| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 15/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 42 |
| Copyright: Other |
Luxury hotels
Standing out in a crowded market
Properties improve services in a bid to win more business
There once was a time when business travellers would have been impressed to find a trouser press and access to satellite television in their hotel room.If they had also found a modem connection, fax machine and a 24hr business centre that would have seemed like the ultimate in corporate luxury.
Nowadays, these facilities are the norm in most upmarket hotels in major business destinations worldwide. Business travellers would be disappointed not to be able to plug in their laptops and retrieve their e-mails and they would be horrified to switch on their television to find only local channels.
So, the challenge for hotels today is how they can go above and beyond what is expected of them in order to differentiate themselves from the competition.
Some are investing heavily in technology, providing in-room Internet access through interactive televisions or the latest laser audio visual systems.
Others, however, are going back to basics and concentrating on expanding and improving their services.
Here are a selection of hotels in major business locations that are providing that extra something in a bid to make themselves different from their rivals in the marketplace.
Emirates Towers:stands 51 storeys high
Emirates Towers, Dubai
Not only has this hotel made a visual impact on the Dubai skyline, it is also set to make its mark by providing a new standard of services for business travellers.
Emirates Towers is made up of two, striking 51-storey triangular towers – one is an office block and the other a 400-room hotel, which is the third tallest in the world. The hotel is operated by the same company that runs the equally spectacular looking Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Burj Al Arab. Services include 24hr valet and Information Technology staff, in-room espresso machines on demand, mobile keyboard for Internet and e-mail and fast check-out through the interactive TV.
The TV also allows guests to view pictures of the dishes available from in-room dining. Rooms are a minimum of 44sq metres and executive rooms have separate living and sleeping areas. Guests in executive rooms also qualify for complementary limousine transfers to any Dubai address and free half-day office rental.
The hotel also offers a jetlag package with aromatherapy treatments and even wake-up calls have been improved. Instead of the usual automated message or a call from reception, the guests’ televisions play music 3mins before the actual alarm call, and then, 5mins afterwards, tea or coffee is served to the door.
The hotel offers full 24hr room rates, so guests won’t need to check-out hours before their flight. In addition, 14 fully furnished offices can be rented by the hour including all secretarial services. Rates start at $298.
Peninsula New York
The 242-room Peninsula New York is a good example of the chain’s new breed of hotel.
Although it has been part of the Peninsula group since 1988, it recently reopened after a multi-million-pound refurbishment.
Each room is now equipped with Peninsula’s signature bedside, in-room comfort console. Not only does this control the light switches, it also controls the air-conditioning, heating, and audio-visual entertainment system.
The console also allows guests to let hotel staff know when they do not want to be disturbed.
An in-room fax machine provides guests with a personal fax number and when a fax comes through, an indicator light flashes on the bedside panel and at the door. The hotel’s marble bathrooms are equally high tech. Each has a second television at the end of the bath tub and not one, or two, but three telephones.
These include a hands-free unit at the bath tub which automatically mutes the radio and television once a call is received, and eliminates any background noise during the call – so the boss doesn’t know you’re in the bath.
Cell phones in every room can also be used as an extension outside the hotel. Room rates start at $535
Geared up: London’s upmarket is equipped with the latest technological gadgets
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This is London’s first upmarket all-inclusive hotel and caters for business travellers’ every need.
It is a member of Red Carnation Hotels and is centrally located in Buckingham Palace Road, opposite Buckingham Palace.
Its founder, Bea Tollman, wanted to create a warm and inviting club environment, where guests only have to pay one rate and everything is included. The fully inclusive rates include English or Continental breakfast, branded cocktails and bar service, a daily light buffet and evening snacks and also canapes in the Club Lounge.
Rates also include laundry, dry cleaning and pressing, valet and butler services, full English afternoon tea, mobile phone and laptop rental, private and personal phone lines, personal business cards prior to arrival. The rate also includes local telephone calls and the choice from a comprehensive video and music library.
The hotel has 16 deluxe rooms and also four suites, most of which have working fireplaces. Fully inclusive rates start at £347. Normal room rates start at £295.
Regent Bangkok: offers 24hr business services
The Regent Bangkok
This hotel is totally geared up to the business traveller and allows guests to get down to work from the moment they arrive in the city.
The hotel provides airport transfers in a Chevrolet Presidential Van, which is an office on wheels, with a video, TV, computer, fax machine, tape recorder, telephone and removable writing table. For time-pressed executives, the hotel offers the opportunity to order room service from any of its airport transfer cars so that it’s ready when they arrive.
They can also order a massage to ease stress and strains .
In addition, all of the hotel’s rooms have Internet, high-speed e-mail access through the television and the most advanced digital telephone system in Thailand.
This has dual line telephones, fax connection, IDD data port and voicemail, which can be customised with a guest’s greeting.
If guests pay the extra to stay in The Regent Club, they have the added benefit of exclusive meeting rooms, secretarial assistance and 24hr business services. Room rates start at $200.
Le Royal Meridien Chennai
Although India has become one of the high-tech centres of the world, it is not a country where business travellers have traditionally expected top-class facilities.
However, last year India saw a 50% rise in the number of business travellers according to figures from Utell and Advantage Travel Centres and hotel groups are recognising the potential of the corporatemarket.
Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts in particular is expanding rapidly and will have seven hotels across the country by the end of this year.
The next property to open on June 1 will be Le Royal Meridien Chennai, a 243-room hotel near the airport and business districts.
According to the company Le Royal Meridien Chennai has the largest number of rooms and banqueting facilities in the city, which was formerly known as Madras.
It also has the largest underground parking in the city with a valet service.
The $40m new property boasts a dedicated banquet wing with a separate entrance, nine meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 1,200 guests and ballroom with pre-function area.
The 243 rooms comprise 112 standard rooms, 57 deluxe rooms, 41 Royal Club rooms, seven executive suites, three deluxe suites and a presidential suite.
Unusually for India, all rooms have two-line telephones with dataport and ISDN Internet connections.
Guests staying in the Royal Club rooms can check in and out from their rooms or the Club lounge.
Restaurant facilities include the Navaratna restaurant serving traditional India food with a private dining facility for up to 15 people.
There is also a 24hr restaurant with live cooking stations serving world food and a seafood market.
Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts is also opening hotels in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in July and Cochin at the end of this year.
Room rates at Le Royal Meridien Chennai start at £125 for a king standard room with balcony.
Le Royal Meridien Chennai: all of the rooms have two-line telephones with dataport and ISDN Internet connections