Oct 19
Damion RutherfordMember News, Places to Stay guest-friendly hotel tips, hotels, Kimpton, unique activities
If you have a soft spot for pets, like us, you’ll appreciate ABC News’ list of America’s most adorable hotel pets.
Kimpton Hotels surely wins for the most pet friendly hotels – several of their properties made this list for friendly animal mascots, including the Hotel Monaco Alexandria and The Muse.
What’s your favorite animal on the list? Have you encountered a personal favorite that didn’t make the list?
Sep 22
Damion RutherfordMember News, Places to Stay Fairmont, Hotel Rennovations, hotels, San Francisco hotels
You’re probably familiar with the San Francisco Fairmont for its 55,000 square feet of meeting space or for the views of the San Francisco Bay – but it’s the penthouse that may be the most famous.
The spacious suite spans the entire eighth floor of the hotel, whose guests have included JFK, Prince Charles and Representatives of the Big Four – and just completed a major renovation.
In an Associated Press interview, Tom Klein, regional vice president general manager of the hotel, says
“You’ll just be blown away.”
For $15,000 a night, the three bedroom suite with dining room, living room, library, and terrace comes complete with a butler, housekeeper, chef, masseuse, personal trainer, fully stocked gourmet kitchen, plus the use of a Ferrari California.
Some updates in the renovation include a newly remodeled kitchen and removing the 1,800 pieces of etched glass that make up the ceiling of the billiard room for a cleaning.
Aug 25
Damion RutherfordNews, Places to Stay economy, Five Diamond, Five Star, hotels, meeting industry
The latest casualty of the struggling hospitality industry is the rating system itself.
Bloomberg.com reports many luxury hotel brands have begun cutting ratings to save costs.
The AAA and Mobil rating systems identify specific service requirements for hotels to receive a five-diamond or five-star rating. These services can be quite costly for the hotels.
According to the Mobil Travel Guide, if the hotel has a pool, guests arriving for a swim should be escorted to their chairs and offered refreshment. Welcome gifts and thoughtful items on pillows at turn down service are expected. Ice buckets must be glass, metal or stone, and tongs must also be provided.
The Bloomberg.com article quotes Stephen Bollenbach, former chief executive officer of Hilton Hotels Corp.:
“Ratings aren’t based on making good returns on your investment.”
If the trend of hotels cutting back on services and lowering ratings continues, will rating systems become irrelevant? Are they outdated?
As a guest, how important is the AAA or Mobil rating in your booking decision? Can hotels survive on reputation alone?
Jul 28
Ashley SpitzerNews, Places to Stay, Tips for Meeting Planners Chicago Hotels, economy, Hotel Unions, hotels, meeting experiences, meeting industry
Chicago’s City Council is hoping to pass an ordinance that would notify potential hotel guests of work stoppages.
Specifically, work stoppages of 20 or more hotel employees having gone on for more than 15 days would be reported to guests prior to booking.
The ordinance would protect guests from being surprised with unions picketing outside hotels or a lack of staffers during their stay.
Quoted in the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President Jerry Roper said,
“With business as difficult as it is to attract, all the meeting planners need is one extra little thing to say, ‘We wanted to get out of Chicago anyway. This is our out.’… In these tough economic times, we don’t need any more negative impressions.”
What do you think?
As a meeting planner, do you have a right to know if the conditions at a hotel are abnormal? How would your decision to stay at a property be affected by a union strike, if at all?
From the hotelier side, do you agree with Mr. Roper? What are some alternative solutions?
Jul 13
Ashley SpitzerMisc Tidbits, News, Places to Stay air travel, airlines, travel tips, unique activities
Frequent travelers forced to leave their furry friends behind when flying have a new option…
…Pet Airways debuts tomorrow as the U.S.’s first pet-only airline. Pets will travel in the main cabin, not the cargo hold of the planes.
The airline strives to protect the comfort and safety of pets, who are often injured in unsafe cargo conditions. Flights will serves New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles to start, with plans to expand nationwide.
Owners can book online and even track the progress of their pet’s flight at http://www.petairways.com.
Is this a service you will use?
Jun 29
Ashley SpitzerContests, News, Places to Stay, Tips for Meeting Planners Continental Airlines, morgans hotel group, refer a meeting professional
Don’t forget to participate in our Refer a Meeting Professional Contest…for a chance to win a free trip.
It’s simple…
…just refer your colleagues to ConventionPlanit.com’s Refer a Meeting Professional Contest, and for each referral, you get another chance to win!
The Prize:
Two night stay for two at the Morgans Hotel Group property of your choice
plus -
round-trip airfare for two, courtesy of Continental Airlines.
The contest winner will be selected in July 2009. You may enter as many times as you like.
It’s a great way to score a free vacation while sharing valuable information and tips with your friends.
Jun 17
Ashley SpitzerMember News, News, Places to Stay Awards, hotels, Radisson Hotels
Congratulations to the Radisson Fort McDowell Hotel & Casino…
…for being named Radisson’s Hotel of the Year for 2008!
The property was honored at a special reception yesterday – during the company’s annual meeting.
The Hotel of the Year Award is presented to the property that displayed outstanding sales and marketing efforts, distinguished itself with a high level of commitment to guest service, supported the Radisson brand and has had exceptional financial success.
This is the first time that the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino has been honored with the Hotel of the Year distinction.
Click here to learn more about the gorgeous award-winning resort!
Jun 04
Ashley SpitzerMember News, Places to Stay, RFP, Tips hotels, hotels in San Diego, Hyatt, meeting planner help, San Diego
The Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego is making meeting planners several offers that will be hard to refuse…
with a variety of ways to save on your total bill, meeting room, and even earn 100,000 rewards –
and some of these offers are valid until June 2010!
Check out these fabulous to save by viewing the Manchester Grand Hyatt’s deals.
May 19
Ashley SpitzerMisc Tidbits, Places to Stay, Tips hotels in hawaii, travel tips
I just returned from a fantastic travel experience in Hawaii! Paradise is masquerading as the Hawaiian Islands, a great place for meetings and vacations alike.
One part great weather, two parts super accommodations and three parts “Aloha” hospitality…
…all add up to an intoxicating cocktail that rivals the famous Mai-Tai. If you are looking for a destination that never fails to deliver on its promise, consider our 50th state!
Adventures in Paradise!
About the Author: ConventionPlanit.com’s Maureen Pickell, Director of Global Accounts and traveler of the world, has just returned from her latest adventure in Hawaii.
Where have you recently traveled? We’d love to hear about some of your experiences!
Apr 28
Ashley SpitzerMisc Tidbits, Places to Stay best travel practices, hotels, travel tips
Yesterday I saw a commercial for CitiBank that showed several Americans sharing their money saving tips in the current economy.
One in particular stuck out to me: a woman says doesn’t purchase toiletries, and instead takes them from the hotels she stays at.
Perhaps I am misinterpreting the message of the commercial, but it did spark some questions in my mind.
Where do we draw the line? Certainly toiletries are present in a hotel room for guests to use and enjoy, but are they for the taking?
During room service visits, if toiletries have not been used, they will usually not be replaced. Is it wrong for a guest who does not use the toiletries to move them in order to receive more?
I have heard many different guest practices on this issue, and it seems almost everyone has an opinion on it. So…tell me what’s on your mind!
Do you work in a hotel? What’s the standard practice on toiletries?
Are you a frequent traveler? What do you do?
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