Virtuoso Best of the Best '09
Aug 21, 2009 | 11:08 pm
#16
Moderator: LGBTQ+ Travel, India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Asia
Programs: Yes!
Posts: 15,582
Really!?
Aug 22, 2009 | 3:39 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,859
The awards are suppose to highlight achievements not just in service, but in design, guest experience etc. etc. and not just for hotels that are in the highest possible price point. Wynn & Encore do a nice job compared to a lot of other vegas hotels (including Skylofts) and as a new property it is a fair nomination.
Aug 22, 2009 | 5:02 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dublin,Ireland
Posts: 1,301
The nomination list is poor :
one to watch :
Horst Schulzt, Capella (track record for Capella so far is seriously quetionable)
Most Innovative:
Six senses Zighy bay for "hang gliding into the resort"- enough said
Best Family programme:
Ritz Paris (Surely I am not the only one still laughing)
Half moon, Jamaica (Perhaps this hotel has had a luxury revamp I missed)
Hotel of the year : Halekulani (again, it hurts when I laugh so much)
Virtuoso has gone down in my opinion with this poorly compiled list.
one to watch :
Horst Schulzt, Capella (track record for Capella so far is seriously quetionable)
Most Innovative:
Six senses Zighy bay for "hang gliding into the resort"- enough said
Best Family programme:
Ritz Paris (Surely I am not the only one still laughing)
Half moon, Jamaica (Perhaps this hotel has had a luxury revamp I missed)
Hotel of the year : Halekulani (again, it hurts when I laugh so much)
Virtuoso has gone down in my opinion with this poorly compiled list.
Last edited by paul2; Aug 22, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Aug 23, 2009 | 11:17 am
#20
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SF BayArea
Programs: Nothing worth mentioning
Posts: 2,223
Aug 25, 2009 | 3:23 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Posts: 185
Fully agree, nomination list is very strange and it feels like certain hotels and companies, which nobody even knew of 3 years ago are suddenly on the list. Why is there a category of best guest experience? And you win it with a hang glide??
It feels like virtuoso has grown out of the niche it was few years ago,,,
It feels like virtuoso has grown out of the niche it was few years ago,,,
Aug 25, 2009 | 3:54 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,859
What do you guys have against hang gliding a few hundred feet above the desert? Sure tops driving up to some porte clocher and tipping your way into the front of the hotel.
Personally, I would enjoy the experience..... The fact that you would not actually does damage to Virtuoso's image as alluded to by paul2 and baumemericer?
You guys must really hate the some of the members of the hollywood foreign press
Personally, I would enjoy the experience..... The fact that you would not actually does damage to Virtuoso's image as alluded to by paul2 and baumemericer?
You guys must really hate the some of the members of the hollywood foreign press
Aug 25, 2009 | 5:00 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dublin,Ireland
Posts: 1,301
What do you guys have against hang gliding a few hundred feet above the desert? Sure tops driving up to some porte clocher and tipping your way into the front of the hotel.
Personally, I would enjoy the experience..... The fact that you would not actually does damage to Virtuoso's image as alluded to by paul2 and baumemericer?
You guys must really hate the some of the members of the hollywood foreign press
Personally, I would enjoy the experience..... The fact that you would not actually does damage to Virtuoso's image as alluded to by paul2 and baumemericer?
You guys must really hate the some of the members of the hollywood foreign press
I have nothing against hang gliding, actually I have enjoyed it a few times. Its just tacky to do it on arrival at a hotel.To reward a hotel for offering the opportunity to hang glide into the resort is just silly and certainly does not give one confidence in decisions by Virtuoso.
Not sure what you mean by hating the hollywood foreign press, but I don't!
Aug 26, 2009 | 12:20 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Across the Pond
Programs: LHW FS BA LH and other things
Posts: 96
At the end of the day if you like it or not - the principle of the idea is good and keeps other hotels thinking how they can enhance aspects of the experience, so I think a worthy award. But not everyone's cup of tea - it is not as though that is the only way to arrive.
Aug 26, 2009 | 10:24 am
#26
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,859
Aug 26, 2009 | 1:27 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871
ABG, if youre still talking about the awards, heres the question - why hang gliding arrival > aman cultural experiences etc - shiny things > quality. no discussion of bespoke, authentic, etc targeting connoisseurs, but rather the usual mass media mindset - hyping things to people who are not likely to be potential customers.
from http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...formation.html >
from http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...formation.html >
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Sep 3, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Aug 26, 2009 | 2:44 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Posts: 185
maybe i am old fashioned but I think it is tacky to try to get worldwide attention with it, instead of real things that belong to the hotel, such as rooms, restaurant, service, food, wine list, pool, view etc. After all that is a sport (dont take me wrong) a great one but nothing to do with the hotel, its not like its your butler who jumps with you!
Sep 3, 2009 | 7:12 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,497
Ca Segredo
I do not know who won but the Ca Segredo has my vote. I staed there for 2 nights last night before a cruise from VCE and it was amazing. I loved the location, the room (Jr. Suite w. view of Grand Canal) and the location.
The GM is amazing and very very helpful. It is only 42 rooms and very friendly and not stuffy at all.
I will return there.
The GM is amazing and very very helpful. It is only 42 rooms and very friendly and not stuffy at all.
I will return there.
Sep 4, 2009 | 9:33 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
Flyertalk Awards
Just caught up with this thread again. Me, negative? Surely not.
Here are my votes:-
Best Achievement in Design -- The Aman Delhi, India.
Best Culinary Experience -- Eric Briffard at le Cinq, FS George V.
Best Bar -- The Rhu Bar, Four Seasons Langkawi.
Best Family Program -- Almyra, Cyprus.
Best Spa -- Four Seasons Provence at Terre Blanche.
Most Innovative Guest Experience -- Training to be a Mahout at FS Tented Camp, Golden Triangle.
Most Socially Responsible -- Amanbagh, Alwar india.
One to Watch -- Sally Baughen, Amanresorts.
Hotelier of the Year -- Karambir Singh Kang, Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, Mumbai, India.
Hotel of the Year -- Four Seasons Florence.
Here are my votes:-
Best Achievement in Design -- The Aman Delhi, India.
Best Culinary Experience -- Eric Briffard at le Cinq, FS George V.
Best Bar -- The Rhu Bar, Four Seasons Langkawi.
Best Family Program -- Almyra, Cyprus.
Best Spa -- Four Seasons Provence at Terre Blanche.
Most Innovative Guest Experience -- Training to be a Mahout at FS Tented Camp, Golden Triangle.
Most Socially Responsible -- Amanbagh, Alwar india.
One to Watch -- Sally Baughen, Amanresorts.
Hotelier of the Year -- Karambir Singh Kang, Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, Mumbai, India.
Hotel of the Year -- Four Seasons Florence.