Choose hotel solely because of the in room toiletries?
 

It's a toss between various Hiltons, Doubletrees or Waldorf Astoria for my coming trip to NYC. I gathered I'm here on a business trip where most of the time would be spent in the office or out with clients, taxi and meals are paid for by the company, and Diamond status doesn't mean much anyway as most NYC hotels don't have lounges.

Inclined to go for Waldorf Astoria instead of the other Hilton properties solely because it provides Ferragamo branded toiletries which I can bring back for home use after a week's hectic travel, instead of the run-of-the-mill stuff at other Hiltons.

Is this the right decision? Has anyone made conscious hotel choices based on the type of toiletries they provide?

I dislike Aroma Active, Doubletree's new line, so if there is a choice of hotels, I will always choose a non-Doubletree hotel going forward

I wouldn't choose solely based on toiletries but if location, cost, and quality of the property aren't issues (and I can see why they wouldn't be in NY, where different brands cover some very different properties) then sure.

Of course the Waldorf rates would have to be exceptional to make it work and I'd personally find it difficult to justify the Waldorf over others (although I once booked the Sheraton on Park Lane for less than the Ibis my corporate travel suggested...)

I agree they are really, really bad. I preferred the Crabtree & Evelyn and Neutrogena prior

I had one two night stay about 3 years ago at the Waldorf Astoria New York and I thought it was relative dump to what you would expect and personally thought it should have its Waldorf name removed after that stay. Would much prefer staying at the Hilton Times Square if I have to stay midtown regardless of toiletries (usually am down at the Conrad and I am actually like Aromatherapy Associates, which I know some are not keen on).

I would like to point out that those Ferragamo toiletries are ok, but nothing to be making hotel decisions on and the size is definitely on the small size. I have a stay at Waldorf Astoria Chicago in two weeks and the last thing I am looking forward to in my stay in the toiletries. :D (And by the way, THAT is a real Waldorf)

Never.

Quality of breakfast offering is 1st, then type of bathroom amenities is second for me. I have picked places to stay just for the brand of shampoo/soaps they have in the past. It doesn't happen often, but it does.

Never think about it as I bring and use my own toiletries.

I'll occasionally use a properties hand lotion.

Conrad would've been my first choice not because of the Aromatherapy Associates which I dislike (I generally find anything with lavender to smell rather metallic hence off putting) - but the Shanghai Tang toiletries which are divine!

Unfortunately Conrad is also the only Hilton in NYC that isn't a corporate hotel for my company.

I'm not sure what is worse, basing your stay on toiletries when Manhattan has a Duane Reade every other block or posting on the internet and asking strangers to validate this choice.

+1

I would agree. In addition there are luxury hilton properties in NYC like the Waldorf=Astoria and the Conrad.

Me too. One of the main reasons I chose Hiltons, HGIs, and Conrads were for these toiletries, over other brands when I first started eons ago.

HGI: Neutrogena
Hilton: Crabtree and Evelyn. (I loved the aroma from that blue stuff.....Hilton Narita used to give a foamy shaving cream that had a awesome stingy feeling too).
Conrad: Elemis. (Now I choose Shanghai Tang over the other one.).
Conrad Tokyo: Acca Kappa (Love this stuff)

Hope they return to what I listed above. I don't like that Paul Thomas stuff used in many Hiltons (which replaced the Crabtree and Evelyn).

Sounds a bad move to decide purely on toiletries. I am sure you can carry a few of your favourite hotel toiletries that you did not use on earlier stays and gradually accumulated.

Most companies give/set per diem per day and that isn't meant to cover ones breakfast or lunch, and room rate should be room only (I can't book a breakfast rate type) just evening meal with wine, so for me even as HHD I give WA a miss as breakfast is not given to me as a benefit.

I tend to choose hotels for ease of getting to the work location in the morning, of course in NYC several hotels will be very acceptably located in which case local shops/restaurants guide my choice.

+1
I'm having difficulty taking this thread seriously.

Oh, and the Ferragamo toiletries are gross. Way too heavily perfumed. As are most of the designer label brands. Designer label does not generally indicate a high quality product.