chinmoylad

Judging by this forum's response, this is a great question for TAs (and properties/GMs) to ask or gauge preferences for guests re: arrival ceremonies.

Me, it really depends on my mood. After an 8 hour drive through hot India, I just want a nice, cold, fresh towel, and even more refreshing cold drink, and to see my room.

My dad, for instance, finds all welcome ceremonies (and departure ones too) cringeworthy.

dodgeflyer

The Upper House does that very well, greet at door, straight to the room. I'm Nordic so quite Germanic in my approach to life - make it brief, swift, professional with as little as possible hassle. I probably don't want to engage in chat with you, and I don't really care about hotel amenities - I know how to ask for what I want when I need it. At best, ask me if I need a dinner reservation if appropriate to the time of day.

silvergirl

I am also with you - after traveling I would like to just get to the room. A truly luxury experience for me is no visit to reception at all, go straight from my transport to the room, have a cold drink ready there for me to enjoy in my room, do any minimum formalities (credit card and passport) right there and provide me with whatever info I need or dining options in a nice catalogue (printed or electronic) for me to access at my leisure.

lost_in_translation

+1 (except I'd rather they send up some welcome tea or similar than a cold drink).

Cityflyer10

That's my experience with The Upper House as well but we took the hotel car from the airport, so they met us literally at the door of the car and took us straight to the room.

In-room check in tends to be more standard if you book the hotel car (other reports on FT seem to agree with my experiences)

KatW

How I prefer to arrive (in warm environs):
Hotel car and driver at airport
Chilled face cloth
Cold, preferably alcoholic, drink
In-room check in, failing that swift check-in at front desk, escort to room

luxtrvlwrks

The best departure experiences are those that come from genuine heartfelt gratitude and connection on behalf of both the guests and staff. When we left our hotel yesterday several staff members that we had come to know during the week came up to us to say goodbye and thank us for our stay. There were handshakes, hugs, laughs, and promises to visit again. The opposite experience comes across as incongruent and disingenuous - especially when one was ambivalent or disliked their experience at the hotel.

I am not a huge fan of arrival ceremonies as I find them to be a bit awkward - especially when done as a group. However, I did one this past Sunday and enjoyed it, in part because I was asked if I wanted to participate. Having checked out of another hotel after only one night, and arriving at the new property ready for a great stay, I thought some spirit cleansing was in order

I also appreciated during our arrival process that we were asked if we wanted a tour, and then asked about specific things along the way - yes we wanted to see the pool, no we didn't want to see the gym. Also, it's a pet peeve when it turns into some sort of scripted sales pitch. Highlight things that I might not know or notice, but don't try and sell me on the hotel (again).

One of my favorite arrival experiences was a hotel in Iceland where I was not required to hand over a credit card at check in. How refreshing to not start a stay with a hotel asking for more money. On a related note, don't tell me about the hold you will be placing on my card for incidentals. I find it tacky to discuss such things, and I am not at all concerned about it.

Baghoarder

Great thread.

I only had to travel from east coast Australia to Laucala so can't claim jet lag or exhaustion, but I also found the genuinely lovely welcome ceremony a bit awkward. I think it is just too fast an immersion for many travellers. I prefer to have time to settle in and find my bearings first. The farewell ceremony, on the other hand - just a delight because by the time of our departure we had formed personal relationships with those who farewelled us.

I enjoyed the Buddhist farewell and blessing at Amankora Thimphu as we departed on our journey through Bhutan. It felt right and proper in its setting.

In a city hotel I want brutal (but smiling) efficiency. I want to be met at the car, greeted by name and escorted straight to my room for check-in formalities. I do not want to be shown how to operate anything unless the thing in question is genuinely innovative or unfamiliar. I want the porter to bring my luggage IMMEDIATELY. If I am invited to order a welcome drink of some kind I want it within 5 minutes!

Pausanias

I agree with most people here that as little as possible is as much as necessary. All that gonging and petal stuff doesn't impress me, especially after a long flight. At the Galle Fort Hotel, Sri Lanka, earlier this year the manager insists on giving every new arrival a 15-minute lecture on the history of the building. That was a major test of patience and it was amusing to see how people reacted in the ensuing days of our stay.

The boat ride, the frangipane in your hair and the shell necklaces are always fun at Bora Bora. And seriously exotic.

I thought the Four Seasons Hong Kong got it absolutely right - a brilliant limo from the airport, whisked through the lobby, up to the suite, sign here, good night.

One of my most memorable welcomes dates back to the 1980s and to my time as a journalist. We checked into the Victoria Falls Hotel with another couple, the cricketer Ian Botham and his wife. He was impressive. But not perhaps as impressive as what the manager said to me, 'You have a telegram from The Times, sir.'

KatW

Aventine

I think I know that windbag from GH Seoul. I prefer nothing but take my bags and persons up to the room, sign and get on with the stay.

KatW

Aventine

I think they should bring a pitcher of the real thing for the greetings!

KatW

RichardInSF

I too am not a fan of welcoming ceremonies but will be at Amanbagh in a couple of weeks, so based on what Pierre&Cedric said above, apparently I am about to experience one.