Luxury Hotels Forum "Presidential Suite Lounge" -- All Welcome!!
Apr 7, 2019, 12:13 pm
#1501
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
luxury collection allows franchises. service at RC (long marriott) and st regis varies. that is one example of what i am talking about. when luxury brands like FS change, then others like marriott change in response, 'cuts' etc.
RC chicago and bvlgari london are franchises. RC montreal not even franchise. RCs due to age of hotels.
bvlgari hotel brand is joint venture with bvlgari, bvlgari owns 65%.
business and operation side are not the only part of service etc. some owners dont care about making a profit.
there is no longer as large of a gap between top hotel brands and all the other luxury / upscale hotel brands.
this does not really change much. there will always be good owners, whether brand or independent.
some past posts >
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post30395984
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post30397682
Luxury Hotels USP by Brand
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post28835302
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post30429587
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post29059716
same MD/GM/staff/owner, 3 management companies >
1991-2002 - rosewood (sold 50% stake of brand in 1997)
2002-2013 - st regis starwood (one of earliest managed) *
2014/2015 to present - oetker (their 5th managed hotel)
* president Ops st regis was previously CEO rosewood hotels
hotelbusiness.com/st-regis-takes-over-management-of-the-lanesborough
RC chicago and bvlgari london are franchises. RC montreal not even franchise. RCs due to age of hotels.
bvlgari hotel brand is joint venture with bvlgari, bvlgari owns 65%.
business and operation side are not the only part of service etc. some owners dont care about making a profit.
there is no longer as large of a gap between top hotel brands and all the other luxury / upscale hotel brands.
this does not really change much. there will always be good owners, whether brand or independent.
some past posts >
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post30395984
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post30397682
Luxury Hotels USP by Brand
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post28835302
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post30429587
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post29059716
same MD/GM/staff/owner, 3 management companies >
ah, lanesborough MD opened hotel in 1991, left july 2018. that's continuity.
thecaterer.com/articles/519952/exclusive-geoffrey-gelardi-to-step-down-as-md-of-the-lanesborough
londonhotelsinsight.com/2009/08/26/is-this-londons-most-accomplished-hotelier
that is the best discussion re saying no that i have ever heard
thecaterer.com/articles/519952/exclusive-geoffrey-gelardi-to-step-down-as-md-of-the-lanesborough
londonhotelsinsight.com/2009/08/26/is-this-londons-most-accomplished-hotelier
“Hoteliers love to say ‘no’ if it means they are following the rules. And for me there are no rules. You make them as you go along, with the best interests of the hotel and guest at heart.”
2002-2013 - st regis starwood (one of earliest managed) *
2014/2015 to present - oetker (their 5th managed hotel)
* president Ops st regis was previously CEO rosewood hotels
hotelbusiness.com/st-regis-takes-over-management-of-the-lanesborough
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Apr 7, 2019 at 1:28 pm
Apr 7, 2019, 12:35 pm
#1502
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posts: 3,221
This somewhat hyperbolic article about Tel Aviv's "luxury" hotels cites a number of interesting statistics on Israeli tourism and hotels.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/04/0...hotels-beckon/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/04/0...hotels-beckon/
Apr 24, 2019, 2:17 pm
#1503
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posts: 3,221
Dining to Travel: https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/...-holiday-ideas
May 2, 2019, 9:46 am
#1504
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,515
May 2, 2019, 4:40 pm
#1505
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posts: 3,221
That's my favorite English country house experience. The gardens there were created by William Robinson, the grandfater of Englidh gardening in the 19th century. They have been kept in his tradition ever since. It's a very special place with the sweetest, kindest staff.
May 2, 2019, 11:00 pm
#1506
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,462
Quick question for all the experts here:
I am about to book a room for 2 persons for a trip later this year at a property in Thailand. A younger family member may end up joining if he can get time off from school, so I'll be booking a Suite with a listed capacity of 3 adults as opposed to the base level room which only have a capacity of 2 adults.
I have spoken to the hotel about adding a third person at a later stage if needed, and they have quoted me 150 USD + taxes per night for this. Does that seem reasonable? Given that the suite is 223 USD + taxes / night I am surprised we are being quoted an additional 67% on top of the base rate - and this is on top of paying a premium for the Suite to ensure we have a room that can accommodate a 3rd person to begin with (a base level room is under 200 USD). The 150 USD + taxes is for breakfast and a rollaway bed.
Keen to hear people's thoughts on this. Maybe this is completely normal, but I was definitely taken aback by the steep additional person charge.
Not sure if relevant but we are regulars at this property and this would be our third stay this year - we also have top tier status with the loyalty program if that matters at all.
I am about to book a room for 2 persons for a trip later this year at a property in Thailand. A younger family member may end up joining if he can get time off from school, so I'll be booking a Suite with a listed capacity of 3 adults as opposed to the base level room which only have a capacity of 2 adults.
I have spoken to the hotel about adding a third person at a later stage if needed, and they have quoted me 150 USD + taxes per night for this. Does that seem reasonable? Given that the suite is 223 USD + taxes / night I am surprised we are being quoted an additional 67% on top of the base rate - and this is on top of paying a premium for the Suite to ensure we have a room that can accommodate a 3rd person to begin with (a base level room is under 200 USD). The 150 USD + taxes is for breakfast and a rollaway bed.
Keen to hear people's thoughts on this. Maybe this is completely normal, but I was definitely taken aback by the steep additional person charge.
Not sure if relevant but we are regulars at this property and this would be our third stay this year - we also have top tier status with the loyalty program if that matters at all.
May 2, 2019, 11:37 pm
#1507
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Quick question for all the experts here:
I am about to book a room for 2 persons for a trip later this year at a property in Thailand. A younger family member may end up joining if he can get time off from school, so I'll be booking a Suite with a listed capacity of 3 adults as opposed to the base level room which only have a capacity of 2 adults.
I have spoken to the hotel about adding a third person at a later stage if needed, and they have quoted me 150 USD + taxes per night for this. Does that seem reasonable? Given that the suite is 223 USD + taxes / night I am surprised we are being quoted an additional 67% on top of the base rate - and this is on top of paying a premium for the Suite to ensure we have a room that can accommodate a 3rd person to begin with (a base level room is under 200 USD). The 150 USD + taxes is for breakfast and a rollaway bed.
Keen to hear people's thoughts on this. Maybe this is completely normal, but I was definitely taken aback by the steep additional person charge.
Not sure if relevant but we are regulars at this property and this would be our third stay this year - we also have top tier status with the loyalty program if that matters at all.
I am about to book a room for 2 persons for a trip later this year at a property in Thailand. A younger family member may end up joining if he can get time off from school, so I'll be booking a Suite with a listed capacity of 3 adults as opposed to the base level room which only have a capacity of 2 adults.
I have spoken to the hotel about adding a third person at a later stage if needed, and they have quoted me 150 USD + taxes per night for this. Does that seem reasonable? Given that the suite is 223 USD + taxes / night I am surprised we are being quoted an additional 67% on top of the base rate - and this is on top of paying a premium for the Suite to ensure we have a room that can accommodate a 3rd person to begin with (a base level room is under 200 USD). The 150 USD + taxes is for breakfast and a rollaway bed.
Keen to hear people's thoughts on this. Maybe this is completely normal, but I was definitely taken aback by the steep additional person charge.
Not sure if relevant but we are regulars at this property and this would be our third stay this year - we also have top tier status with the loyalty program if that matters at all.
- extra guest in room (with existing bedding) is often in the $40-$60 range
- rollaway bed is often $80-$100
- breakfast for the third person would often be $30-$40
But given how inexpensive the suite is, the surcharge does seem rather steep.
Have you considered just booking an additional standard room under a flexible rate? Especially if the hotel is affiliated with Virtuoso / Amex FHR / Travel Leaders Group / etc, the value proposition of booking a 2ns room would likely be much better.
May 3, 2019, 9:13 am
#1508
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,737
I'll be booking a Suite with a listed capacity of 3 adults as opposed to the base level room which only have a capacity of 2 adults.
I have spoken to the hotel about adding a third person at a later stage if needed, and they have quoted me 150 USD + taxes per night for this.
I have spoken to the hotel about adding a third person at a later stage if needed, and they have quoted me 150 USD + taxes per night for this.
May 3, 2019, 8:14 pm
#1509
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,462
Originally Posted by Jasper2009
But given how inexpensive the suite is, the surcharge does seem rather steep.
Have you considered just booking an additional standard room under a flexible rate? Especially if the hotel is affiliated with Virtuoso / Amex FHR / Travel Leaders Group / etc, the value proposition of booking a 2ns room would likely be much better.
Have you considered just booking an additional standard room under a flexible rate? Especially if the hotel is affiliated with Virtuoso / Amex FHR / Travel Leaders Group / etc, the value proposition of booking a 2ns room would likely be much better.
The difference between booking for 2 vs 3 is a little over half of the fee they are quoting, but given the fairly long stay it adds up to an amount (around 1,500 USD incl. taxes) I'm not very comfortable absorbing in case we end up just being two persons in the room.
I've been in touch with the hotel again and it appears they won't budge on this. Disappointing but this time we will take our business elsewhere.
Thank you for the responses!
May 6, 2019, 1:30 pm
#1510
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posts: 3,221
Brunei Says It Won’t Execute Gays After Protests of Stoning Law, NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/w...execution.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/w...execution.html
Jun 2, 2019, 11:09 pm
#1511
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posts: 3,221
What do reviewers at [formerly Harper's] Hideaway Report look for in terms of "Luxury?"
https://www.newsweek.com/what-makes-...-1433157?amp=1
https://www.hideawayreport.com/
Clipped from linked article above: "A small hotel in Los Angeles recently provided an especially egregious example of a hectic atmosphere. The property's marketing materials and numerous articles in the travel press assured me that the hotel represented the height of discretion, and yet, the lobby felt chaotic and claustrophobic, and the bar was crowded and loud. A hideaway it was not."
Hah! I bet anything this was the Peninsula Beverly Hills!
https://www.newsweek.com/what-makes-...-1433157?amp=1
https://www.hideawayreport.com/
Clipped from linked article above: "A small hotel in Los Angeles recently provided an especially egregious example of a hectic atmosphere. The property's marketing materials and numerous articles in the travel press assured me that the hotel represented the height of discretion, and yet, the lobby felt chaotic and claustrophobic, and the bar was crowded and loud. A hideaway it was not."
Hah! I bet anything this was the Peninsula Beverly Hills!
Last edited by KatW; Jun 2, 2019 at 11:18 pm
Jun 7, 2019, 11:13 am
#1512
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,431
360 degree rooftop infinity pool in london. Five star hotel beneath (tbd).
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/in...cli/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/in...cli/index.html
Jun 9, 2019, 3:30 pm
#1513
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,504
360 degree rooftop infinity pool in london. Five star hotel beneath (tbd).
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/in...cli/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/in...cli/index.html
Jun 15, 2019, 2:24 pm
#1514
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posts: 3,221
For those of us that fly commercial!
