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"secret" hotel within hotel concepts
I am very curious about the idea of hotel within hotel concepts around the world at various properties.
The typical RC concept at most of their properties I am not a huge fan of as its like a decent airline lounge with sometimes great views but at a few properties it includes somewhat secretive perks like separate pool and I find that fascinating. Esteemed contributor @m0hamed recently piqued my interest in a somewhat luxury property in Sharm, the Hyatt Regency which has a club level that truly seems like a separate hotel within hotel. This property features not only a large club house, differentiated rooms, but a really lovely private pool with service and a private beach. I was recently at the soon to be flagged Waldorf (now Towers Hotel Heliopolis) in Cairo and while the rooms pre refurbishment where very very mediocre they had an unadvertised lounge with private entrance from the driveway and private elevator. There was also unadvertised butler service for this level which was some of the best I have ever experienced (and Im generally really not a fan of this concept as find it useless) as well as separate pool area from the joined Hilton property. As a separate topic I think this WA hotel when refurbished is going to phenomenal. This got me wondering about luxury properties around the world that might have similar features beyond the standard lounge that truly differentiate the product from the rest of the hotel/resort and might not be obvious/well advertised. I hope this thread seems appropriate and am eager for your expert knowledge as I couldn't find much on this topic. Best, BT |
These are far from secret. The entire marketing approach is to promote these facilities incrementally. E.g., "we're happy to have you staying with us, but we would like to make your stay even more exclusive."
The key is to figure out what you are really buying. At some places it is simply playing to people who want others to believe that they are special. At others, it really is peace & quiet, perhaps access to a lounge where decent food can be put out without having people shovel it into their pockets as though they haven't eaten in 6 weeks. |
Originally Posted by Often1
(Post 30640942)
These are far from secret. The entire marketing approach is to promote these facilities incrementally. E.g., "we're happy to have you staying with us, but we would like to make your stay even more exclusive."
The key is to figure out what you are really buying. At some places it is simply playing to people who want others to believe that they are special. At others, it really is peace & quiet, perhaps access to a lounge where decent food can be put out without having people shovel it into their pockets as though they haven't eaten in 6 weeks. |
Not a club per se, but the Shangri-La(s) in Singapore is a good example of this.
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FS Seoul has their Korean baths and sauna that is a paid extra charge, Executive suite (or higher) guests or hotel members only.
They don't advertise it and try to keep numbers down. The downside to this approach is hotel members bringing their extended family during the Korean vacation period time. They are paying 20 to 30k USD so I guess that gives privilege. |
Originally Posted by Aventine
(Post 30641035)
FS Seoul has their Korean baths and sauna that is a paid extra charge, Executive suite (or higher) guests or hotel members only.
They don't advertise it and try to keep numbers down. The downside to this approach is hotel members bringing their extended family during the Korean vacation period time. |
You might want to have a look at Las Vegas or a number of other integrated resort type of operations, where you will likely find "secret"/unadvertised rooms and products.
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Waldorf Towers part of the Waldorf Astoria in NYC is an obvious example, before and after it became part of Hilton. Even some Sheratons have Towers hotel within a hotel with separate (better) lounge. Hong Kong is an example. Before Katrina, one of the two RCs in New Orleans had a hotel within the hotel. Hyatt on Bali had a special pool for club level. Laguna at Bali (SPG LC) has some villas, IIRC with a private pool for them. Canyon Suites (hotel within a hotel, with pool, hot tubs, business center but no restaurant in the building) and Canyon Residences (generally private pools), both SPG LC, are on the Phoenician resort complex and operated as separate hotels. Imperial Hotels (Tokyo and Osaka) have Imperial floors with hostesses in kimonos that give access to a special lounge near the business center with free coffee and tea all day. At times there's an offer (for ICI members or suites occupants)b for access to their private club (evening drinks, etc.). Parts of the Broadmoor seem special. Some sections have their own lobby, check in desk, concierge, etc. Andaz Scottsdale has a separate area with units around a courtyard with its own pool, but it's for groups and seems much less attractive than the rest of the property and main pool. Hotel du Cap has a smaller separate building (IIRC mostly junior suites) near the water/pool and down the hill from the main palace that's considered exclusive. There are also a couple villas on the property. I'm forgetting the name now, but the iconic historic resort hotel in the small town on the lake in Switzerland (with the floating pool) has the separate building beyond the pool that's considered more exclusive than the main palace building. In some of the resorts in Australia (Great Barrier Reef, for example), there are groups of villas that share a pool. Some huge conference hotels that are chain properties have one tower that they try to designate as special, but it's a meaningless joke. I'm thinking of the big Marriott in Philadelphia for example with its regular tower and deluxe tower. |
Originally Posted by scented
(Post 30641111)
You might want to have a look at Las Vegas or a number of other integrated resort type of operations, where you will likely find "secret"/unadvertised rooms and products.
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Why not just go to a small, exclusive hotel that treats all its guests like celebrities? Surely, this is what luxury is about.
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Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle
(Post 30641658)
Why not just go to a small, exclusive hotel that treats all its guests like celebrities? Surely, this is what luxury is about.
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Originally Posted by BOStonTravels
(Post 30641767)
We do but I also have particular interest in things like secret elevators and doors (partly due to my lifelong neurodiversity/diagnosis of Asperger's, now ASD). I found myself transfixed by the two entrances to the Towers Heliopolis (one into lounge) and the other for main entrance and then began wondering more about the hotel within a hotel concept that others have kindly provided further information about. My amazement at not so obvious entrances/features is not limited to luxury hotels, another beautiful example is the Etihad Residence lounge within the lounge at JFK that has a nearly hidden entrance opening up into a very exclusive little space.
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Originally Posted by offerendum
(Post 30641869)
As others said only a handful might be "secret". So far I didnīt read much here what qualifies as secret. In the end a hotel lives from ist offerings, so why should it be secret?
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The Hyatt Regency Danang in Vietnam has a private pool for the club bookings.
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I don't think most of these are secret per se. Hotels within hotels are common place. I can think of the Wynn in LAS the Vista inside the Hilton in TLV off hand. Cruiselines have separate parts of the ship as a hotel within the hotel. None of these are secret. There was a "secret" hotel inside Disneyland this is now widely known. Secret doors? Not so much but option luxury in mainstream brands yes.
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Some AmEx Centurion lounges have an inner sanctum just for Centurion cardholders.
There's also The Private Room at the SQ lounge in SIN. Other airline lounges have FC sections, nap rooms, rooms for groups, rooms for VIPs (including congresscritters at DCA), and just less obvious rooms that are more likely to have empty seats. |
Originally Posted by BOStonTravels
(Post 30641053)
Great example of something really exclusive and seemingly very special.
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The Barai is run as a separate hotel at the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin - 8 rooms (4 pool suites, 4 balcony suites), access to a separate infinity pool, separate club lounge and butler service - the daily massage helps too!
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Originally Posted by BOStonTravels
(Post 30640622)
I am very curious about the idea of hotel within hotel concepts around the world at various properties.
The typical RC concept at most of their properties I am not a huge fan of as its like a decent airline lounge with sometimes great views but at a few properties it includes somewhat secretive perks like separate pool and I find that fascinating. Esteemed contributor @m0hamed recently piqued my interest in a somewhat luxury property in Sharm, the Hyatt Regency which has a club level that truly seems like a separate hotel within hotel. This property features not only a large club house, differentiated rooms, but a really lovely private pool with service and a private beach. I was recently at the soon to be flagged Waldorf (now Towers Hotel Heliopolis) in Cairo and while the rooms pre refurbishment where very very mediocre they had an unadvertised lounge with private entrance from the driveway and private elevator. There was also unadvertised butler service for this level which was some of the best I have ever experienced (and Im generally really not a fan of this concept as find it useless) as well as separate pool area from the joined Hilton property. As a separate topic I think this WA hotel when refurbished is going to phenomenal. This got me wondering about luxury properties around the world that might have similar features beyond the standard lounge that truly differentiate the product from the rest of the hotel/resort and might not be obvious/well advertised. I hope this thread seems appropriate and am eager for your expert knowledge as I couldn't find much on this topic. Best, BT |
Originally Posted by edgewood49
(Post 30648897)
AF is a great example if your flying Le Premier and especially connecting in Paris.
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Originally Posted by offerendum
(Post 30649936)
Isn't it an usual (great) F-lounge with limited access like Concorde room (not such a great product)? |
Originally Posted by edgewood49
(Post 30649987)
Not sure of your comment however on a recent trip to Venice we flew Le Premier and could not have been happier, from the time we checked someone was with us all the way through Venice. The Champagne Bar in transfer lounge was a hoot. EK certainly has a good product however there is a certain extra touch to AF. BA is horrible. And of course no US metal internationally, NO
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Another part of the secret hotel concept is the VVIP guest relations team. You know that a hotel is major when it has that kind of program to take care of celebrities, heads of state or VVIP guests. Sitting here and seeing a major Uzbek singer (and entourage) checking in and being fawned upon by a special pair of guest relations people I've never seen before.
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SQ from SIN has its FC/Suites private check in area and private passport control and security lines that go into T3 close to the SQ lounge and of course TPR. |
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
(Post 30651957)
SQ from SIN has its FC/Suites private check in area and private passport control and security lines that go into T3 close to the SQ lounge and of course TPR.
Originally Posted by Aventine
(Post 30651946)
Another part of the secret hotel concept is the VVIP guest relations team. You know that a hotel is major when it has that kind of program to take care of celebrities, heads of state or VVIP guests. Sitting here and seeing a major Uzbek singer (and entourage) checking in and being fawned upon by a special pair of guest relations people I've never seen before.
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Malakiya Villas at Madinat Jumeirah |
Originally Posted by offerendum
(Post 30652433)
We come more and more off topic. Some airlines/ airports offer facilities like that. For me itīs part of a good F-product. Nearest to a hotel are the cabanas at some lounges.....
This one is a good excample for something special, sometimes the GM (or a special manager) greats VIPs or people who stay in special suites. Nevertheless I underline what vuittonsofstyle said. Some hotels treat every guest like this and donīt have several levels of service/ facílities. That are the real high end luxury hotels. Actually I think we are on topic, if your staying in the private area's of a hotel you're also flying with the benefits of special services as well. Depending on the airline you will be taken to your hotel upon arrival. On certain routes I never see Schengen check nor security. |
Originally Posted by edgewood49
(Post 30655333)
Actually I think we are on topic, if your staying in the private area's of a hotel you're also flying with the benefits of special services as well. Depending on the airline you will be taken to your hotel upon arrival. On certain routes I never see Schengen check nor security.
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Originally Posted by phant0m
(Post 30666859)
I agree. Most people don't know the special airport stuff exists. We're just exposed to it being on these forums and reading blogs.
without going deeper there are places where you don't even go through security, now having said that I was told that "they know who you are" Anyway it's a hoot. |
Originally Posted by phant0m
(Post 30666859)
I agree. Most people don't know the special airport stuff exists.
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I note that the OP placed quote marks around secret in his title so I don't think he was using the word strictly. The reaction of some here has been interesting reading. I don't mind admitting I was ignorant of many of the super luxe bennies accompanying high end travel, especially flying. Two flights in AF's La Premiere served as eye openers and upcoming flights with AA's Five Star Service will, no doubt, do the same. |
for example airports in germany, switzerland, netherlands, london all advertise VVIP services on their websites
paris airport has sold VVIP / VIP in past (and via hotel) if i remember correctly, not sure how it compares to AF F up for interpretation >
Originally Posted by BOStonTravels
(Post 30640622)
and might not be obvious/well advertised
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Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
(Post 30667128)
for example airports in germany, switzerland, netherlands, london all advertise VVIP services on their websites
paris airport has sold VVIP / VIP in past (and via hotel) if i remember correctly, not sure how it compares to AF F up for interpretation > (for example, 99% of the time my interpretation differs vs how others use "afford" , "money-is-no-object" , "overrated") Frankfurt Fraport VIP Services: one way international service approx $800 USD All over Europe (except London) prices vary, though quite similar. Easy decision in Frankfurt and service was better compared to LA. FS offers Private Suite as part of package, IIRC they are billed a fraction. |
press.fourseasons.com/news-releases/2018/the-private-suite-at-lax
robbreport.com/travel/destinations/vip-lax-terminal-partners-partners-luxury-hotels-2789715/ partnerships with Four Seasons’ five Hawaii and Bora Bora properties, Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, and Montage Beverly Hills. FRA VVIP for example sells private rooms separately from entry cost, vs LAX / LHR VVIP in los angeles (1st US/CA), heathrow (& china?) are more expensive vs others can't recall re paris, except > conciergerie-paris-airport.com says VIP and VVIP "ultimate" also says AmEX 'partner' |
Originally Posted by KatW
(Post 30667083)
Two flights in AF's La Premiere served as eye openers and upcoming flights with AA's Five Star Service will, no doubt, do the same. |
American Five Star Service is a premium product available for purchase only when booked into biz or first. It is not itself a flight class. In cases where connections are tight or airport difficult, can be worth the hefty fee. Frequently includes tarmac transfer to connecting flight. https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/...ar-service.jsp |
Oh, I’m fully aware of what it is. And I hope it is equally as wonderful for you and Jim as the AF La Premiere ground experiences. Do report back, please. |
Originally Posted by KatW
(Post 30667735)
American Five Star Service is a premium product available for purchase only when booked into biz or first. It is not itself a flight class. In cases where connections are tight or airport difficult, can be worth the hefty fee. Frequently includes tarmac transfer to connecting flight. https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/...ar-service.jsp |
dont think AA five star or DL vip select ever guarantee immigration or tarmac
going back to comparing hotels and air, there is no comparison outside forum, many fly premium to hotel, but most dont use VIP (also some fly private whether 'charter' or owned) kind of like most not doing aman, laucala, safari, etc much higher demand would mean much higher price |
Fairmont Gold have just gone through a big reno in Canada Gold floors of Fairmont's are really incredible.
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