
- Keep developing it.
- Add an ending sentence.
- You can add one final sentence like this.
- Use a phrase like regards or sincerely.
- Write your name at the end of the letter.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Take notes on a piece of paper to aid memory retention.
Dear Optimal Synergy,
I am writing from the Botanica company about the event that you recently managed for us. It was at the Continental Hotel in downtown Saigon and was held the weekend before last (the weekend of the 23rd) on the 4th floor reception area.
There were some issues during the meeting that you could have foreseen in my opinion. Firstly, the catering was late and there were few dishes that appealed to attendees. We are a local company but the majority of the food was western. Additionally, during the meeting we tried to reach your company in order to arrange for an extra hour but could not contact you. This was extremely unprofessional.
From my point of view, you should address these problems immediately by ensuring that you have catered according to the tastes of the company you are representing. There should also be a back-up number to deal with any issues that come up during the event. I hope that you will be able to make some form of restitution to us for these inconveniences.
Please reply promptly.
Best Regards,
Linh
Dear Lisa,
Answers
Practice writing sentences with the words below on a piece of paper:
event big meeting, conference
recently not that long ago
managed dealt with
downtown Saigon central Ho Chi Minh City
held hosted
weekend before last two weekends ago
reception area big meeting area
issues problems
foreseen can be predicted
catering food brought in
few dishes some food
appealed to attendees people there liked
local company firm working here
majority of most of
western from western countries
additionally also
reach get to
in order to so
arrange for plan for
extra additionally
contact call or talk to
extremely unprofessional not well-run
from my point of view in my opinion
address deal with
immediately right now
ensuring making sure
according to relating to
tastes what people like
representing symbolizing
back-up number phone number in case
deal with handle
come up appear
make some form of restitution give us a refund
inconveniences problems
please reply promptly answer right now
Best Regards sincerely
Pronunciation
Practice with this tip using Google voice search to improve your pronunciation:
ɪˈvɛnt
ˈriːsntli
ˈmænɪʤd
ˈdaʊntaʊn saɪgɒn
hɛld
ˈwiːkˈɛnd bɪˈfɔː lɑːst
rɪˈsɛpʃən ˈeərɪə
ˈɪʃuːz
fɔːˈsiːn
ˈkeɪtərɪŋ
fjuː ˈdɪʃɪz
əˈpiːld tuː ətendi:z
ˈləʊkəl ˈkʌmpəni
məˈʤɒrɪti ɒv
ˈwɛstən
əˈdɪʃənli
riːʧ
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː
əˈreɪnʤ fɔː
ˈɛkstrə
ˈkɒntækt
ɪksˈtriːmli ˌʌnprəˈfɛʃənl
frɒm maɪ pɔɪnt ɒv vjuː
əˈdrɛs
ɪˈmiːdiətli
ɪnˈʃʊərɪŋ
əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː
teɪsts
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntɪŋ
bæk-ʌp ˈnʌmbə
diːl wɪð
kʌm ʌp
meɪk sʌm fɔːm ɒv ˌrɛstɪˈtjuːʃən
ˌɪnkənˈviːniənsɪz
pliːz rɪˈplaɪ ˈprɒmptli
bɛst rɪˈgɑːdz
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Dear Optimal Synergy,
I am writing from the Botanica company about the e_____t that you r__________________d for us. It was at the Continental Hotel in d__________________n and was h___d the w__________________________t (the weekend of the 23rd) on the 4th floor r__________________a.
There were some i__________s during the meeting that you could have f_______n in my opinion. Firstly, the c________g was late and there were f___________s that a____________________s. We are a l_______________y but the m_____________f the food was w_________n. A______________y, during the meeting we tried to r_______h your company i____________o a____________r an e_____a hour but could not c__________t you. This was e_______________________l.
F____________________________w, you should a__________s these problems i_______________y by e____________g that you have catered a_______________o the t_________s of the company you are r_______________g. There should also be a b________________r to d________h any issues that c________p during the event. I hope that you will be able to m_____________________________n to us for these i________________s.
P___________________y.
B_______________s,
Linh
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Meetings
- Are meetings common for most businesses in your country?
- Are meetings a waste of time?
- How could meetings be made more efficient?
- How has technology changed the way people hold meetings?
- Are there cultural differences in terms of meetings in different parts of your country?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Write a letter to the manager of a cinema (movie theatre) about a jacket you have left behind after a film. In your letter:
- Describe the jacket
- Describe where you were seated
- Explain what you want to be done
Dear Organiser,
I am writing with reference to the meeting which was organised at Sherlton Hotel lobby on 23rd May 0700PM this year on the launch of new version of Salesforce DX software. I was one among the 15 delegates who attended the event. After the event we stayed the night in our allotted hotel rooms.
To my surprise all of a sudden in midnight air conditioner started making a lot of noise which interrupted my sleep. I called front desk immediately and informed them about the situation. They assured me that they are diagnosing the problem and will give me a solution as soon as possible. Although I waited for an hour but I did not get a positive response. Hence I asked for an alternate room so that I can have some sleep, since I had an early flight next day but they couldn’t accommodate that as well.
I kindly request you to address this with hotel authority so that if there is a similar situation in future, attendees don’t have to go through the nightmare. Perhaps it would be helpful if they can keep few extra rooms in reserve so that hotel can address these kind of unusual and unexpected issues.
I would be extremely grateful if you can take some actions and convey the hotel authority the same.
Yours Faithfully
Shaurabh Singh Roy
To whom it may concern:
I would like to express my disappointment in regards to poor service provided by hotel during my visit last month.
The meeting was very fruitful and all the major points regarding the new launch was discussed well in presentation. Everyone in the meeting present was very surprised and elevated with the efficiency our company performed last quarter.
Although there was several chalannges face during the meeting, as there was so loud noise from nearby banquet hall with some celebration taking place, I asked the authorities to low tone as there was meeting taking place but after multiple reminders too no action was taken. It was quit distracting from my presentation but any how I managed to continue that time.
I humbly request you kindly look in to this serious matter and take the desired action against the hotel staff for their poor service.