Originally Posted by
vuittonsofstyle
It has happened to me a few times - hotels have googled me to find out about my preferences, which is a pretty impressive thing to do.
Anyone else?
Yes, this has happened to me by one high-end chain, in particular. I have had some very nice veggie gifts as a result ...and have had a signed menu delivered by a rather well-known chef along with crudites.
Luxury hotels to me are really about service. They are about anticipating needs, rather than reacting to requests - the concierge surprising you with a table not just at the restaurant you wish to dine at, but at the preferred table in the wine cellar with a gift bottle of champagne from the hotel/concierge. It's not batting an eye when they think you've requested eight wastepaper baskets (actually had this misunderstanding once and they happily brought me eight, which I found amusing). It's leaving things where you've placed them (yes, I do want the wastepaper basket in a particular area and not moved back every day). It's seeing evidence housekeeping was there, but never actually seeing or hearing housekeeping or their carts in the halls. It's the club lounge attendant making sure there will be things I can eat there every night. It's the gym attendant bringing me, unrequested, a wet towel and fresh bottle of water in the middle of my workout. It's the hotel driver picking up on small clues, like a comment that you're starving, and having a room service menu available and offering to place an order for you so it's ready when you arrive at the hotel. Luxury hotels to me are far less defined by their furnishings and much more by their attentiveness and ability to anticipate needs.