New York City - Hotel advice wanted for NYC

I need hotel/area advice from NYC experts. My wife has to organize/attend two different events there on two consecutive nights:

Day1: Arrive at LGA. Cab to Hotel1. Settle in. Go to Mandarin Hotel (Columbus Circle) for Event1. Return to Hotel1 late evening.

Day2: Optional check out and transfer to Hotel2. Free much of the day; the only agenda is visit Ground Zero. Event2 in the evening at Rubin Museum (Chelsea). Return to Hotel2.

Day3: Morning visit to friends in Upper East Side and East Village. Afternoon, cab to LGA.

This is for her work. She will be reimbursed, budget is $400-500 per night. Ambience wanted is quiet inside the hotel. (Mandarin is over the budget and too close to "work". Before and after events, we'd like a little more privacy somewhere else.)

Questions:

1: Do we want to stay near Columbus Circle one night, and near Chelsea the next? Or is it more sane to pick one hotel and just stay there?

2. If one, which area would be best? By 59th street, 18th street, or split the difference and somewhere in the middle?

If you have only one non-travel day in NYC, I don't think you'd want to spend any part of it transferring hotels.

As far as location, any place near one or the other, or in the middle is not going to make too much of a difference - they're not that far apart. You'll have more options in Midtown than near Chelsea, of course.

Thanks. Checking quickly with a few hotel sites, the following seem available in an area close to and centered around 7th Avenue and 54th Street.

London
Park Central
Wellington
Sheraton
Le Parker Meridien NY
Dream NY
Moderne
Hilton
Jumeirah Essex House

Any obvious no-brainers or gotchas?

The Ace Hotel

The Ace Hotel

Not available on my dates.

BTW, welcome to FT! And special thanks for trying to help me in your very first post. ^

Thanks! Happy to be here :)

You could also try the W Hotel in Midtown.

Otherwise, here are some other options:

http://www.pearlhotelnyc.com/
http://www.gershwinhotel.com/
http://www.flatironhotel.com/
http://www.hotellolanyc.com/
http://parksouthhotel.com/
http://www.hotelgiraffe.com/
http://www.gramercyparkhotel.com/
http://www.hudsonhotel.com/
http://www.libraryhotel.com/
http://www.stgilesnewyork.com/

Hope this helps. Enjoy your time in NYC!

Definitely stay at one hotel. No need to transfer.

Of your list, I'd probably go with the London, which I believe is quite a bit higher end than the others.

Definitely stay at one hotel. No need to transfer.

Of your list, I'd probably go with the London, which I believe is quite a bit higher end than the others.

Beat me to it.

Definitely nix the other options mentioned above (Ace, W) - which suck.

Personally, I'd prefer something like the Pen, FC, or RC, but any of those will require corporate discounts to get into your price range. If the travel policy is flexible enough to allow your parameters, I suspect she may not have corporate discounts available to her.

Beat me to it.

Definitely nix the other options mentioned above (Ace, W) - which suck.



stevenshev, <redacted by moderator>. Those hotels don't "suck".

stevenshev, <redacted by moderator>. Those hotels don't "suck".

The Ace has character but is more focused on style than comfort. The W is similarly more focused on style than comfort, but in a more generic national-chain kind of way. The W is to a good boutique hotel what Starbucks is to a good independent coffee shop. It's fairly consistent, has plenty of fans, and in many places it's about as hip as it gets. But in a place like NYC there are both hotels and coffee shops that are more interesting, better quality and no more expensive. I'd definitely go London over W.

The Ace has character but is more focused on style than comfort. The W is similarly more focused on style than comfort, but in a more generic national-chain kind of way. The W is to a good boutique hotel what Starbucks is to a good independent coffee shop. It's fairly consistent, has plenty of fans, and in many places it's about as hip as it gets. But in a place like NYC there are both hotels and coffee shops that are more interesting, better quality and no more expensive. I'd definitely go London over W.

That "the W is similarly more focused on style than comfort" agreed.

But please, enough with the "independent coffee shop" snobbery. Are you a Blue Bottle fan?

stevenshev, <redacted by moderator>. Those hotels don't "suck".

Stand by my statements. The only W left in Midtown is Times Square, which is miserable. The rooms are tiny, overpriced, etc. The others that were (on Lex) were just as bad.

By contrast, the London is actually a nice hotel.

That "the W is similarly more focused on style than comfort" agreed.

But please, enough with the "independent coffee shop" snobbery. Are you a Blue Bottle fan?

I've only had Blue Bottle once but definitely liked it. mrsmicah currently insists on buying Stumptown beans, which are quite tasty too (although I think they're overpriced--I only drink it when I can't get free coffee at work).

It's not that the indy shops that sell these are THAT much "better" than Starbucks. Coffee is essentially a commodity, after all, and Starbucks does a great job of creating a consistently high quality product all over the world. But the independent shops are designed specifically to appeal to the tastes of the customers in their neighborhood and to reflect the tastes of their owners, and that makes them inherently more interesting and often higher quality than the global megachain.

I'd argue that the same thing applies to hotels. There are a few ultra-luxe chains like FS and MO (that I generally can't afford) that are able to highly tailor their products to specific locales and achieve extraordinary results at many properties. But most global flags--even the "boutique" ones like W--simply can't compete in a market like NYC where there are real boutique hotels.

I've only had Blue Bottle once but definitely liked it. mrsmicah currently insists on buying Stumptown beans, which are quite tasty too (although I think they're overpriced--I only drink it when I can't get free coffee at work).

It's not that the indy shops that sell these are THAT much "better" than Starbucks. Coffee is essentially a commodity, after all, and Starbucks does a great job of creating a consistently high quality product all over the world. But the independent shops are designed specifically to appeal to the tastes of the customers in their neighborhood and to reflect the tastes of their owners, and that makes them inherently more interesting and often higher quality than the global megachain.

I'd argue that the same thing applies to hotels. There are a few ultra-luxe chains like FS and MO (that I generally can't afford) that are able to highly tailor their products to specific locales and achieve extraordinary results at many properties. But most global flags--even the "boutique" ones like W--simply can't compete in a market like NYC where there are real boutique hotels.

That may be true of SOME so-called "independent" shops, but Stumptown and Blue Bottle appear designed to appeal to the tastes and whims of their owners.

Go to Stumptown for a cup of coffee in person? Guess what, they refuse to serve milk and sugar! In fact, the only way you can have a cup of coffee at Stumptown is black. In which neighborhood do the people drink coffee in this one way only?

Blue Bottle? It's whole milk only. You want skim, or God-forbid, soy, too bad for your health. The west-coast owners (yes, sorry, Christine Quinn, an Oakland headquarters means it's not a local business) have decided that it's their way or the highway so they offer neither.

And sweetener? A big TWO choices: either sugar or sugar syrup. Nice to see Blue Bottle doing their part to help fight the "obesity epidemic." Local? The NYC DOHMH says diabetes cases have been on the rise for several years. A packet of Sweet 'N Low is about two cents retail but they won't even sell it to you. (For what it's worth, I recently had a mocha at BB and it was so bitter as to render it undrinkable.)

In contrast, at Starbucks you can have half and half, whole milk, 2%, 1%, skim and soy. You can also have sugar, Sweet 'N Low, Sugar in the Raw (two products made in Brooklyn) Equal, Splenda, Honey and soon, I hear, stevia.

New Yorkers are all about choices so I would argue that Starbucks (run by former Brooklyn boy Howard Schultz) is more "designed to appeal" to New Yorkers than any of so-called independent coffee shops.

As to hotels, how are the Four Seasons and MO more "New York" than the Waldorf Astoria, Plaza or Algonquin? Moreover, when a "boutique" hotel gets successful, the owners may open another and another and then you wind up with a chain like Kimpton.

That may be true of SOME so-called "independent" shops, but Stumptown and Blue Bottle appear designed to appeal to the tastes and whims of their owners.

Go to Stumptown for a cup of coffee in person? Guess what, they refuse to serve milk and sugar! In fact, the only way you can have a cup of coffee at Stumptown is black. In which neighborhood do the people drink coffee in this one way only?

Blue Bottle? It's whole milk only. You want skim, or God-forbid, soy, too bad for your health. The west-coast owners (yes, sorry, Christine Quinn, an Oakland headquarters means it's not a local business) have decided that it's their way or the highway so they offer neither.

And sweetener? A big TWO choices: either sugar or sugar syrup. Nice to see Blue Bottle doing their part to help fight the "obesity epidemic." Local? The NYC DOHMH says diabetes cases have been on the rise for several years. A packet of Sweet 'N Low is about two cents retail but they won't even sell it to you. (For what it's worth, I recently had a mocha at BB and it was so bitter as to render it undrinkable.)

In contrast, at Starbucks you can have half and half, whole milk, 2%, 1%, skim and soy. You can also have sugar, Sweet 'N Low, Sugar in the Raw (two products made in Brooklyn) Equal, Splenda, Honey and soon, I hear, stevia.

New Yorkers are all about choices so I would argue that Starbucks (run by former Brooklyn boy Howard Schultz) is more "designed to appeal" to New Yorkers than any of so-called independent coffee shops.

As to hotels, how are the Four Seasons and MO more "New York" than the Waldorf Astoria, Plaza or Algonquin? Moreover, when a "boutique" hotel gets successful, the owners may open another and another and then you wind up with a chain like Kimpton.
I wasn't aware that Stumptown does not offer milk and sugar, but I will tell you that its coffee is much, much better than Starbucks. If you're at the Ace and want your Stumptown with milk and sugar, order it in the hotel lobby lounge, where I believe they'll serve it any way you want. Or go to one of the many restaurants that serve Stumptown, such as Frankies on Hudson St. or Francesca's on Clinton St., and get it any way you want it.

I drink Starbucks much more than Stumptown because it's everywhere. But when I have a choice, I get Stumptown every time.

Stand by my statements. The only W left in Midtown is Times Square, which is miserable. The rooms are tiny, overpriced, etc. The others that were (on Lex) were just as bad.

By contrast, the London is actually a nice hotel.

There's still one on Lexington I believe. If one is looking for a nice hotel in midtown either the Palace or the Loews Regency are pretty good. But if the Mandarin Oriental is excluded then you're probably priced out of those too. Steer clear of the Doubletree, Hilton, Waldorf Astoria or Sheraton.

I've never bought coffee at a Blue Bottle or Stumptown store (I went into the Stumptown shop in the Ace with a friend, but didn't order anything and didn't pay attention to what she ordered). In my neighborhood, however, we have independently owned coffee shops serving beans from Stumptown and Blue Bottle, and they're more flexible with the add-ons.

If the Stumptown store refuses to provide milk or sugar, there must be a local market for people who want a store that refuses them milk or sugar. Obviously that wouldn't work well for Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. It probably wouldn't fly in my neighborhood shops either. But there are definitely people who LIKE that kind of snobbery, just like there are people who enjoy Kenny Shopsin's foul-mouthed antics, the organization of Kim's video store by director, Masa's lack of an a la carte menu, etc.

There's still one on Lexington I believe. If one is looking for a nice hotel in midtown either the Palace or the Loews Regency are pretty good. But if the Mandarin Oriental is excluded then you're probably priced out of those too. Steer clear of the Doubletree, Hilton, Waldorf Astoria or Sheraton.

Not to be an a-hole, but the Palace goes on my list of sucking. The Loews, however, is totally fine.

But if the Mandarin Oriental is excluded then you're probably priced out of those too. Steer clear of the Doubletree, Hilton, Waldorf Astoria or Sheraton.

Originally Mandarin was excluded because that is where actual "work" would be. When it is over, we wanted to get away and enjoy NYC with some privacy. However, since then Mandarin on our days has gone up to ~$1200, which takes care of any lingering thoughts. :)

What is wrong with Sheraton? I ask because we are fans of SPG points.

London and Essex House are among the hotels that seem attractive by location, but for which my usual discounts (like AAA) don't seem to work. Any pointers to promo codes etc will be appreciated.

What is wrong with Sheraton? I ask because we are fans of SPG points.

The Sheraton is a very big, generic tourist hotel. I've put my parents and other visitors there a few times on dirt cheap Priceline stays and they've been perfectly happy. It's just that there are plenty of other hotels that offer more comfort, more style, more personalized service, etc. So unless you have a good reason to choose it (price, SPG points, etc.), it wouldn't be high on my list.

If SPG points are a priority, also check out Le Parker Meridien,which I believe also earns SPG points (you should confirm) and is a little more interesting.

Originally Mandarin was excluded because that is where actual "work" would be. When it is over, we wanted to get away and enjoy NYC with some privacy. However, since then Mandarin on our days has gone up to ~$1200, which takes care of any lingering thoughts. :)

What is wrong with Sheraton? I ask because we are fans of SPG points.

Like the Hilton and the Waldorf its a massive tourist hotel right in midtown so the crowds are disconcerting.

Not wanting to get into a coffee debate it could well be the Loews as the FT consensus but its a bit more of a hassle to get to Chelsea although a short walk and you can get the NQR down to 23rd and 5th. Although it's much more convenient for everything else on the East Side.

If you really wanting to use your SPG points you could go with the Le Parker Meridien.

The Sheraton is a very big, generic tourist hotel. I've put my parents and other visitors there a few times on dirt cheap Priceline stays and they've been perfectly happy. It's just that there are plenty of other hotels that offer more comfort, more style, more personalized service, etc. So unless you have a good reason to choose it (price, SPG points, etc.), it wouldn't be high on my list.

If SPG points are a priority, also check out Le Parker Meridien,which I believe also earns SPG points (you should confirm) and is a little more interesting.

To add to the generic + touristy (which I can get over). It's run-down, dark, old furnishings, poorly maintained rooms/bathrooms, etc.

Parker Meridien is nice.

Don't do Essex House, there's a reason it's cheap.

Actually, the IC Times Square is a great hotel. Horrible location, but you can find prices in the low $2s if you look at their website.

To add to the generic + touristy (which I can get over). It's run-down, dark, old furnishings, poorly maintained rooms/bathrooms, etc.

How old is your experience there? The website claims they just finished some major renovation. OTOH, the same website mentions a guest rating of 2.x out of 5. :)

I appreciate all the advice in this thread.

We have decided that while NYC is good for commuting, we want to be within walking distance of Mandarin as my wife may need to go back and forth. So the choice and packages available are (prices approx):

Sheraton: $400, earn SPG points, breakfast included
Parker Le Meridien: $450, earn SPG points, breakfast not included
Essex House: $500, no SPG points, breakfast not included
London NYC: $550, no SPG points, breakfast not included

I'll ask my wife to choose between free breakfast at Sheraton v better atmosphere at Le Meridien.

We have decided that while NYC is good for commuting, we want to be within walking distance of Mandarin as my wife may need to go back and forth. So the choice and packages available are (prices approx):

Sheraton: $400, earn SPG points, breakfast included
Parker Le Meridien: $450, earn SPG points, breakfast not included
Essex House: $500, no SPG points, breakfast not included
London NYC: $550, no SPG points, breakfast not included

I'll ask my wife to choose between free breakfast at Sheraton v better atmosphere at Le Meridien.

I would go with the Le Meridien, breakfast is pretty easy to find and pretty good just about anywhere near there. Drop by Petrossian which is on the way from Le Meridien to Mandarin Oriental on 7th between 57th and 58th for a eggs benedict or bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese. There is also the Burger Joint in the lobby which for some has the best burgers in New York.

FWIW the last time I walked past the Sheraton, which was last week, they still had the scaffolding up. They are renovating and putting in new decor and sprucing up the outside and parts of the common areas. According to the current reports the guest rooms are finished.

Parker, by a mile.

As for breakfast, there are four Starbucks within a block of the hotel's doors -- one directly across 56th, one half a block west on 57th, one on 6th between 57 and 58, and another on the corner of 6th and 56th. Also one on 7th between 55 and 56, but that's more than a block away. :-)

Le Parker Meridien also has Norma's (http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/normas/) in the lobby. It's an expensive breakfast and some say overrated, but if you love brunch I think it's worth a one-time splurge.

Thanks everyone. Le Parker Meridien it is! Will definitely try their famous burger joint sometime during the stay. However, looking at Norma's menu online (brkfst looks like $50 per person), we may be walking a block or two for breakfast.

Doesn't have to be Starbucks, but is there not a diner or "pancake house" nearby with more normal prices (something like $15-$20)? Would be really funny if the best breakfast deal turned out to be at Sheraton. :)

Thanks everyone. Le Parker Meridien it is! Will definitely try their famous burger joint sometime during the stay. However, looking at Norma's menu online (brkfst looks like $50 per person), we may be walking a block or two for breakfast.

Doesn't have to be Starbucks, but is there not a diner or "pancake house" nearby with more normal prices (something like $15-$20)? Would be really funny if the best breakfast deal turned out to be at Sheraton. :)

There's a place called Brooklyn Diner that looks pretty touristy on 57th just west of 7th. There's also a Cafe Metro on the corner of 57th and 7th that should have some breakfast options, but probably won't have pancakes. A more traditional 24 hour diner that I've actually been to (and is decent, although nothing special) is the Flame Restaurant on 9th and 58th (a long block past the Mandarin). There are others in the area.

For top-notch grab-and-go pastries there's Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Center (same building as the Mandarin, but different entrance), but the counter doesn't open until 8am and the cafe doesn't open until 11:30am. Another popular fancy brunch place that's not quite as expensive as Norma's is Sarabeth's on Central Park South (just east of 6th Ave).

Thanks everyone. Le Parker Meridien it is! Will definitely try their famous burger joint sometime during the stay. However, looking at Norma's menu online (brkfst looks like $50 per person), we may be walking a block or two for breakfast.

Doesn't have to be Starbucks, but is there not a diner or "pancake house" nearby with more normal prices (something like $15-$20)? Would be really funny if the best breakfast deal turned out to be at Sheraton. :)

No pancakes but Petrossian does a pretty good French Toast and their pastry selection is excellent, better than Bouchon.

No pancakes but Petrossian does a pretty good French Toast and their pastry selection is excellent, better than Bouchon.Petrossian is excellent, but hardly an inexpensive breakfast either. (Although there is only so much you can charge for a pastry!)

I have not been to this place personally, but the Applejack Diner (http://www.applejackdiner.com/) appears to be a standard NY-style diner in the general vicinity of Le Parker Meridien.

Thanks everyone. Le Parker Meridien it is! Will definitely try their famous burger joint sometime during the stay. However, looking at Norma's menu online (brkfst looks like $50 per person), we may be walking a block or two for breakfast.

Doesn't have to be Starbucks, but is there not a diner or "pancake house" nearby with more normal prices (something like $15-$20)? Would be really funny if the best breakfast deal turned out to be at Sheraton. :)

Sarabeth on CPS is a good bet for pancakes.

We have decided that while NYC is good for commuting, we want to be within walking distance of Mandarin as my wife may need to go back and forth. So the choice and packages available are (prices approx):

Sheraton: $400, earn SPG points, breakfast included
Parker Le Meridien: $450, earn SPG points, breakfast not included
Essex House: $500, no SPG points, breakfast not included
London NYC: $550, no SPG points, breakfast not included

I'll ask my wife to choose between free breakfast at Sheraton v better atmosphere at Le Meridien.

Why don't you book the London on a Virtuoso rate? Should be around $500 and will include breakfast. That seems like best value of those.

I have not been to this place personally, but the Applejack Diner (http://www.applejackdiner.com/) appears to be a standard NY-style diner in the general vicinity of Le Parker Meridien.

Great. The menu and prices are just like what we are used to anywhere in the USA. Even from online view(http://www.applejackdiner.com/Full_Menu.pdf) I can almost feel the smooth shiny plastic in my hand. :)

BTW I am sorry if I gave the impression that I am especially looking for pancakes. By "pancake house" I just meant traditional IHOP style menu, with all sort of breakfast fare.

Why don't you book the London on a Virtuoso rate? Should be around $500 and will include breakfast. That seems like best value of those.

I didn't know anything about Virtuoso, but online check at their site was around $100 more than Le Meridien for our nights. Then, no SPG points. :)
What is Virtuoso, and what's the trick to seeing lower fares? The lowest I see is "London Suite".

Great. The menu and prices are just like what we are used to anywhere in the USA. Even from online view(http://www.applejackdiner.com/Full_Menu.pdf) I can almost feel the smooth shiny plastic in my hand. :)

BTW I am sorry if I gave the impression that I am especially looking for pancakes. By "pancake house" I just meant traditional IHOP style menu, with all sort of breakfast fare.



I didn't know anything about Virtuoso, but online check at their site was around $100 more than Le Meridien for our nights. Then, no SPG points. :)
What is Virtuoso, and what's the trick to seeing lower fares? The lowest I see is "London Suite".

Yep, Sarabeth same thing. IHOP - but upscale. God, I think they'd have a heart attack hearing a comparison to IHOP.

Anyhoo, send a PM to DavidO with your dates. He'll either come back to you with pricing or refer you to someone who can.

Virtuoso is often 10% off of BAR, so around $500 for your dates. (May or may not be true for the London). The London is a luxury hotel (or at least close to it - it's no MO or FS), forgetting SPG benefits. Parker Meridien, while not bad for the moderate NYC price range, is not a luxury hotel.

Great. The menu and prices are just like what we are used to anywhere in the USA. Even from online view(http://www.applejackdiner.com/Full_Menu.pdf) I can almost feel the smooth shiny plastic in my hand. :)

You'll probably find the food very familiar too. Most diners and "family restaurants" (Midwestern-speak for diner) in the US these days serve the same largely-premade food from Sysco/Aramark, so even though the restaurants themselves aren't affiliated with each other, the food is very consistent whether you're in Manhattan Kansas or Manhattan New York.


I didn't know anything about Virtuoso, but online check at their site was around $100 more than Le Meridien for our nights. Then, no SPG points. :)
What is Virtuoso, and what's the trick to seeing lower fares? The lowest I see is "London Suite".

Virtuoso is a network of high end travel agents who have access to special rates and perks at many luxury hotels that you can't get directly. DavidO is one FTer who is also a Virtuoso agent and often willing to hook up fellow FTers, which is why stevenshev suggested contacting him.

The serious hotel snobs on FT (see the Luxury Hotels forum) seem to book many of their stays through Virtuoso agents or through Amex's competing FHR (Fine Hotels and Resorts) program, which is available to Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders. Virtuoso and FHR often throw in room upgrades, free breakfast, late checkout and other perks above what you can get by going directly through the hotel.

The Luxury Hotels forum approach to travel is somewhat of an anomaly on FT. The Luxury Hotels crowd tends to focus more on having the best possible experience even if it means spending a little (sometimes a LOT of) extra money (and many couldn't care less about loyalty programs), while I'd say most FTers are more interested in wringing the most points out of their travel or wringing the most travel out of their points.

Great. The menu and prices are just like what we are used to anywhere in the USA. Even from online view(http://www.applejackdiner.com/Full_Menu.pdf) I can almost feel the smooth shiny plastic in my hand. :)

BTW I am sorry if I gave the impression that I am especially looking for pancakes. By "pancake house" I just meant traditional IHOP style menu, with all sort of breakfast fare.


If that's really all your looking for you could always try the buffet in the Whole Foods in Time Warner Centre. It's right next door to the Mandarin Oriental. Applejack is okay but it's probably only just up to IHOP standard food wise.

The Bread Factory on 8th between 55th and 56th is also okay along with the previous suggestion of Cafe Metro. If you like New York Pizza you also have to try Mariella's on 8th between 56th and 57th.

Even as a less famous Virtuoso Agent than DavidO, I can still confirm that The London NYC is not part of our program. Around the Mandarin you'd have The Ritz Carlton, Plaza, The Pierre and then move into the Upper East (Lowell and Plaza Athenee), but if this is for May travel $500.00 might be a little light budget wise. I didn't really see specific dates in the thread

Even as a less famous Virtuoso Agent than DavidO, I can still confirm that The London NYC is not part of our program. Around the Mandarin you'd have The Ritz Carlton, Plaza, The Pierre and then move into the Upper East (Lowell and Plaza Athenee), but if this is for May travel $500.00 might be a little light budget wise. I didn't really see specific dates in the thread

Crap, thanks. It is definitely FHR, OP, if you qualify.

Virtuoso is a network of high end travel agents who have access to special rates and perks at many luxury hotels that you can't get directly. DavidO is one FTer who is also a Virtuoso agent and often willing to hook up fellow FTers, which is why stevenshev suggested contacting him.


My understanding is that Virtuoso tends to not be for one-off bookings but rather clients who develop a relationship and bring in significant business. Is that no longer true? I've avoided booking through Virtuoso in the past because I don't do so very often and was told they discourage this type of behavior.

My understanding is that Virtuoso tends to not be for one-off bookings but rather clients who develop a relationship and bring in significant business. Is that no longer true? I've avoided booking through Virtuoso in the past because I don't do so very often and was told they discourage this type of behavior.Not true. I use DavidO for one-off Virtuoso (and Four Seasons Preferred Partner) bookings and have been thrilled both by David's service and by the quality of the properties and the amenities I have received.

Not true. I use DavidO for one-off Virtuoso (and Four Seasons Preferred Partner) bookings and have been thrilled both by David's service and by the quality of the properties and the amenities I have received.

As have I.

but rather clients who develop a relationship and bring in significant business.

I think from an online perspective that statement is true for more the advisor->supplier relationship. While someone may PM looking for XYZ hotel, I sometimes close a statement saying but you know at the Four Seasons they can do A, B and C for you. It not that anything is wrong with XYZ Hotel it just might be that the sales director, GM, etc is a bit of a drip and I can't count on that person as much as the FS person who has come to my house for dinner.

Most of my offline clients come to me all the time for everything.... even car rentals in NYC in the summer!