Every region and major city in Italy has more than a few unique hotels in settings that will mesmerize the tourist.
Many hotels are near restaurants or have a built-in restaurant for convenience. Some are known for their picturesque designs (both architecture and decor) as well as the landscapes where they sit. Below are some fabulous hotels along with detailed descriptions about their special features to help the traveller who's looking for something beyond ordinary.
Lap of Luxury in the Alps of Italy
La Perla Corvara, Italy
Situated high in the Dolomites, the South Tyrolean lodge called La Perla is located in Corvara, a friendly Alpine village that's near the Swiss border. The lodge has traditional rooms with rustic wood furniture, decorative headboards and printed fabrics. The hotel resembles a typical Swiss lodge, with a dining area that has all wood paneling and timbered ceilings. The walls are lined with wine bottles. There's also an unusual motorcycle museum at the resort that has antique bikes on display! The resort is just over 100 miles from Venice.
Guests at La Perla enjoy the daring view of the Dolomite peaks, snowshoeing and skiing activities, and also hiking
during warm weather. There are Turkish baths, a jacuzzi and saunas as well as an indoor-outdoor pool. This is a fun and relaxing place to rest during your Italy tour.
Vigilius Mountain Resort South Tyrol, Italy
This resort sits at the top of a mountain in South Tyrol in the Alps, near the Italian-Austrian border. Don't want to drive up the mountain? You won't have to because this resort is accessible by cable car only - 1500 meters up!
The hotel is modern in design with stone and concrete on lots of plain wood. If you want remote, this is the place to be.
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria Sorrento, Italy
This hotel is located high on a cliff that overlooks the harbor in Sorrento. The hotel is actually three villas, each built in the 1800s. The hotel has been restored, but still maintains its original design. Ornate frescoes on the ceilings of a few suites and unique furniture give the hotel its unique beauty.
There are two restaurants. One is a traditional dining room with a 19th century elegant style. The other is a terrace restaurant that has a tremendous view of the harbor. Guests staying during the summer months might get to dine by candlelight on the Vittoria Terrace as a small orchestra plays music. The hotel offers a private elevator, which transports guests to the harbor. Boats are also available for hire here.
Il San Pietro di Positano Positano, Italy
For those not afraid of heights, this unusual hotel descends with each level down a cliffside. The views of the sea can be enjoyed from each room and terrace to the max because the hotel is built alongside the cliff only one room deep. Each room has its own private terrace. This makes for a very relaxing and quiet getaway.
The entrance of the hotel is actually a small chapel from the 17th century that was devoted to San Pietro. There is a restaurant on top of the hotel that serves Italian cuisine and offers more stunning views of the Gulf of Salerno. There's also a swimming pool that has been carved into the cliffside. A lift can be taken from the hotel lobby down to a private beach and seaside cocktail bar.
Grand Hotel Quisisana Capri, Italy
The Grand Hotel Quisisana is where many supermodels, actors and other members of the elite go to hide away. Located in the popular city of Capri, this hotel resembles a habitat for the rich and famous with its 19th century design, endless mirrors and amazing floors. A pool and outdoor cafe are available.
Caesar Augustus Hotel Capri, Italy
Sitting above the Bay of Naples, 1000 feet above, is this classic hotel with its unmatching views of the bay. The rooms are welcoming with bright modern bathrooms and private balconies. There is a restaurant on a terrace that overlooks the bay also. It offers stylish comfort and a beautiful view all in one package!
The Capri Palace Anacapri, Italy
A hotel with Roman Empire elegance and a stunning view of the sea, the Capri Palace welcomes guests to gorgeous rooms with chandeliers, tile and marble baths and canopy beds. Luxury is an understatement at this hotel. Even outside the hotel is a well-kept garden. A pool and spa are available for relaxation. The hotel offers a penthouse suite and also an apartment-style suite for long stays that has its own garden and pool.
Don't settle for second best on your trip. If you don't see a unique hotel above for the area you plan to visit, use online resources and searches to find other dream resorts in Italy! Choice Hotels, Unique Settings for the Italy Traveller
San Domenico Palace Hotel Taormina, Sicily, Italy
For a luxury vacation in Sicily, tourists enjoy staying at the San Domenico Palace. It sits on a hill above Taormina and offers lovely views of the volcanic peak of Mount Etna as well as the Ionian Sea. The hotel is in a 15th century monastery with beautiful terraces and gardens. Although the building is ancient, the interior is not. The marble bathrooms are very modern as are the fixtures and amenities. Guests enjoy lounging in the pool during the summer, or dining at one of three restaurants that each serve a broad range of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
Hotel Eden Rome, Italy
When in Rome, many tourists choose to stay at Hotel Eden, even Hemingway and Ingrid Bergman! With over a hundred rooms, Hotel Eden is far from small, but gives guests a feeling of seclusion, like a stay in a private residence. It's just a few blocks from the Spanish Steps, a main tourist area in Rome.
The rooms are classic and offer striking views of the city. Antique furnishings and corniced ceilings blend with modern design to give an elegant appearance. Nearby there are great shopping areas, attractions, sights and restaurants for fine dining.
Hotel Forty Seven Rome, Italy
Hotel Forty Seven is a place for art lovers with Italian art from the 20th century on each floor. The rooms have comfortable furnishings, satellite television and Internet connections. Twenty-four hour room service is also available. Atop the hotel is a restaurant that overlooks Ancient Rome, where guests can enjoy a delicious Mediterranean dinner.
Hotel Capo d'Africa Rome, Italy
This hotel offers spacious, decorative rooms with high ceilings, painted in warm, bright colors. The furnishings are modern although the building was once a school in the early 20th century. The neighborhood is quiet, and there is a rooftop terrace that's a great place to relax. Just a few blocks from the hotel is the Colosseum.
Hotel Gritti Palace Venice, Italy
This is a gorgeous hotel that was once a palace in Venice. It's just steps away from San Marco, but located far enough from the roar of traffic to give guests a peaceful stay. The Terrazza restaurant at the hotel offers a terrific view of the Grand Canal.
Hotel Spadari al Duomo Milan, Italy
The Hotel Spadari al Duomo has a middle name - and that name is "fashion." Designers often set up at this hotel for furniture fairs, making it a favorite place to stay for those in the fashion industry. The rooms are comfortable with custom-made furniture for a unique appeal. Some rooms offer a view of the Duomo cathedral. There are beautiful contemporary paintings hanging on the walls.
Grand Hotel et de Milan Milan, Italy
An elegant hotel in Milan that has lovely rooms with period furniture and rich fabrics. The La Scala theater is just a short walk from the hotel.
La Sommita Relais Culti Ostuni, Puglia, Italy
La Sommita Relais Culti is a hotel that doesn't look like much on the outside, and the rooms are very discrete. This is an unusual hotel that has only nine suites, with each suite appearing to be the only one around. This is the place to stay for those needing seclusion or who want to grasp what it's like living in a place like Ostuni.
Grand Hotel Continental Siena, Italy
Once an aristocratic residence, the Grand Hotel Continental is the most luxurious hotel in Siena. It's located just off the pedestrian street of Piazza del Campo in the heart of Siena. Although the building has been restored, the original details remain. The hotel has a grand ballroom, a splendid restaurant and a wine bar. The rooms are designed with frescoed ceilings, paintings and unique furnishings while also offering the modern conveniences of satellite television and Internet access.
Lungarno Suites Florence, Italy
This hotel adds modern elegance to Florence with three stylish hotels. The suites are apartment-style with kitchenettes and refrigerators, and are also very spacious. The hotel's location makes it easy for guests to explore the city. Families will appreciate the extra space! A dream vacation in Italy doesn't have to be bland, and neither do the accommodations!
Showing posts with label Hotels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hotels. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
The Top 5 Amenities of a Miami Beach Hotel
Miami Beach is fast becoming one of the top vacation destinations for families and travelers alike. Miami Beach offers sun, fun and a variety of activities to choose from. No that you have decided to vacation in Miami Beach, it is time to choose the hotel that you will reside in for your vacation. With a plethora of hotel options how does one pick the perfect Miami Beach hotel? A good way to choose a hotel is by the amenities that the hotel has to offer. One of the biggest disappointments that I have encountered is getting to a hotel and expecting a service that the hotel does not offer. With all the travel tools that are available on the web, you can do a little research before you go to make sure you get what you want. Listed below are what I feel are the top 5 amenities that a hotel can offer to you and your family to make your accommodation choice perfect for you.
#1 Amenity - Beach Access and Pool
When you are in Miami you are there for a reason. Chances are you are there to have fun on the beach. Many hotels in Miami have beach access right at the hotel. While some don't, chances are there is a beach not far, usually within walking distance from the hotel. When it comes to beach access, determine how much time you will be spending on the beach, and how long you want to travel to get to one. Another consideration is cost. Hotels that have private beach access tend to be more expensive than hotels that don't.
When choosing a Miami Beach hotel, consider whether or not you would like the hotel to have a pool, and make sure that the pool is open. Hotels do go through renovations and sometimes they don't list whether the pool is open while you are there. It can ruin a vacation if the kids want to go to the pool and you find out it is closed due to renovation while you are there. A hotel may list that they have a poll on their website, but it is still a good ides to give the hotel a call to make sure the pool will be open while you are there.
#2 Amenity - Onsite Dining
While it is nice to experience dining outside your hotel, sometimes vacationing can make you tired and you may not want to leave your hotel. When choosing a hotel, check to see what kind of dining options the hotel offers. Some hotels offer only 1 or 2 choices for dining, while others offer an assortment of options. Many of the hotels offer fine dining in the evening so it might be good to check on what type of attire is suitable for this type of restaurant.
#3 Amenity - Spa and/or Health Club
Many Hotels today offer an onsite spa or fitness center. If you are looking to pamper yourself while you are on vacation, check into these choices. While some hotels offer onsite spas and fitness centers, others offer affiliate programs. These programs offer discounts to nearby spas or fitness centers. A lot of times when a spa is offsite the hotel will provide transportation. It is still a good idea to check with the hotel to see what they do and do not offer in regards to a spa and health club. Many hotels also offer spa packages or specials that are included in the packages, so check into this and save some money by booking it all together.
#4 Amenity - Children's Activities
Miami Beach is a great family destination. When choosing a hotel, make sure it offers something for everyone. Many hotels offer things for children, such as a kiddy pool and playground equipment. Others offer activities for older children such as table games and arcades right in the hotel. Check these out before you go to make sure the whole family is happy.
#5 Amenity - Onsite Entertainment
Many hotels offer entertainment right at the hotel. This can be a major consideration when booking a room. While many people enjoy the onsite entertainment some people don't. Check to see what kind of entertainment the hotel offers, and what time it ends. If events end later than you would like, and you still like the hotel, request a room away from the area where the entertainment or event is being held. If onsite entertainment is your thing, it is a good idea to talk with the hotel's concierge to get a list of events going on at the hotel.
Every Miami Beach Hotel offers something a little bit different. Before choosing one, consider the above amenities and others that I have not mentioned before planning your next vacation. View the hotel's website as well as other online sources to see what other guests have said about the hotel you are thinking about.
Disneyland Hotel
During the spring of 1954, Walt Disney approached the Texas oil wildcatter and television pioneer Jack Wrather concerning the possibility of building accommodations for the many guests that Walt hoped would flock to his innovative "theme park," then under construction in Anaheim, California. Since the "imagineering" and building of Disneyland was taking nearly every penny that he had, Walt approached Jack, hoping that his long-time friend would be willing to take such a huge risk. Wrather was the producer of Lassie, The Lone Ranger, and Sgt. Preston of the Yukon, popular 1950s television programs.
Originally, Walt had approached Hilton executives and other well-known hotel chains, hoping to convince them to finance the construction of a first-class hotel next to Disneyland. However, the general consensus was that such a venture was too risky. No one was certain that what was quickly becoming known as "Disney's folly" would be successful.
In 1954, Anaheim was a little-known community, largely consisting of orange groves. The entire city had only seven small motels and hotels, accommodating only a total of 87 guests. Wrather admitted at the time that he was somewhat skeptical about building in such a small community (of approximately 30,000), next to an experimental and yet unfinished theme park. His doubts were further increased by the fact that the risky venture had already been turned down by more than one major hotel chain.
Wrather spent several days with Walt Disney, looking into the area's potential for expansion. Legend has it that Walt had tears in his eyes while describing his dream of Disneyland to Wrather. With a sense of adventure, Wrather became convinced that the idea just might be a success. Also, with Walt showing such emotion for and dedication to his project, how could Wrather have resisted?
One of the first discussions between the two friends was where the hotel should be located. Wrather first talked of locating it near the entrance to Disneyland. Walt said, "Jack, our guests aren't going to be thinking about a hotel when they begin their visit to Disneyland. They'll start looking for a room when they leave the park. The best place to build your Hotel is near the Disneyland exit." Wrather agreed with Walt's logic and leased 60 acres of Disney-owned land on West Street directly across from the Disneyland exit. There he built what was to become known as the "Official Hotel of the Magic Kingdom."
On March 18, 1955, Jack Wrather, Bonita Granville Wrather (his wife), and Anaheim Mayor Charles Pearson, using a three-handled shovel, officiated at the groundbreaking for the Disneyland Hotel.
The Disneyland Hotel opened on October 5, 1955, nearly three months after Disneyland's live televised grand opening on July 17, 1955. The first guests registered at a hotel having only 104 guest rooms located in five two-story complexes, built at the southeast corner of the leased property. These were the South Garden rooms, later to be known as the Oriental Gardens. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arnone of Inglewood, California were to be the first guests at the newly opened hotel.
The Disneyland Hotel was the first major resort to be built in Southern California since the early 1940's. However, the number of available rooms quickly proved to be insufficient for the unexpected demand, and 96 more units of the same type were added the following year on the property's northeast section. Built by Hodges and Vergrift Construction Company, this new addition was called the North Garden rooms, later renamed the Garden Villas.
During the first year, room rates ranged from $9 for a standard room to $22 for deluxe quarters. Rooms were advertised as accommodating four people. For an additional adult, there was a $3 charge.
At the same time that construction had begun on the additional garden rooms at the northeastern corner of the property, construction was under way on the Administration Building, which would house a lobby, restaurants, shops, and meeting rooms. The Gourmet Restaurant was opened in a converted ranch house on the property, redesigned by C. Tony Pereira. This converted ranch house had been the original Disneyland administration building.
The original hotel design, by the architectural firm of Pereira and Luckman, called for 300 motel and hotel rooms, suites and garden apartments. Also included were plans for three swimming pools, tennis courts, a golf course, cocktail lounges, and four restaurants. The original blueprints designated a total of 10 buildings in the South Garden or Oriental Garden section. However, only five buildings were actually built.
The opening of the Administration Building (which would later become the Travelport), and the "official" grand opening for the hotel was on August 25, 1956. It was a star-studded grand opening celebration that resembled a Hollywood movie premiere. Celebrities in attendance included Walt Disney, Art Linkletter, William Bendix, Alan Ladd, Sue Caroll, Yvonne DeCarlo, and Jeanne Crain. Also in attendance were as many as three hundred enthusiasts, observing the ribbon-cutting and taking a grand tour of the facilities.
By 1956, there were 204 guest rooms and suites at the Disneyland Hotel. As an added attraction, each garden patio had its own orange tree, a reminder of what the original property had been only a few short years earlier. This had been a part of the original plans when the grounds were being cleared to build the hotel. An additional amenity at this time was the Coral Club which included a huge 45-foot by 75-foot completely tiled and heated swimming pool, wading pools for children of all ages, fountains, sandlots, and a cabana area. The pools were surrounded by lounge furniture for guests' relaxation and so that they might acquire a Southern California tan. One-day laundry and dry cleaning services were available, and a physician and nurse were on call. An 18-hole putting greens and shuffleboard courts were also early inclusions at the Disneyland Hotel.
Guests were able to register for a hotel room from their car or they could go into the lobby for a more traditional method of registration. There were parking spaces for 1000 cars, and parking was free. Also, limo and bus service was provided. Richfield Oil (also the Disneyland sponsor of Autopia) offered full automotive care. Even in the 1950s, every room was equipped with a television set and air conditioning.
During these early years, the attendance at Disneyland was beyond the most optimistic expectations. Even Walt had to be amazed by the overwhelming success of his dream. As a result, the City Council of Anaheim began reviewing plans for other motels and restaurants. Disneyland had proven all the skeptics to be wrong, and Disneyland was destined to bring major changes to what once had been a sleepy, orange grove community.
From the beginning, the Disneyland Hotel was one of the outstanding showplaces of Orange County. Celebrities such as Jack Benny, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Billy Graham, and Cary Grant were often spotted at the hotel. These and other celebrities enjoyed bringing their families for a stay at the hotel and for a trip to Walt's park. Also attracted were business people, coming for luncheons, meetings, and conventions. The Disneyland Hotel quickly had become the place to see and the place to be seen.
Room rates in 1957 were advertised from $10 to $19. SuitesÊwent for between $22 and $25. The hotel's brochures boasted of an assortment of shops, air conditioned rooms, television in every room, pools of all sizes, restaurant and cocktail facilities. Also touted was tram service to Disneyland every five minutes, transportation via a Disneyland station wagon, playgrounds, childcare facilities, barber and beauty shops. Doctor, nurse and even dental facilities were available on the grounds. The brochures further emphasized a private sundeck or patio for every room. Best of all, the Disneyland Hotel was billed as the only hotel right at the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland. Also in the late 1950s, the concept of "seasonal" and "non-seasonal" rates first appeared. Typically, it would cost a dollar or two more for a room during the holidays and summer months (late May through mid September).
By 1959, over 25 hotels and motels had crowded around Disneyland to take advantage of the Park's spectacular drawing power. By 1960, Anaheim had established itself as Orange County's largest city, with a population in excess of 100,000. People were traveling from all areas of the world to visit the "Happiest Place on Earth." Indeed, Anaheim had magically grown from a quiet, small agricultural community into a mecca of tourism, and the boom had only begun. As Walt had promised on opening day, the park continued adding attractions (the Monorail, the Submarine Voyage, and the Matterhorn all opening in 1959); and the hotel continued to grow, having more than 300 rooms by 1960. A 13,000-square foot convention center was also added at that time.
Rates for rooms in 1960 ranged from $10 to $26 a night during the off-season and from $16 to $29 in season, the holidays and the summer months.
At a press conference held in 1960, Jack Wrather and Walt Disney announced plans for the extension of the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System to link the park to the hotel. Walt had long envisioned a rapid transit system for major U.S. cities, and this addition to the Monorail would provide a working model. Dick Nunis, who worked his way up from a summer job in 1955 to become the president of Disneyland in 1980, stated that Walt saw the Monorail as more than just an attraction; Walt saw it as aÊworkable transportation system. He wanted to demonstrate its potential as urban rapid transit, and so he envisioned the monorail's extension to the hotel.
The park's monorail was closed for construction on April 10, 1961. Disneyland also had to closed Autopia to facilitate the installation of new pylons through its grounds. The original 8/10th-of-a-mile track would be extended by 12,300 feet, making it nearly a two-and-a-half mile round-trip journey between the park to the hotel. The cost of the extension was $1.9 million ($500,000 more than the original cost of the Monorail when it was installed at Disneyland less than two years earlier). The construction required more than 118,000 hours of labor, 10,760 tons of sand, 66,700 bags of cement and 702 tons of steel. New style Mark II trains were introduced for the extended Monorail including a new gold colored train. The Monorail, with its extension to the Disneyland Hotel, reopened on June 1, 1961.
Other major expansions were planned for the hotel in the early 1960s. They included a new golf complex featuring an 18-hole, par-three course, a 50-tee driving range, and a miniature golf course with the individual holes named after Disneyland attractions. One of the course favorites was hole #5, which featured a mini replica of the Matterhorn Mountain. Also added at this time was a helicopter landing pad, linking Los Angeles International Airport with Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel. The new facility provided an efficient transportation link for both business people and tourists. Soon, LAA Airways was operating an average of 12 flights per day to and from the airport in its 28-passenger, turbo-jet copter liners.
In 1961, the Wrather Corporation went public, offering 350,000 shares of common stock. President and Chairman of the Board Jack Wrather and the Wrather Corporation had grown to include four major divisions: Television and motion pictures, the Disneyland Hotel, the Muzak Corporation (the often satirized elevator music), and Stephen's Marine, Inc. The company also was involved in management services for various other marine based businesses.
The Anaheim skyline was also about to undergo a major change in 1961 when the concept of "building up" replaced the concept of "building out." At the Disneyland Hotel, an 11-story, high-rise tower was built. This added 150 new guest rooms to the hotel complex. At that time, it was the county's tallest building and the nation's tallest building constructed utilizing the post-tension, lift-slab method. Another exciting innovation was an external, glass elevator, one of only a handful constructed at the time in this country. Its designer, architect Kurt Weber, recalled that the glass elevator offered a dramatic view of the growing community of Anaheim. It also took guests to the Top of the Park Lounge, which featured breathtaking views of Disneyland. The Lounge offered alcoholic beverages and nightly entertainment in a decidedly blues motif. Constructed for the less adventurous was the Monorail Lounge which was located next to the Monorail station on the second floor level. Ground had been broken for the new tower building in October of 1961. The project was completed less than a year later in September of 1962. At that time, two additional Garden structures were also added to the hotel.
In 1962, rates ranged from $17 for a room with a twin bed to $53 for two deluxe and medium adjoining rooms during vacation and holiday seasons, $10 to $47 during off-season. There were new rates for the tower building. A twin-bedded room was priced from $24 vacation rate up to $35 for a room with two double beds. Off-season, tower rooms were priced from $20 to $26.
Orange County celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1964. At a press conference held at the Disneyland Hotel, the announcement was made that Major League Baseball was coming to Anaheim. The Angels would continue to play in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium until their new Anaheim stadium was constructed in approximately two years. During their first year in Anaheim, the Angels would lead the American League in attendance, attracting over one million fans.
By 1964, during vacation and holiday season, room rates were $17 for a single room, $53 for an adjoining deluxe room with a medium room, and $30 for a deluxe room alone. Winter rates were advertised from $10 for a single small room to $49 for an adjoining deluxe with medium room. The Tower rooms were priced from $24 to $35 during peak-season and $20 to $28 during off- season. Peak-season now was being defined as from June 1 to September 15, December 11 to January 3, and April 9 to April 24.
Both the Disneyland Hotel and Disneyland celebrating their "Tencennials," 10-years of successful operations, in 1965. The hotel announced plans for the Tower Annex, an expansion to the existing tower, which would now give the hotel 616 guest rooms. An additional six conference rooms (bringing the total to 28) would be added to the complex. These conference rooms would be designed to hold from 15 people to two thousand people.
A new shopping plaza building was also constructed on the hotel grounds. It was described as having glass walls and graceful grillwork, gleaming in a lush garden setting. It was further described as resembling a necklace on green velvet,Êcontaining the beautiful and unusual in a score of smart, avant-garde specialty shops. Here one could buy aromatic tobaccos from Turkey, candles from Mexico, leathers from London, toys from the U.S., Germany and Japan, and here one could select from fashions inspired in Paris, Rome and Carnaby Street. The Plaza also featured a beauty shop, a travel agency, and a dental facility. Both the Tower Annex and the Plaza Shopping Center cost $5.5 million as part of the Hotel Expansion Program. At Disneyland, "it's a small world" was added after its successful run at the New York World's Fair.
Rates in 1966 for what was billed as wintertime ranged from $15 for a queen-sized bed up to $30 for a deluxe room. During vacation times, the rates were $20 and $35 for the same rooms. The Tower now had a North and South designation, with the South side being the more expensive. The North side rates were priced from $20 for a queen-sized bed up to $28 for two double beds. The South side went for $22 to $30 for the same bed types.
By 1966, Orange County had become the tourist hub of America, producing tourist income greater than any other U.S. county. Anaheim now had 125 hotels and motels and a population of over 150,000. Sadly on December 15, 1966, Walt Disney, one of the most influential men in Anaheim's history, passed away. Walt had been a lifelong smoker and had developed lung cancer. It was reported that Jack and Bonita Wrather were devastated upon hearing news of Walt's passing. Half of the two pioneers of tourism in Southern California was now gone. These two had plotted a course in the 1950s for the future of tourism and conventions in Orange County, thereby forever changing Anaheim's destiny. Jack Wrather would also succumb to cancer in 1984.
Shortly after Walt's death, the Walt Disney Company began numerous attempts to purchase control of the hotel. Finally in 1988, 33 years after the original groundbreaking, the Disneyland Hotel would become a portion of the empire that Walt had founded.
In just a little over 11 years, the Disneyland Hotel had grown from 104 guest rooms and a smattering of amenities into a major tourist facility with 616 guest rooms, ample dining and shopping facilities, a full golf complex, and a full range of convention and meeting facilities. The hotel also helped introduce a futuristic mode of rapid transit in the form of the Monorail, and the hotel was instrumental in changing the previous agricultural economy of Anaheim into the major tourist destination that it is today. What appeared to be a questionable area for development in the early fifties turned into one of the most dynamic areas in the country. A large portion of this change and growth had been stimulated by a man with a mouse and a Texas oil wildcatter.
Originally, Walt had approached Hilton executives and other well-known hotel chains, hoping to convince them to finance the construction of a first-class hotel next to Disneyland. However, the general consensus was that such a venture was too risky. No one was certain that what was quickly becoming known as "Disney's folly" would be successful.
In 1954, Anaheim was a little-known community, largely consisting of orange groves. The entire city had only seven small motels and hotels, accommodating only a total of 87 guests. Wrather admitted at the time that he was somewhat skeptical about building in such a small community (of approximately 30,000), next to an experimental and yet unfinished theme park. His doubts were further increased by the fact that the risky venture had already been turned down by more than one major hotel chain.
Wrather spent several days with Walt Disney, looking into the area's potential for expansion. Legend has it that Walt had tears in his eyes while describing his dream of Disneyland to Wrather. With a sense of adventure, Wrather became convinced that the idea just might be a success. Also, with Walt showing such emotion for and dedication to his project, how could Wrather have resisted?
One of the first discussions between the two friends was where the hotel should be located. Wrather first talked of locating it near the entrance to Disneyland. Walt said, "Jack, our guests aren't going to be thinking about a hotel when they begin their visit to Disneyland. They'll start looking for a room when they leave the park. The best place to build your Hotel is near the Disneyland exit." Wrather agreed with Walt's logic and leased 60 acres of Disney-owned land on West Street directly across from the Disneyland exit. There he built what was to become known as the "Official Hotel of the Magic Kingdom."
On March 18, 1955, Jack Wrather, Bonita Granville Wrather (his wife), and Anaheim Mayor Charles Pearson, using a three-handled shovel, officiated at the groundbreaking for the Disneyland Hotel.
The Disneyland Hotel opened on October 5, 1955, nearly three months after Disneyland's live televised grand opening on July 17, 1955. The first guests registered at a hotel having only 104 guest rooms located in five two-story complexes, built at the southeast corner of the leased property. These were the South Garden rooms, later to be known as the Oriental Gardens. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arnone of Inglewood, California were to be the first guests at the newly opened hotel.
The Disneyland Hotel was the first major resort to be built in Southern California since the early 1940's. However, the number of available rooms quickly proved to be insufficient for the unexpected demand, and 96 more units of the same type were added the following year on the property's northeast section. Built by Hodges and Vergrift Construction Company, this new addition was called the North Garden rooms, later renamed the Garden Villas.
During the first year, room rates ranged from $9 for a standard room to $22 for deluxe quarters. Rooms were advertised as accommodating four people. For an additional adult, there was a $3 charge.
At the same time that construction had begun on the additional garden rooms at the northeastern corner of the property, construction was under way on the Administration Building, which would house a lobby, restaurants, shops, and meeting rooms. The Gourmet Restaurant was opened in a converted ranch house on the property, redesigned by C. Tony Pereira. This converted ranch house had been the original Disneyland administration building.
The original hotel design, by the architectural firm of Pereira and Luckman, called for 300 motel and hotel rooms, suites and garden apartments. Also included were plans for three swimming pools, tennis courts, a golf course, cocktail lounges, and four restaurants. The original blueprints designated a total of 10 buildings in the South Garden or Oriental Garden section. However, only five buildings were actually built.
The opening of the Administration Building (which would later become the Travelport), and the "official" grand opening for the hotel was on August 25, 1956. It was a star-studded grand opening celebration that resembled a Hollywood movie premiere. Celebrities in attendance included Walt Disney, Art Linkletter, William Bendix, Alan Ladd, Sue Caroll, Yvonne DeCarlo, and Jeanne Crain. Also in attendance were as many as three hundred enthusiasts, observing the ribbon-cutting and taking a grand tour of the facilities.
By 1956, there were 204 guest rooms and suites at the Disneyland Hotel. As an added attraction, each garden patio had its own orange tree, a reminder of what the original property had been only a few short years earlier. This had been a part of the original plans when the grounds were being cleared to build the hotel. An additional amenity at this time was the Coral Club which included a huge 45-foot by 75-foot completely tiled and heated swimming pool, wading pools for children of all ages, fountains, sandlots, and a cabana area. The pools were surrounded by lounge furniture for guests' relaxation and so that they might acquire a Southern California tan. One-day laundry and dry cleaning services were available, and a physician and nurse were on call. An 18-hole putting greens and shuffleboard courts were also early inclusions at the Disneyland Hotel.
Guests were able to register for a hotel room from their car or they could go into the lobby for a more traditional method of registration. There were parking spaces for 1000 cars, and parking was free. Also, limo and bus service was provided. Richfield Oil (also the Disneyland sponsor of Autopia) offered full automotive care. Even in the 1950s, every room was equipped with a television set and air conditioning.
During these early years, the attendance at Disneyland was beyond the most optimistic expectations. Even Walt had to be amazed by the overwhelming success of his dream. As a result, the City Council of Anaheim began reviewing plans for other motels and restaurants. Disneyland had proven all the skeptics to be wrong, and Disneyland was destined to bring major changes to what once had been a sleepy, orange grove community.
From the beginning, the Disneyland Hotel was one of the outstanding showplaces of Orange County. Celebrities such as Jack Benny, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Billy Graham, and Cary Grant were often spotted at the hotel. These and other celebrities enjoyed bringing their families for a stay at the hotel and for a trip to Walt's park. Also attracted were business people, coming for luncheons, meetings, and conventions. The Disneyland Hotel quickly had become the place to see and the place to be seen.
Room rates in 1957 were advertised from $10 to $19. SuitesÊwent for between $22 and $25. The hotel's brochures boasted of an assortment of shops, air conditioned rooms, television in every room, pools of all sizes, restaurant and cocktail facilities. Also touted was tram service to Disneyland every five minutes, transportation via a Disneyland station wagon, playgrounds, childcare facilities, barber and beauty shops. Doctor, nurse and even dental facilities were available on the grounds. The brochures further emphasized a private sundeck or patio for every room. Best of all, the Disneyland Hotel was billed as the only hotel right at the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland. Also in the late 1950s, the concept of "seasonal" and "non-seasonal" rates first appeared. Typically, it would cost a dollar or two more for a room during the holidays and summer months (late May through mid September).
By 1959, over 25 hotels and motels had crowded around Disneyland to take advantage of the Park's spectacular drawing power. By 1960, Anaheim had established itself as Orange County's largest city, with a population in excess of 100,000. People were traveling from all areas of the world to visit the "Happiest Place on Earth." Indeed, Anaheim had magically grown from a quiet, small agricultural community into a mecca of tourism, and the boom had only begun. As Walt had promised on opening day, the park continued adding attractions (the Monorail, the Submarine Voyage, and the Matterhorn all opening in 1959); and the hotel continued to grow, having more than 300 rooms by 1960. A 13,000-square foot convention center was also added at that time.
Rates for rooms in 1960 ranged from $10 to $26 a night during the off-season and from $16 to $29 in season, the holidays and the summer months.
At a press conference held in 1960, Jack Wrather and Walt Disney announced plans for the extension of the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System to link the park to the hotel. Walt had long envisioned a rapid transit system for major U.S. cities, and this addition to the Monorail would provide a working model. Dick Nunis, who worked his way up from a summer job in 1955 to become the president of Disneyland in 1980, stated that Walt saw the Monorail as more than just an attraction; Walt saw it as aÊworkable transportation system. He wanted to demonstrate its potential as urban rapid transit, and so he envisioned the monorail's extension to the hotel.
The park's monorail was closed for construction on April 10, 1961. Disneyland also had to closed Autopia to facilitate the installation of new pylons through its grounds. The original 8/10th-of-a-mile track would be extended by 12,300 feet, making it nearly a two-and-a-half mile round-trip journey between the park to the hotel. The cost of the extension was $1.9 million ($500,000 more than the original cost of the Monorail when it was installed at Disneyland less than two years earlier). The construction required more than 118,000 hours of labor, 10,760 tons of sand, 66,700 bags of cement and 702 tons of steel. New style Mark II trains were introduced for the extended Monorail including a new gold colored train. The Monorail, with its extension to the Disneyland Hotel, reopened on June 1, 1961.
Other major expansions were planned for the hotel in the early 1960s. They included a new golf complex featuring an 18-hole, par-three course, a 50-tee driving range, and a miniature golf course with the individual holes named after Disneyland attractions. One of the course favorites was hole #5, which featured a mini replica of the Matterhorn Mountain. Also added at this time was a helicopter landing pad, linking Los Angeles International Airport with Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel. The new facility provided an efficient transportation link for both business people and tourists. Soon, LAA Airways was operating an average of 12 flights per day to and from the airport in its 28-passenger, turbo-jet copter liners.
In 1961, the Wrather Corporation went public, offering 350,000 shares of common stock. President and Chairman of the Board Jack Wrather and the Wrather Corporation had grown to include four major divisions: Television and motion pictures, the Disneyland Hotel, the Muzak Corporation (the often satirized elevator music), and Stephen's Marine, Inc. The company also was involved in management services for various other marine based businesses.
The Anaheim skyline was also about to undergo a major change in 1961 when the concept of "building up" replaced the concept of "building out." At the Disneyland Hotel, an 11-story, high-rise tower was built. This added 150 new guest rooms to the hotel complex. At that time, it was the county's tallest building and the nation's tallest building constructed utilizing the post-tension, lift-slab method. Another exciting innovation was an external, glass elevator, one of only a handful constructed at the time in this country. Its designer, architect Kurt Weber, recalled that the glass elevator offered a dramatic view of the growing community of Anaheim. It also took guests to the Top of the Park Lounge, which featured breathtaking views of Disneyland. The Lounge offered alcoholic beverages and nightly entertainment in a decidedly blues motif. Constructed for the less adventurous was the Monorail Lounge which was located next to the Monorail station on the second floor level. Ground had been broken for the new tower building in October of 1961. The project was completed less than a year later in September of 1962. At that time, two additional Garden structures were also added to the hotel.
In 1962, rates ranged from $17 for a room with a twin bed to $53 for two deluxe and medium adjoining rooms during vacation and holiday seasons, $10 to $47 during off-season. There were new rates for the tower building. A twin-bedded room was priced from $24 vacation rate up to $35 for a room with two double beds. Off-season, tower rooms were priced from $20 to $26.
Orange County celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1964. At a press conference held at the Disneyland Hotel, the announcement was made that Major League Baseball was coming to Anaheim. The Angels would continue to play in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium until their new Anaheim stadium was constructed in approximately two years. During their first year in Anaheim, the Angels would lead the American League in attendance, attracting over one million fans.
By 1964, during vacation and holiday season, room rates were $17 for a single room, $53 for an adjoining deluxe room with a medium room, and $30 for a deluxe room alone. Winter rates were advertised from $10 for a single small room to $49 for an adjoining deluxe with medium room. The Tower rooms were priced from $24 to $35 during peak-season and $20 to $28 during off- season. Peak-season now was being defined as from June 1 to September 15, December 11 to January 3, and April 9 to April 24.
Both the Disneyland Hotel and Disneyland celebrating their "Tencennials," 10-years of successful operations, in 1965. The hotel announced plans for the Tower Annex, an expansion to the existing tower, which would now give the hotel 616 guest rooms. An additional six conference rooms (bringing the total to 28) would be added to the complex. These conference rooms would be designed to hold from 15 people to two thousand people.
A new shopping plaza building was also constructed on the hotel grounds. It was described as having glass walls and graceful grillwork, gleaming in a lush garden setting. It was further described as resembling a necklace on green velvet,Êcontaining the beautiful and unusual in a score of smart, avant-garde specialty shops. Here one could buy aromatic tobaccos from Turkey, candles from Mexico, leathers from London, toys from the U.S., Germany and Japan, and here one could select from fashions inspired in Paris, Rome and Carnaby Street. The Plaza also featured a beauty shop, a travel agency, and a dental facility. Both the Tower Annex and the Plaza Shopping Center cost $5.5 million as part of the Hotel Expansion Program. At Disneyland, "it's a small world" was added after its successful run at the New York World's Fair.
Rates in 1966 for what was billed as wintertime ranged from $15 for a queen-sized bed up to $30 for a deluxe room. During vacation times, the rates were $20 and $35 for the same rooms. The Tower now had a North and South designation, with the South side being the more expensive. The North side rates were priced from $20 for a queen-sized bed up to $28 for two double beds. The South side went for $22 to $30 for the same bed types.
By 1966, Orange County had become the tourist hub of America, producing tourist income greater than any other U.S. county. Anaheim now had 125 hotels and motels and a population of over 150,000. Sadly on December 15, 1966, Walt Disney, one of the most influential men in Anaheim's history, passed away. Walt had been a lifelong smoker and had developed lung cancer. It was reported that Jack and Bonita Wrather were devastated upon hearing news of Walt's passing. Half of the two pioneers of tourism in Southern California was now gone. These two had plotted a course in the 1950s for the future of tourism and conventions in Orange County, thereby forever changing Anaheim's destiny. Jack Wrather would also succumb to cancer in 1984.
Shortly after Walt's death, the Walt Disney Company began numerous attempts to purchase control of the hotel. Finally in 1988, 33 years after the original groundbreaking, the Disneyland Hotel would become a portion of the empire that Walt had founded.
In just a little over 11 years, the Disneyland Hotel had grown from 104 guest rooms and a smattering of amenities into a major tourist facility with 616 guest rooms, ample dining and shopping facilities, a full golf complex, and a full range of convention and meeting facilities. The hotel also helped introduce a futuristic mode of rapid transit in the form of the Monorail, and the hotel was instrumental in changing the previous agricultural economy of Anaheim into the major tourist destination that it is today. What appeared to be a questionable area for development in the early fifties turned into one of the most dynamic areas in the country. A large portion of this change and growth had been stimulated by a man with a mouse and a Texas oil wildcatter.
An Introduction To Hong Kong Hotels
Hong Kong is one of the most popular tourist destinations today. Every year, millions of tourists visit Hong Kong, which primarily consists of the Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon peninsula, the New Territories and 260 other islands. Hong Kong is also one of the biggest business destinations in Asia, and thus attracts a lot of business visitors.
There are hundreds of hotels in Hong Kong, including several high-class ones. Most of the hotels are located in Tsimshatsui, which is the place for shopping, food, and entertainment. Causeway Bay, North Point, and the new territories also have some very good hotels. Central, Admiralty and Wanchai, which are the financial districts, also have fantastic hotels.
Hotels in Hong Kong are top class, with world-class facilities and comforts. There are hotels that cater to all classes of tourists, with all budgets and various needs. Rents of rooms start from $100 to $200 on average and may go up to $600 per day. There are also some hotels where the prices of rooms start from less than $100 and they come in the budget category. Some of the most popular hotels under the $100 are the City Garden Hong Kong, Wharney Hotel, South Pacific Hong Kong, Majestic Hotel Hong Kong, Kimberley Hotel, Park Hotel Hong Kong, Royal Pacific Hotel, and New World Renaissance Hong Kong.
Hotel rooms in the range of $100-$150 include: Marco Polo Gateway Hotel Hong Kong, Marco Polo Prince Hotel, Regal Hong Kong Airport Hotel, Novotel Century Hong Kong, Harbour Plaza Hotel, Marco Polo Hotel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Hyatt Regency Hotel, Excelsior Hong Kong, Holiday Inn Hong Kong Golden Mile, and Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel. Then there some more hotels such as the Renaissance Harbour View, Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong, JW Marriott Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong Hotel, Inter-Continental Hotel (formerly The Regent), Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and Peninsula Hotel, which have rooms priced at over $200.
However, the most premium hotels are the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Panda Hotel, Emperor Happy Valley Hotel, The Charterhouse, Kowloon Hotel, Dorsett Olympic Hotel, Cosmo Hotel, Guangdong Hotel, and the Dorsett Sea view hotel, among many others. Room rents for these hotels are in the range of $700-$1,000 or more per day, for a standard room. The different kinds of hotel rooms are generally the standard rooms, deluxe rooms, deluxe courtyard room, grand deluxe view room, and suites like the superior suite, deluxe suite and others.
Most of the Hong Kong hotels offer excellent cuisine consisting of fresh seafood, which is one of the specialties of Hong Kong. They also offer sightseeing services, cruises and night tours, airport transfer services, and host several indoor facilities such as: restaurants, bars, saloons, pools, gardens, spas, conference rooms, champagne bars, fitness facilities, and heated pools, massage treatments, and even Tai Chi and Yoga classes. The rooms are huge and offer high-speed Internet connectivity, television with cable, mini bars, massage showerheads, and others.
Condo Hotels Offer Innovative Way to Own a Vacation Home
Many people dream of owning a vacation home. But often concerns about maintaining it, renting it out in the off-season, or even justifying the expense when it's only to be used for a couple weeks of the year keep them from making the dream a reality.
Now condo hotels, an innovative type of vacation home ownership, provide a welcome solution to all these problems. Also known as condotels or aparthotels, condo hotels have been growing in popularity as a hassle-free approach to owning a luxurious second home in a great vacation destination like Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, the Caribbean and Dubai.
Condo hotel buyers purchase an actual condominium unit in an upscale hotel or resort. The property functions as a full-service hotel, and owners have access to all facilities, amenities and services just like hotel guests.
They receive a deed to their unit and can use their vacation home when they want. When not in residence, they can place their unit into the hotel's rental program and share in the revenue it generates. Like most real estate investments, the owner can also sell his condo hotel unit at any time and may make a profit on its appreciated value.
Young professionals, baby boomers and seniors alike are just beginning to discover the benefits of owning a condo hotel unit. They appreciate the hassle-free nature of condo hotels as a second home in which a professional management company handles everything from property maintenance to finding hotel guests to rent the units. They also consider condo hotels a means to diversify their investments.
Condo hotels differ from timeshares in a number of ways. With timeshares, buyers pay only for the right to use the property for a set amount of time each year, usually a single week. They don't own the title to the property, and they do not receive any rent revenue for the weeks they're not in residence.
Condo hotel owners can use their condos when they want throughout the year, within the guidelines of the individual development. They receive a percentage of any revenue their unit generates when they're not there and the unit is rented out to hotel guests.
Timeshares traditionally diminish in value over time, rather than appreciate. While the history of condo hotel resales is rather limited, they are seen as an appreciating asset.
How do condo hotels differ from owning a traditional single family house or condominium? Consumers who purchase a regular condominium pay property taxes, insurance and maintenance fees, but typically don't have access to hotel-type amenities.
Condo hotels, on the other hand, are not your standard second home. They are beautifully furnished suites in some of the most prestigious hotels and resorts around the world.
The properties often feature four- or five-star amenities, ranging from full-service spas and fitness centers to fully-equipped business centers and fine-dining restaurants. They also come with exceptional hotel services like concierge, valet and room service.
With condo hotels, owners reap the rewards of condo ownership while enjoying the privileges of a full-service hotel.
Most condo hotels are operated by big-brand management companies such as Hyatt, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Starwood, Hilton, Trump, InterContinental and Rosewood. Typically they are luxury hotels located on prime land, overlooking the ocean or a golf course, near popular theme parks, or in the heart of a booming downtown.
Condo hotel units range from studios and full-size apartments to luxurious penthouses and villas. Prices for these homes range from $250,000 to over one million for top properties.
What makes the condo hotel concept so appealing? When owners are not using their condo hotel unit, they have the option of placing it into the hotel's rental program. They receive 40%-60% of the revenue their unit generates (it varies by property), with the balance going to the hotel operator. The revenue generated helps offset the costs of owning a holiday home.
While many hotel operators don't guarantee the rental of the condo, by capitalizing on the hotel's brand name, strong sales and marketing capabilities, centralized reservation system and management expertise, owners typically receive a higher level of rental income than they would from a traditional vacation home.
More importantly, ownership is 100 percent hassle-free, as the hotel operator takes care of finding hotel guests and maintaining the unit as well as managing the property's many facilities.
How are the ownership expenses split? As part of the rental agreement, the hotel pays for most operating expenses such as housekeeping, administration, sales and marketing. The condo hotel owner typically pays for real estate taxes, insurance and capital improvements. The rental revenue that owners receive helps defray these expenses and, in some cases, provides additional income.
While developers primarily sell their condo hotel units as a lifestyle and vacation home alternative, many buyers see merit in the condo hotel concept as an investment tool. They say it gives them the best of both worlds. They can enjoy all of the benefits of vacationing in a first-class hotel or resort while they own a property that has potential to appreciate. It's the ultimate second home and real estate investment combined into one!
Paris Hotels
The fashion capital of the world and the city of dreams, Paris attracts hordes of tourists and business travelers to its ethereal realms every year. A marvelous and spectacularly beautiful city, Paris embodies all that is ancient and magnificent, ultra-modern and chic of European culture. While the Louvre is visited by art and sculpture lovers and enthusiasts of the world, the Rue Saint-Honore and the Champs Elysees are thronged by globetrotters and shopaholics who patronize haute couture and who like to regale themselves at nightclubs. Paris is dotted with numerous hotels. The various Paris hotels offer excellent accommodation to the travelers who arrive at this historic European city for holidaymaking, attending art conferences and for business.
Luxury Paris Hotels
The many Paris hotels that are located in the heart of the city, in close proximity to the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre museum, on Champs Elysees and Rue Saint-Honore, the celebrated Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, Tuileries Garden, the Elysee Palace, the Invalides Museum, the Seine river that cuts across Paris, and the other renowned landmarks of Paris are obviously the most expensive and the plushest hotels of the city. Some of the best luxury Paris hotels are the Hotel Plaza Athenee, Hotel Pont Royal, Hotel Le Meurice, Tiara Chateau Hotel Mont Royal, Hotel de Crillion, Radisson Blu Le Dokhan's Hotel, The Westin Paris, La Tremoille, Hyatt Regency Madeleine, Hotel du Louvre, Trianon Palace Versailles, Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe, etc.
The luxury Paris hotels charge anything from € 610 to €20,000 per day according to the rooms and suites that you choose to stay in. These hotels of Paris provide grand luxury to their inmates. Each of the rooms and suites are gloriously furnished and opulently decorated. Whether you've booked just a single room or the Presidential suite, you'll feel that you're re-living history and living like one of the Parisian monarchs, in the luxury Paris hotels. The architecture of each of the modern luxury Paris hotels resembles that of some medieval palace or imposing medieval edifice of Paris in one way or the other. So it'll not be surprising if you feel like Louis XIV or Napoleon Bonaparte while traversing through the rooms of a luxury Paris hotel. Though equipped with modern and hi-tech amenities for the comfort of the 21st century traveler, the luxurious hotels of Paris represent the medieval spirit of the Palace of Versailles, the fascinating beauty of the exhibits of the Louvre, the exquisite workmanship of the Notre Dame and the intellectual superiority of the Montmartre in their halls, rooms, their decor and in their milieu.
Conference Facilities, Banqueting, Weddings and Fashion Shows in Luxury Paris Hotels
Needless to say, the luxury hotels of the city are great places for historic meetings and rendezvous. These hotels boast of spacious and elaborate conference and banquet halls equipped with the smartest audiovisual gadgets so that meetings may be conducted seamlessly. It's an altogether different experience to conduct or attend meetings amidst gorgeous surroundings, intricately carved statues, sculptures and caryatids in the meeting rooms of these Parisian hotels. While transporting you to a bygone age, the meeting rooms in these hotels help you to experience the advantages of cutting-edge technology when you're hosting and participating in interactive conferences. Meeting room layouts in these hotels can be arranged as you wish and according to which Parisian landmark you'd like your meeting attendees to get a glimpse of in the course of the meeting: the Eiffel Tower, the Tuilleries Garden or the Louvre.
The luxury hotels of Paris are also perfect venues for celebrating weddings and for hosting parties and fashion shows. The luxury Paris hotels employ the talents of the best chefs of Paris who dish out their amazing and mouthwatering creations at banquets, parties, weddings and conference luncheons and dinners hosted in the hotels.
Medium-Priced Paris Hotels
These hotels are situated on highways, near the Charles de Gaulle Airport of Paris or in places in the city from where long-distance traveling is essential to get to downtown Paris and the various tourist hotspots of Paris. Medium-priced hotels in Paris are good hotels and offer fine accommodation facilities to their guests. They are well decorated but not opulently decorated. The décor in medium-priced Parisian hotels is modern and posh and focuses more on utility than on grandeur. Medium-priced hotels afford their guests an extremely comfortable stay as rooms and suites in these hotels are equipped with all the modern amenities. The medium-priced hotels of Paris are generally 3 and 4 star hotels.
The medium-priced Paris hotels are noted particularly for the sumptuous breakfasts that they serve their guests every morning. Sumptuous breakfasts, in Parisian hotels, are included with the room charges and are not extra as they are in the London hotels. Breakfast halls are typically roomy and divided into many segments so that different groups of tourists can sit in the different segments, while they eat. Breakfasts are well-laid out and include meat as well as non-meat products. Different kinds of French cheese; fruits, fruit juice; a variety of French bread including baguettes and croissants with generous helpings of butter, marmalade, pork-spread and jam; different preparations of egg such as French omelets, scrambled eggs, fried eggs and boiled eggs; milk, cream; cereals such as cornflakes and porridge; pork products such as grilled and deep-fried bacon, smoked and grilled sausages, ham and salami; and beverages such as tea and coffee are what you'll see in the breakfast halls of medium-priced Paris hotels every morning, when you wake up, bleary-eyed and eager for a hearty meal. Hotel guests of these hotels have often praised the kitchen staff of these hotels for serving tasty and filling breakfasts, luncheons and dinners.
Medium-priced Paris hotels charge anything from € 102 to € 500 per day. Some of the most famous medium-priced Paris hotels are Express by Holiday Inn, Lille Center, Abba Montparnasse Hotel, Baltimore Paris Hotel, Astra Opera Hotel, Best Western Etoile Saint Honoré Hotel, Best Western Premier Elysées Bassano Hotel, Castille Paris Hotel, Metropol Hotel, Modern Lafayette Hotel, etc.
Meeting Facilities in Medium-Priced Paris Hotels
All medium-priced Paris hotels are equipped with meeting rooms and conference facilities. The meeting rooms in such Paris hotels are equipped with hi-tech audiovisual gadgets so that meetings may be conducted, effortlessly. The seating arrangements in the conference halls may be designed as you wish, in boardroom, U shaped, cabaret, classroom or in other styles. All medium-priced Paris hotels are equipped with Business Centers which are operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the benefit of conference hosts, presenters and attendees.
Budget and Cheap Paris Hotels
The budget Paris hotels are also known as the cheap Paris hotels. These hotels are plainly decorated and are ideal for travelers who travel on a strict budget. Rooms in these hotels are equipped with basic amenities. Many of the cheap hotels of Paris are located in the Montmartre area of Paris, the artists' quarter and the various flea markets of Paris. The Montmartre area and the Latin quarters near the world famous University of Paris, Sorbonne, are inhabited by intellectuals and students who prefer living on a tight budget. So, the cheapest hotels of Paris which are situated in these areas offer several advantages to their inmates. The Ile de la Cite of Paris epitomizes the quaint culture and charms of Paris. Several cheap Parisian hotels have cropped up here too. The Ile de la Cite houses the famous Notre Dame and other well-known landmarks. Many famous museums of Paris, other than the Louvre, are located in the vicinity of the Ile de la Cite. These are the Musee d'Orsay and the Musee De La Conciergerie. The guests of the cheap hotels hence have a wonderful time visiting the repositories and their breathtaking works and sightseeing in these picturesque parts of Paris.
There is a distinct advantage of living in the budget hotels of the city because these Paris hotels encapsulate the tasteful and lively culture of Paris. As they are located in the crowded areas of Paris near the museums and universities, the hubs of intellectual learning and culture, they offer endless opportunities to their guests to explore the nooks and crannies of Paris, to get the feel and pulse of the city, it's rich and variegated history, its myriad etiquette, cuisines, artworks, the romantic spirit of the sculptures that adorn the city, every now and then. The cheap Paris hotels ask for anything between € 30 and € 150 for a single night's stay.
Paris is a truly enchanting city. Its romantic aura encompasses you the moment you step into the city. Every boulevard, every sidewalk, thoroughfare, every street corner of Paris is a treat for the eye of the discerning tourist. Whether you're parading the Grande Gallery of the Louvre or admiring the fabulous interiors of the Palace of Versailles, whether you're getting your picture painted in the Montmartre or just gazing at the Egyptian obelisk in the Place de la Concorde, you'll always be surrounded by the rich heritage of Paris, a heritage that's inextricably interwoven with the city, its people and its monuments. And all the Paris hotels, however modern or sophisticated, try to be the archetype of the city's wonderful past. So it's no wonder that tourists feel the turmoil and turbulence of the Bastille, hear the screams and shrieks of guillotine victims, and perceive the sounds of Louis's hundred horsemen clip-clopping on the roads of Paris while they roam in Paris or when they reside at the Paris hotels.
New York Hotels
New York is one of the richest and most happening cities of the world. New York is famous for the New York Stock Exchange, the Statue of Liberty, nanotechnology and microchip making, its vineyards, its cut diamonds, and its orchards. New York's gross state product is well over $ 1 trillion. It is said that if New York was an independent country by itself, it would be the 16th largest economy in the globe. New York is a flourishing city and Times Square is one of the liveliest spots of New York. The personal per capita income of New York is well over $ 46,000. Hence, most people who live in New York are extremely affluent except those who live in the ghettos of the city. The New York hotels, like the other establishments of New York, are plush, posh, dazzling and overwhelming.
Sightseeing Attractions in New York
As New York is a renowned financial and commercial hub of the United States of America and the world, several businessmen and women travel to New York frequently. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the biggest stock exchange of the globe, is an important trading center of New York, the US, and the world. The headquarters of many multinational companies and investment banks are located in New York. The New York hotels provide excellent accommodation to all the corporate managers as well as to the tourists who visit New York. New York happens to be a great tourist hub and is thronged by holidaymakers from all across the world. The Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Modern Art, Broadway, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Madison Square Garden, World Financial Center, the new World Trade Center, Hudson River, Carnegie Hall, Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Queens Zoo, Rockefeller Center, Wall Street, etc. are some of the many tourist hotspots of New York. The New York hotels generally arrange for tours for their guests so that the latter can have a gala time in New York.
Different Types of New York Hotels and the Different Areas of New York
The hotels of New York are countless in number. New York hotels can broadly be divided into luxury New York hotels, boutique New York hotels, airport hotels and cheap New York hotels. The hotels in New York cater to the needs of diverse travelers. However, most New York hotels charge exorbitant amounts from their guests. Even the cheap New York hotels ask for prices that are forbidding. Manhattan is one of the most expensive places of New York apart from Broadway and Times Square. Chinatown, in Manhattan, is a popular home for Asian immigrants. Manhattan also happens to be a favorite haunt of all the tourists of the city. Brooklyn is one of the cheapest areas of New York, apart from the ghetto areas, which are predominantly populated by the African-American population of New York. Harlem is another area of New York where a large section of the African American population of the city resides. The Asian immigrants of New York reside primarily in the area of Queens.
A reason why the New York hotels are never in dearth of occupants is because of the fact that New York is an extremely well-connected city. New York is served by the underground railway system and four suburban railway tracks. The John F. Kennedy International Airport is the main airport of the city. Several New York hotels have cropped up in the vicinity of the various tourist attractions of New York so that hotel guests can go for sightseeing easily, without boarding buses or hiring long-distance automobiles for traveling.
Conference Facilities in the Luxury and Boutique New York Hotels
Some of the finest and costliest hotels of New York are The Waldorf Astoria, The Four Seasons Hotel, The Carlyle, The Peninsula, New York Palace, The Alex, Trump International, etc. The Carlyle is a grand old New York hotel that encapsulates an old-world charm and aura. It comprises an imposing edifice on Madison Avenue and is rated as one of the best boutique New York hotels. The hotel boasts of 4,033 square feet of meeting and conference space. One of the most fabulous hotels of New York, the Carlyle sports a frontage bedecked in the Art Deco style. The ceiling of the hotel is beautifully carved. The Carlyle vaunts enormous and impressive banquet and conference halls, antechambers and suites. It's one of the few hotels of New York that's an ideal venue for boardroom battles, symposiums, seminars, conferences, after-dinner meets, weddings, dances, and parties. The conference halls of The Carlyle are equipped with the latest and hi-tech audiovisual gadgets so that conferences may be conducted seamlessly.
If The Carlyle is imposing, then The Waldorf Astoria is magnificent. The Waldorf Astoria is one of the New York hotels that transports you back to a period when gentlemen in tailcoats escorted ladies in long gowns from horse-drawn barouche-landaus to Victorian-styled drawing rooms, when people still observed British mannerisms and customs in the New World. The hotel is adorned by antique furniture and decorations that hark back to 1893, the year when the hotel was built. The Waldorf Astoria is a great venue for meetings and events. The hotel has 60,000 square feet of conference space. The Waldorf Astoria is one of the few hotels of New York that boasts of a rich experience and consequently a rich expertise, in hosting state dinners and corporate meetings. It's also one of the few hotels of the city that has invested millions of dollars in enhancing its meeting facilities and technological capabilities. The Waldorf Astoria is one of the rare hotels of New York that offers its corporate guests direct-link satellite broadcasting facilities and ultra-high-velocity Internet connectivity to support hi-tech videoconferencing and web conferencing.
Where meetings and events are concerned, the Waldorf Astoria is regarded as one of the special hotels of New York. This is because the hotel assigns the conference management task to an Event Manager who performs the task of conference management on behalf of the clients or guests. The Event Manager and their team look into every aspect of conference management so that clients face no problem in hosting and conducting conferences. The fourth and the eighteenth stories of the hotel are dedicated for conferences and events. Each of the luxury and boutique New York hotels is an excellent venue for meetings and events. The luxury and boutique hotels of New York charge anything between $219 and $ 3,600 per day, per guest. Many say that the luxury and boutique New York hotels are too opulent and showy. They show new money, unabashedly. Many opine that the hotels of New York, however flashy, cannot compare to the London hotels or the Paris hotels in class and heritage. The New York hotels, according to many, show more power than anything else. This is not surprising because New York is situated in the United States of America, the most powerful nation of the world.
Airport New York Hotels and Their Business Centers
Now let's turn to examine some other types of New York hotels. New York is served by three airports: the JFK International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and the Newark Liberty International Airport. The hotels which are classified as airport New York hotels are located in close proximity to these airports. The various airport hotels of New York that are situated close to the JFK International Airport are the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Days Inn, Best Western, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Sheraton, etc. The various airport hotels of New York that are situated close to the LaGuardia Airport are the LaGuardia Airport hotel, Clarion Hotel, Marriott, Crowne Plaza, Comfort Inn, etc. The various airport hotels of New York that are situated close to the Newark Liberty International Airport are the Marriott, Days Hotel, Wyndham Garden Hotel, Renaissance Hotel, etc.
These New York hotels charge much lower rates than the boutique and luxury New York hotels. If you opt to stay in any of the airport hotels, you'll have to cough up about $ 49 to $ 199 per day. Affordable, isn't it? But on the downside, most airport hotels in New York can't afford you conference facilities at the rates they charge you. Most of these hotels, however, possess Business Centers, which are equipped with photocopying and facsimile facilities, wireless Internet connectivity, and computers with Internet connections. Some of the airport New York hotels such as the Fairfield Inn by Marriott, have banqueting facilities. The airport hotels of New York are plainly furnished and sparsely decorated.
Family and Pet-Friendly New York Hotels
Family hotels and pet-friendly hotels are other types of hotels in New York but these hotels are occupied mostly by families on holidays and not by people who'd like to host meetings. Hence, conference facilities are not present in such hotels. However, as there are exceptions to all rules, some of these hotels are equipped with business and meeting facilities.
Cheap New York Hotels
And finally, we come to that section of hotels known as the cheap New York hotels. Most of the cheap hotels of New York are not hotels but hostels, inns and boarding houses. As has been mentioned before, even the cheap hotels of New York can be dear. However, they're much cheaper compared to the other hotels of New York. They also lack proper amenities. Which is why they're designated as cheap New York hotels. Most of the rooms in cheap New York hotels don't possess attached bathrooms and guests have to use the common bathroom of the corridor. The cheap hotels in New York are boarded mostly by youngsters, students and backpackers, who not only don't mind the discomforts of life but also take them with an adventurous spirit.
The rooms of these hotels aren't equipped with telephones and these hotels don't accept payment by credit card. The rooms of many of these New York hotels are equipped with bunk beds and almost resemble dormitories. Bathrooms in these hotels may also be dirty. And don't even think of hosting a conference in these New York hotels unless you're willing to call 'a room full of young students jumping about', a 'conference'. But the cheap New York hotels are generally located at spots close to the New York subways, tourist hotspots, and shops. So, you can get a good feel of the city if you reside in these hotels, provided you don't mind the accompanying hardships.
Choosing New York Hotels
You can choose hotels in New York according to your budget, conference preferences, the conference facilities that the hotels offer, location of the hotels, and other parameters. If you choose wisely, you'll stand to gain in many ways because New York has plenty to offer. The cityscape of New York that most luxury New York hotels capture is beautiful while the poverty and squalor in the ghettos of New York is shocking and sad. One thing must be said of all the New York hotels, whether they are luxury hotels or boutique hotels or airport hotels or family hotels or cheap hotels - they help you to get a feel of the city and experience the city from different angles and perspectives.
Thinking of Buying a Condo Hotel? Here Are 20 Things You Need to Know!
1. What is a condo hotel or condotel?
Think of a condo hotel (also sometimes called a condotel or hotel condo) as buying a condominium, although one that is part of a four-star caliber hotel. Therefore, as an owner, when you are on vacation, you'll get the benefit of more four-star services and amenities than you'd get in a typical condominium.
2. What types of services and amenities are found in condo hotels?
If you can imagine the niceties you'd find in an upscale hotel, then you can picture a condo hotel. Among the features are often resort-style pools, full-service spas, state-of-the-art fitness centers, fine dining restaurants, concierge services and room service.
In some locations, like Las Vegas, you'll find condo hotels with their own casinos, retail areas, and entertainment venues. In places like Orlando, you'll find condo hotels with their own water parks and convention facilities.
3. What is the difference between a condo hotel and a traditional condominium?
The big difference between a hotel and a condo hotel is that a hotel typically has one owner, either individual or corporate, but a condo hotel is sold off unit by unit. Therefore, a 300-room condo hotel could have as many as 300 unit owners.
4. Is it evident to hotel guests whether they're staying in a condo hotel or a traditional hotel?
A hotel guest will likely never know that the hotel has multiple owners because the property is operated just like a traditional hotel and often under the management of a well-known hotel company like Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood, Trump or W. Also, each of the individual condo hotel units will look identical in design and décor to every other, just as they would in a traditional hotel.
5. Who typically buys condo hotels?
They're primarily sold to people who want a vacation home but do not want to deal with the hassles typically associated with second home ownership such as maintaining the property or finding renters in the off season.
6. What is the demographic of the typical condo hotel buyer?
The spectrum of condo hotel buyers is pretty broad. There are families that want a second home in a vacation destination. There are baby boomers who are at or nearing retirement and want somewhere they can "winter." There are also plenty of investors who purchase a condo hotel unit with little intention of ever using it; they're in it for the potential appreciation of the real estate.
7. Can you live in a condo hotel?
Condo hotels are not typically offered as primary residences. In fact, many of them limit the unit owner's usage of the condo hotel unit (typically 30-60 days per year) because the unit is expected and needed in the hotel's nightly rental program where it can be offered to guests and generate revenue.
8. Who gets the money when your condo hotel is rented out?
The hotel management company splits the rental revenue with the individual condo hotel owner. While the exact percentages vary from property to property, the typical rental split is in the 50%-50% range.
9. Who finds hotel guests and then cleans and maintains the condo hotel units?
The hotel management company markets the property and books hotel guests. It also maintains the unit and ensures the smooth operation of all of the hotel's services and amenities.
10. What are the advantages / disadvantages of purchasing a condotel over purchasing typical rental properties?
Advantages include:
· Hassle-free ownership; no landlord issues
· Rental revenue to offset some or maybe all ownership expenses
· A fantastic vacation home available for use whenever you want
· A real estate investment at a time when other investments may seem less attractive
· Strong likelihood of appreciation
· Pride of ownership --"I own a piece of a Trump"
Disadvantages include:
· Annual cash flow could be equal to or less than annual ownership costs
· Pets are usually not welcome.
· An owner's condo hotel unit may be rented when the owner wants to it, so advance reservations are required to guarantee availability.
· The condo hotel unit is subject to the same dips in the market that affect all hotels in the competitive market set: hurricanes, terrorist threats, warm winters up north, price of gas, etc., all of which can affect a unit's occupancy rate and the amount of revenue it generates.
11. Are condo hotel units difficult to finance?
Not at all, but they do take 20% down typically, whereas condos can be purchased with less cash down. It's also important to make sure you use a mortgage broker who has had success in getting condo hotel financing deals done. Many banks still do not do them, but more and more are getting involved as condo hotels become more widely available.
12. How long have condo hotels been around and where are they located?
Condo hotels have been around for several decades, but the huge surge of four-star and five-star condo hotels that have been making their way across the country, started around year 2000 in the Miami area. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale area still has the most condo hotels, but areas like Orlando and Las Vegas are developing condo hotel properties at an even faster rate and will likely surpass South Florida soon. Other up-and-coming areas are places like the Bahamas, Panama, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Canada and Dubai.
13. How much do condo hotel units cost?
That's like asking how much a car costs. There are different quality condo hotels. Some require greater amounts of money than others, obviously.
There are inexpensive condo hotels out there for as little as $100,000. These are typically found in properties that have converted their use from an existing hotel. They are hotel room-sized, lack kitchen facilities, luxury franchises, and other first-class amenities.
Then there are the four-star or greater properties that may start in the $300,000 to $400,000 range, but can go all the way up to $800,000 just for a studio unit. One- and two-bedroom units cost substantially more than a studio. Of course, the studios do come fully furnished and finished, and will be significantly larger in size than a typical hotel room, and may attract guests because of its name like St. Regis, Ritz or W.
14. What are typical maintenance costs?
On average about $1.00 to $1.50 per sq. ft., but the range can exceed $2.00 sq. ft. in the most luxurious properties.
15. Do you buy condo hotel units after they have been built, or can you purchase condo hotels in pre-construction?
Unless you are in a hurry to get started vacationing or you need to complete a 1031 exchange, it's best to buy condo hotels in pre-construction as early as possible. That's when prices are lowest and unit selection is greatest. You will likely wait two years or longer before closing on and taking possession of your condo hotel unit, but you will have locked in the price and will get the benefit of maximum appreciation.
16. Is there anything else investors should want to know about condotels?
There is more to buying this type of real estate than the old phrase, "location, location, location." While most condo hotels are located in desirable resort and business area locations, what is most important is a good franchise with a strong reservation system.
Also, do not be fooled by an aggressive rental split. One way or the other, the developer of the property will have to staff, maintain and operate the hotel and its services like the restaurants, bars, spas and pools from his share of the proceeds. If he's giving you a very favorable share of the rental, he's also more likely to be charging you a higher monthly maintenance fee. Of course, this goes both ways. If the maintenance split that is offered is closer to 50-50, then your maintenance should be more reasonable too.
17. Any suggestions to investors in choosing which condo hotel to buy?
Get good advice. That means you don't want to rely only on the pitch provided by an onsite salesperson at a condo hotel. You want to talk with a broker who specializes in condo hotels and who knows and understands the entire condo hotel market, not just the facts pertaining to a single property. He or she will listen to your wants and needs and then offer recommendations as to which properties best match your requirements. You'll have an opportunity to comparison shop and consider the pros and cons of each available property.
A good broker can be the difference between your buying a condo hotel that will be problematic and not live up to your expectations or one that will provide you with years of great vacations, good annual revenue and a substantial profit when you sell.
18. Does it cost more to use a real estate broker to purchase a condo hotel than buying a unit on one's own?
No. With new condo hotel properties, the prices are always set by the developer and are exactly the same whether you buy directly from an onsite salesperson at the property or using a broker.
The broker's commission is always paid by the developer and is already built into the price regardless of whether an outside broker participates in the sale or not. Since a broker's representation is free to buyers, it does make sense to enlist their aid and get the benefit of their advice before making a purchase.
19. How can prospective buyers find a good condo hotel broker?
Ask friends for broker recommendations or search online for "condo hotel broker." Visit condo hotel broker websites and see if the information they provide seems comprehensive and unbiased. If their website seems to focus on selling homes or office space, and the condo hotel information appears to be an afterthought, steer clear. Your best bet is to work with a condo hotel broker who specializes.
20. How can buyers learn about new condo hotel properties coming on the market?
Think of a condo hotel (also sometimes called a condotel or hotel condo) as buying a condominium, although one that is part of a four-star caliber hotel. Therefore, as an owner, when you are on vacation, you'll get the benefit of more four-star services and amenities than you'd get in a typical condominium.
2. What types of services and amenities are found in condo hotels?
If you can imagine the niceties you'd find in an upscale hotel, then you can picture a condo hotel. Among the features are often resort-style pools, full-service spas, state-of-the-art fitness centers, fine dining restaurants, concierge services and room service.
In some locations, like Las Vegas, you'll find condo hotels with their own casinos, retail areas, and entertainment venues. In places like Orlando, you'll find condo hotels with their own water parks and convention facilities.
3. What is the difference between a condo hotel and a traditional condominium?
The big difference between a hotel and a condo hotel is that a hotel typically has one owner, either individual or corporate, but a condo hotel is sold off unit by unit. Therefore, a 300-room condo hotel could have as many as 300 unit owners.
4. Is it evident to hotel guests whether they're staying in a condo hotel or a traditional hotel?
A hotel guest will likely never know that the hotel has multiple owners because the property is operated just like a traditional hotel and often under the management of a well-known hotel company like Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood, Trump or W. Also, each of the individual condo hotel units will look identical in design and décor to every other, just as they would in a traditional hotel.
5. Who typically buys condo hotels?
They're primarily sold to people who want a vacation home but do not want to deal with the hassles typically associated with second home ownership such as maintaining the property or finding renters in the off season.
6. What is the demographic of the typical condo hotel buyer?
The spectrum of condo hotel buyers is pretty broad. There are families that want a second home in a vacation destination. There are baby boomers who are at or nearing retirement and want somewhere they can "winter." There are also plenty of investors who purchase a condo hotel unit with little intention of ever using it; they're in it for the potential appreciation of the real estate.
7. Can you live in a condo hotel?
Condo hotels are not typically offered as primary residences. In fact, many of them limit the unit owner's usage of the condo hotel unit (typically 30-60 days per year) because the unit is expected and needed in the hotel's nightly rental program where it can be offered to guests and generate revenue.
8. Who gets the money when your condo hotel is rented out?
The hotel management company splits the rental revenue with the individual condo hotel owner. While the exact percentages vary from property to property, the typical rental split is in the 50%-50% range.
9. Who finds hotel guests and then cleans and maintains the condo hotel units?
The hotel management company markets the property and books hotel guests. It also maintains the unit and ensures the smooth operation of all of the hotel's services and amenities.
10. What are the advantages / disadvantages of purchasing a condotel over purchasing typical rental properties?
Advantages include:
· Hassle-free ownership; no landlord issues
· Rental revenue to offset some or maybe all ownership expenses
· A fantastic vacation home available for use whenever you want
· A real estate investment at a time when other investments may seem less attractive
· Strong likelihood of appreciation
· Pride of ownership --"I own a piece of a Trump"
Disadvantages include:
· Annual cash flow could be equal to or less than annual ownership costs
· Pets are usually not welcome.
· An owner's condo hotel unit may be rented when the owner wants to it, so advance reservations are required to guarantee availability.
· The condo hotel unit is subject to the same dips in the market that affect all hotels in the competitive market set: hurricanes, terrorist threats, warm winters up north, price of gas, etc., all of which can affect a unit's occupancy rate and the amount of revenue it generates.
11. Are condo hotel units difficult to finance?
Not at all, but they do take 20% down typically, whereas condos can be purchased with less cash down. It's also important to make sure you use a mortgage broker who has had success in getting condo hotel financing deals done. Many banks still do not do them, but more and more are getting involved as condo hotels become more widely available.
12. How long have condo hotels been around and where are they located?
Condo hotels have been around for several decades, but the huge surge of four-star and five-star condo hotels that have been making their way across the country, started around year 2000 in the Miami area. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale area still has the most condo hotels, but areas like Orlando and Las Vegas are developing condo hotel properties at an even faster rate and will likely surpass South Florida soon. Other up-and-coming areas are places like the Bahamas, Panama, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Canada and Dubai.
13. How much do condo hotel units cost?
That's like asking how much a car costs. There are different quality condo hotels. Some require greater amounts of money than others, obviously.
There are inexpensive condo hotels out there for as little as $100,000. These are typically found in properties that have converted their use from an existing hotel. They are hotel room-sized, lack kitchen facilities, luxury franchises, and other first-class amenities.
Then there are the four-star or greater properties that may start in the $300,000 to $400,000 range, but can go all the way up to $800,000 just for a studio unit. One- and two-bedroom units cost substantially more than a studio. Of course, the studios do come fully furnished and finished, and will be significantly larger in size than a typical hotel room, and may attract guests because of its name like St. Regis, Ritz or W.
14. What are typical maintenance costs?
On average about $1.00 to $1.50 per sq. ft., but the range can exceed $2.00 sq. ft. in the most luxurious properties.
15. Do you buy condo hotel units after they have been built, or can you purchase condo hotels in pre-construction?
Unless you are in a hurry to get started vacationing or you need to complete a 1031 exchange, it's best to buy condo hotels in pre-construction as early as possible. That's when prices are lowest and unit selection is greatest. You will likely wait two years or longer before closing on and taking possession of your condo hotel unit, but you will have locked in the price and will get the benefit of maximum appreciation.
16. Is there anything else investors should want to know about condotels?
There is more to buying this type of real estate than the old phrase, "location, location, location." While most condo hotels are located in desirable resort and business area locations, what is most important is a good franchise with a strong reservation system.
Also, do not be fooled by an aggressive rental split. One way or the other, the developer of the property will have to staff, maintain and operate the hotel and its services like the restaurants, bars, spas and pools from his share of the proceeds. If he's giving you a very favorable share of the rental, he's also more likely to be charging you a higher monthly maintenance fee. Of course, this goes both ways. If the maintenance split that is offered is closer to 50-50, then your maintenance should be more reasonable too.
17. Any suggestions to investors in choosing which condo hotel to buy?
Get good advice. That means you don't want to rely only on the pitch provided by an onsite salesperson at a condo hotel. You want to talk with a broker who specializes in condo hotels and who knows and understands the entire condo hotel market, not just the facts pertaining to a single property. He or she will listen to your wants and needs and then offer recommendations as to which properties best match your requirements. You'll have an opportunity to comparison shop and consider the pros and cons of each available property.
A good broker can be the difference between your buying a condo hotel that will be problematic and not live up to your expectations or one that will provide you with years of great vacations, good annual revenue and a substantial profit when you sell.
18. Does it cost more to use a real estate broker to purchase a condo hotel than buying a unit on one's own?
No. With new condo hotel properties, the prices are always set by the developer and are exactly the same whether you buy directly from an onsite salesperson at the property or using a broker.
The broker's commission is always paid by the developer and is already built into the price regardless of whether an outside broker participates in the sale or not. Since a broker's representation is free to buyers, it does make sense to enlist their aid and get the benefit of their advice before making a purchase.
19. How can prospective buyers find a good condo hotel broker?
Ask friends for broker recommendations or search online for "condo hotel broker." Visit condo hotel broker websites and see if the information they provide seems comprehensive and unbiased. If their website seems to focus on selling homes or office space, and the condo hotel information appears to be an afterthought, steer clear. Your best bet is to work with a condo hotel broker who specializes.
20. How can buyers learn about new condo hotel properties coming on the market?
The Boutique Hotel Manager
Boutique Hotel. Just the words get the imagination going. Even before I dog eared the pages of Herbert Ypma's first Hip Hotels book I was fascinated by the world of boutique hotel properties. "How cool would it be to be the general manager of a cool boutique hotel?" I often found asking myself as I flipped through the pages of his magnificent photos. Working hard to make a career out of the hotel industry, I was convinced that I just had to be involved with a boutique hotel someday.
That someday came true, when in 2004 I was invited to be the general manager of what was and still is one of Palm Springs most hip boutique hotels. I left another huge opportunity just to be a part of this amazing world. The art, the design, the vibe. I had never really worked anywhere with a "vibe". A year later and I knew, I knew what many in the hotel business do not...what it is really like to be the gm of a hip, cool boutique hotel. It's not for everyone and amazing for many.
There is a mini storm brewing in the boutique hotel world, one I don't think most involved in this industry are aware of. With more and more boutique hotel operators entering the playground, more and more bad hiring decisions are being made. The right General Mangers are working at the wrong hotels. Like a square peg and a round hole, some things just do not work. Who is to blame and what can be done?
The Boutique Hotel
First let me first tell you that I have a very narrow view of what really constitutes a boutique hotel. I think that the term "Boutique" when used to describe a hotel is often misapplied. A boutique hotel is not defined by simply a hot design, as many would argue.
In my opinion, a boutique hotel is a property that is uniquely significant in four ways:
1. Architecture and Design.
2. A high level of service. A property must not exceed 150 guest rooms, enhancing the guest to staff ratio.
3. Sell to a specific demographic.
4. Are independently owned and operated (this is where some will disagree with me).
A boutique hotel must be an independent operation. The hotel must not be part of a collection that is more than say, 10 properties. Beyond this you get into having a corporate hierarchical management style that is required in running a large company and maintaining brand consistency. Take W Hotels for example. In my opinion these are not boutique hotels. They look like a boutique hotel, even feel like one. Many boutique hotels would strive to be as great as a W. But a W Hotel is run and managed by a massive corporation. The property level management makes very few decisions about what services are offered and how the property is run. A boutique hotel must be operated as close to the actual physical operation as possible. W's and the like are amazing, but in my opinion don't fit the definition of a boutique hotel. Boutique hotels are also constantly re-inventing themselves, making sure that their fickle guest never get bored and look to stay at the latest new, hip and cool property.
Boutique Hotel Guest
Travelers chose to stay at a boutique hotel because of the story, or the experience. The experience is very important and must be unique and somewhat cutting edge. The general demographics are individuals 20 to 50 years of age, work in more creative fields like advertising or entertainment and appreciate a higher level of service. When Ian Schrager entered the market with what many consider to be the first boutique hotel, this demographic discovered that they could use their travel budget get them a room at a cool, hip hotel rather than a generic mid-level branded property. And the boom started.
Boutique hotel guests enjoy experiences, unique architecture, cutting edge interior design and in some cases an urban location. The market is expanding and the demographic model explained earlier is beginning to bleed into others. You might very well find a Fortune 500 CEO staying at a boutique hotel. It is hard to ignore the hype.
Brands vs. Boutiques
Luxury hotel operators are scrambling to avoid losing market share to the boutique world. Some hotels are actually taking the "brand" off their marketing and streamlining their operations so that their properties are authentically boutique. Take the Kahala Mandarin Oriental for example. This famous luxury property recently took Mandarin Oriental away so that they could operate and compete in the new marketplace of more independent hotels. They are now simply "The Kahala" and are working hard to be authentically local and independent of a major brand identification. I think others will follow.
The Boutique Hotel General Manager
For the sake of this publication, I will use the luxury hotel as the comparison to the boutique since most closely associate a boutique hotel with luxury travel. So what is so different about being a general manager at a luxury hotel versus a boutique hotel? Can it really be that different? The basics are the same. The general manager is responsible for the entire day to day operation, hiring decisions, marketing, budgets, forecasting, rate strategy, facility maintenance etc... The key for both types of properties is guest service and guest interaction. The guest at a high end luxury hotel expects to be able to interact with the hotel general manager, as do the guests at a boutique property. It is all high touch.
The difference is that a boutique hotel general manager wears just a few more hats than the luxury general manager. A boutique general manager might be preparing complex budget forecasting spreadsheets at 10am and at 10:30 am be clearing the pool towels from around the hotel's salt water plunge. When was the last time you saw the general manager of the Peninsula Beverly Hills with an arm full of towels? Don't get me wrong, I know that the general manager of the Peninsula would do this in a second, if they had to. The general manager of a boutique hotel HAS to, because there is nobody else. The one server working the restaurant is also probably responsible for taking care of the pool, taking room service orders, delivering the orders and on and on.... The general manager of a boutique hotel is sometimes also the HR director and breaks the front desk agents. If the gm is in California then the gm might find themselves breaking just about every position just to avoid getting sued and fined!
Take this example; you are the GM of a hot boutique property in the desert. The temperature is pushing 118 degrees. Since occupancy during the summer is very low, you encourage a lot of your team to take their vacations so you can get that vacation accrual off your books. One of those who takes you up on this is your chief engineer, one of two engineers for your entire five acre property. He goes home to the motherland, Germany for a week. Now just because it's hot does not mean that you don't have customers. Some tourists seem to love the heat, and so it was with this particular steamy day in August. As the sun begins to set, your guests make their way from the pool to their bungalows. Dusk and 100 degrees, everyone turns on their aged air conditioners full blast so they can cool down. Your only other engineer has gone home for the day. It is at about this time that the calls start coming in. The ac units are freezing up. The old units freeze up when they are turned on full blast. Many blow the circuit breakers. So there you are, in your office doing the forecast for your weekly corporate status report call when the front desk calls you in a panic, "the guests are flipping out" cries your new front desk agent. You check out the calls and see that you need your engineer back on property, but his pre-paid cell phone (you cant afford to pay for a cell phone for him) is out of time -you cant reach him! So what do you do? You head to the rooms to see if you can fix them. Room by room you tackle the challenge of explaining to your sweaty and angry guests why they cant turn their ac on full and that it will take at least two hours for the ice built up around the coils to melt. Then you start looking for the circuit breakers, which are scattered all over the 60 year old property. By the time you reach the last room the guest who answers the door almost screams at the sight of the sweaty, dirty general manager holding a tool box with a dazed look on his face. "Wasn't this the same guy who was pouring us Mimosas at the pool this morning honey?" asks the guest as you begin your repairs. Once the craziness is over you get a call on your cell phone. Yes, it is your engineer returning your call. "You trying to reach me boss?". The next day, while on your conference call you listen to a speech about how general managers need to spend more time with their guests rather than in their offices. Duh, you think as you try to scrub the grit out from under your fingernails.
The financial realities of a boutique hotel are unique. The appearance of three to five star service with a two star budget is the norm, and the gm's get caught in the middle. The boutique hotel just does not have the budget to staff like a true luxury property and everyone has to pull their weight. The gm who does not will not be there long and hate every second of their lives.
Along with the additional sweat and frustration of being a boutique hotel gm are the rewards. For the right individual, they will find that the entrepreneurial management style required of them is highly empowering. The gm can make a lot of decisions on their own, decisions that in a larger corporate hotel would require an approval or worse....committee discussion! The fact that some towels need to be picked up and maybe a drink or two be mixed and served is actually fun to them. The rewards of always being in front of your guests are what most gm's want anyway, but many are not really ready for it when they are tasked to make that happen every day.
So what kind of person would do well as a general manager of a boutique hotel? Answer these questions, if you can say yes to each answer then you will probably really like the challenge. Please note that I am assuming that you are already an experienced manager and qualified to be a general manager.
The 51 Questions
1. You do not need routines to feel successful at work.
2. You can delegate without concern.
3. You can make decisions without committee recommendation.
4. You can spend long hours at work. By long I mean sometimes up to 14 hours at a time.
5. You have no problem spending the night at the property to make sure everything is ok.
6. You don't have a problem delivering luggage to guest rooms (you probably wont have a bellman to do this for you).
7. You can valet park a car.
8. You can re-program guest keys using the key card system.
9. You really enjoy speaking with your guests....REALLY.
10. You can mix a drink and you know who Mr. Boston is.
11. You can run a commercial washing machine.
12. You can re-set a circuit breaker.
13. You can change a flat tire, jump start a car.
14. You can re-set your router. If you don't know what a router is then stop now and re-think any thoughts you have of being a boutique hotel gm. You will not have an on site IT manager to help you!
15. You can check in/ out a guest using the front office system.
16. You can process credit cards and split payments to various folios.
17. You can run the switchboard at the front desk.
18. You can ring in an order using the restaurants POS.
19. You can re-set the restaurant POS.
20. You can program a digital surveillance system.
21. You can type your own memos, send your own e-mails and answer your own phones (this should be true of ANY gm nowadays).
22. You can jump from one project to the next without hesitation.
23. You know what to do when someone has a heart attack in your lobby.
24. You know what to do when someone chokes in your restaurant.
25. You can explain your restaurant menu items as well or better than your servers.
26. You can brew coffee using a commercial coffee machine.
27. You can draw a good cup of espresso.
28. You know the difference between a latte and a cappuccino.
29. You know the temperature requirements for your walk-in and refrigerators. If you don't know what a walk-in is, stop here and think about your career choice.
30. You know what to do when the health inspector shows up. Hint, it is not to grab a handful of cash!
31. You know who to call if your phone system suddenly stops working.
32. You know how to read the history off an electronic guest room lock.
33. You know how to make a bed as well as your best housekeeper.
34. You know what the ph level should be in your wash rinse.
35. You know how to check the chemicals in you pool and Jacuzzi.
36. You know what the interfaces are for each of your hotel software systems.
37. You know how to get guests online using your wireless internet service.
38. You know the difference between an p&l and a balance sheet.
39. You can run a commercial dishwasher.
40. You know your receivables and payables.
41. You know where your housekeeper buys their supplies.
42. You know local city ordinances as they apply to your property.
43. You can deliver a room service order.
44. You can clean a bathroom to 5 star standards.
45. You can fold a towel like your housekeepers.
46. You know where the water and gas mains are, and how to shut them off.
47. You know each of your guest room types.
48. You have no problem befriending your neighboring business and residents.
49. You can write a well researched and accurate month end report.
50. You know how to calculate flow through.
51. Have a number two person who can answer these questions as well.
I task the many boutique hotel companies to ask these questions to gm candidates during the interview process. I know that you will save a lot of time, frustration and lower your turnover rates (higher for general manager positions in boutique hotels).
If you are a boutique hotel company I would also ask you to make sure that you do the following for your hotel general managers, ensuring their success and lowering your gm turnover:
1. Don't hire an experience luxury (non-boutique hotel) general manger unless they can answer yes or actually commit to learning the answer to each of the prior 51 questions.
2. Train, train and train your new gm's on the property they are going to. Make sure they know everything before you "turn them loose".
3. Pay them a fair wage, maybe even a bit more than fair. Boutique hotel companies seem to think they can attract new gm's who maybe were a number two at a larger property, convince them that it is "cool" to be a part of your company and pay them less than the industry standard. This just makes your new gm start listening to those headhunter calls (they call hotel gm's a lot!) with offers of much higher salaries back in the "comfort" zone of a branded hotel.
4. Understand what goes on in the life of a boutique hotel gm. Most boutique hotel corporate staff have never been a gm at a real boutique hotel and have no idea what it is like. Get to know what happens on property.
5. Insist that your gm's take time off. It is easy for your gm to get wrapped up in the operation and start working 7 days a week. This will just burn them out. Figure out a way to get them the time with their families they need to stay sane, married etc...
6. Don't call them on their day off unless it is an emergency. If you don't know what days your gm's are off then shame on you.
7. Don't be double minded. Don't show up one day and berate the gm for the pool deck needing re-surfacing and then two days later come down on them for requesting the funds to make property repairs.
8. Give them realistic budgets, and if you sell a bonus during the interview process, make sure it is realistic.
9. Give them the same "perks" that gm's in large hotel properties get. You can skip the car allowance, but at least offer dry cleaning and travel privileges at your other properties.
10. Talk to them often. Really talk to them, don't talk at them. Listen to what is going on.
11. If you tell them that "we are an entrepreneurial company" and that gm's can "make their own decisions" and then second guess every decision they make you need to re-think your message.
12. Make sure you give them the ability to hire a strong #2. One of the reasons your gm's leave for other companies is because most boutique hotel companies don't give their properties the budgets to have a number two, so they have nobody to take their place if other in-company opportunities come up. This is the old and very tired "to move up you have to move out" dynamic that kills us in the hotel industry.
13. That takes me to this point---set out to develop bench strength. Have leaders waiting in the wings to take positions as you grow. If you don't you will end up "borrowing" leaders from each of your properties to open your newest. This leaves your existing properties, already running lean on management with an over worked and stressed out group of leaders and staff. Make this a priority.
14. Thank your gm's. This is a no-brainer but a much forgot important task as a hotel company. THANK YOUR GM's. This goes for any hotel company. Your general managers get beat up a lot. By unhappy staff, guests and you. You hit them with constant "notes" on how to perform better. Make sure to balance the coaching with praise.
The point?
So what is the point to all of this? The boutique hotel general manager, in my opinion is a completely different job than a general manager at a full service luxury property. But unfortunately the two are muddled together in a basket full of un-attainable expectations.
I think that the boutique hotel general manager should have a new title-- I leave this up to the boutique hotel companies and the creative genius that drives their brands.
At the end of the day, a title is really not important, but the expectations are. Make sure you understand your role as a boutique hotel general manager or the role your general managers play at your boutique hotels. Make certain that as you take a job or when hire them, they know what a boutique hotel manager really is.
Hotels in Athens Greece
Q. = I made a reservation for a hotel in Athens Greece form a list of Athens hotels or Greek hotels a travel agent or an internet site suggested to me. After getting there to my surprise the hotel did not meet the standards which was told I will be getting. Example there is no swimming pool, no private WC, and no tennis courts. Is the Athens hotel owner or Greek hotel owner responsible?
A. = The responsibility towards the consumer is entirely the organizer's and/or the travel agency's, that is to say the tourist agent, from which the customer bought the organized travel package, and this is even for the services that are not produced or provided by the organizer and or travel agent directly, but by other collaborating enterprises (example, hotels, organized excursions, transportation services, etc). Therefore beware when reserving a Athens hotel from an internet site.
Q. = What is the procedure to reserve a room or an apartment in one of the Athens hotels or in the Greek hotels in general?
A. = Customers should communicate with the owner or management of Athens hotels or Greek hotels and make his reservation request by phone or fax or email or by telegraph.
Q. = What is the usual procedure to make sure that a request has been accepted?
A. = Within 3 days, owners or management of the Athens hotels or Greek hotels in general, who are interested in your reservation should send you an answer to let you know if they accept the reservation for renting any of their rooms or apartments requested by the customers. Owners should answer in writing or by telegraph or email or by fax stating that they accept the reservation requested by the clients.
Q. = I made an inquiry about a couple of reservations I need in hotels in Athens Greece. What is a fair deposit one should pay for reservations in Athens hotels or in Greek hotels in general?
A. = The owners of Athens hotels or Greek hotels can ask an advance of up to 25% of the total of price of the stay for all the days reserved. The deposit though should not be inferior to the rent of one day. The reservation is considered complete with the payment of the deposit that was determined and with the written acceptance of the reservation by the hotel owner.
Q. = I made couple of reservations for different hotels in Athens
Greece. Can I cancel the reservations I made for any or some of the Athens hotels or generally Greek hotels?
A. = When one reserves rooms or apartments part of a complex of any Athens hotels or Greek hotels, to be used for a predetermined time period and the rooms are used for part of the period, the customer has to compensate the Athens hotel owner with half the price that was agreed for the period that was not used by the customer.
Q. = What if the customer informs in writing at least 21 days before the reservation dates that he has changed his plans?
A. = If the customer informs in writing the owner of any Athens hotels at least 21 days before the reservation dates, then the customer is exempted from the compensation he has to pay. The owner of any Athens hotels is obliged to return the deposit that was collected.
Q. = Should we understand that any reservation can be cancelled
21 days prior to the time of arrival and the customers are legible for full refund?
A. = Yes, this is correct.
Q. = I stayed overnight in a hotel in Athens Greece. I really liked this place and don't want to leave this hotel which is cheaper than the other Athens hotels or generally Greek hotels. Do I have to leave?
A. = The renting of Athens rooms or Athens apartments part of a Greek hotel complex is considered to be for one day only, unless otherwise agreed between hotel owner and customer.
Q. = Concerning hotels in Athens Greece or Greek hotels, at what time does one have to leave Athens hotels or generally Greek hotels so that extra charges don't occur?
A. = In the case that the Athens hotel owner or the customer wants to dissolve the lease agreement, the customer is obliged to vacate the Athens rooms or Athens apartments which are part of a Greek hotel complex not later than 12 o'clock noon. By staying in the rooms or apartments beyond 12 o'clock noon and not later than 18:00 o'clock the customer is obliged to pay half the rent. If the customer stays in the premises after 18:00 o'clock, he is obliged to pay the rent for the whole day. If the customer denies paying the rent, then the owner has the right to remove from the rooms or apartments, the customer's and his luggage and or belongings.
Q. = I made a couple of reservations for Athens hotels in Greece. I will be arriving late in some of them. Do I have to pay for the whole day for renting these Athens hotels or generally Greek hotels?
A. = The predetermined day of arrival is calculated entirely as for the rent, not taking into consideration the time of arrival. So if you arrive say 1:00 am or at any time, you will have to pay for the whole day. The day of departure is not calculated, unless the customer does not vacate the room. He should vacate the room not later than 12 o'clock noon.
Q. = After making a reservation from a list of Athens hotels in Athens Greece, at my surprise there was a mix-up... The owner of one of the Athens hotels informs me that I don't have a place to stay at the specific Athens hotel or Greek hotel? What are my rights?
A. =. The Athens hotel owner owes to have the rooms or apartments which are part of a Greek hotel complex, and which the customer reserved either by means of some type of writing, telegraph, fax, or email or with a contract.
Q. = What happens if the owner of one of the Athens hotels does not have the accommodation?
A. = If the owner does not have the accommodation which is reserved, the Athens hotel owner is obliged to ensure the customers' stay in an other Greek hotel of same at least class, in the same city, and with the same comforts and conditions as those that are advertised for his own Athens hotel. Also in this case, the owner of one of the Athens hotels owes to pay the expenses of transport and the difference in price that by any chance may exists between his own hotel and the other one. If it is not possible to find an alternative hotel, the owner is obliged to refund the customer with the total of price of the stay for the whole period. It is prohibited for the owner of any Athens hotels or Greek hotels to accept a reservation from a group where more beds are needed that the ones the hotel is licensed for. If the owner accepts a reservation for more beds than what he is permitted, a demotion of the hotel category to an inferior class for one year may take place.
Q. = After getting to the hotel which I reserved from a list of Athens hotels in Greece, in the same area I found a better and cheaper hotel down the road. Should I pay for the rest of my reservation with first Athens hotel or generally Greek hotel?
A. = If a room is leased for a certain time, the Athens hotel owner doesn't have the right to cancel the lease before the agreed time period, unless the customer: a) violates the hotel regulations b) has a disease or illness that is contagious or is suffering from other illness or disease that may cause nuisance to the remaining customers of the hotel c) Violates the common manners.
Respectively the customer has to: a) Accept the Athens room or Athens apartment which is part of the hotel complex that was reserved by himself or by his representative, unless this is not what he reserved. b) Keep the Athens apartment or room up to the end of reservation period that was agreed, otherwise the customer is obliged to compensate the owner with the sum equal to half the rent of all the rest of the days that were reserved, where the daily rent is the agreed price of an overnight stay. All of the above may also take effect in the case where the customer did not arrive at the Greek hotel at the predetermined date of arrival, except in extreme cases such as acts of god example earth quakes etc, and which has to be proved with concrete evidence. The lease agreement between Athens hotel owner and customer is considered fair and powerful, provided that there exists relative documentation or evidence, example a written reservation confirmation.
This article is designed to help customer who have questions about Athens hotels, or hotels in Athens or Greek hotels or hotel apartments and rooms. If you think there is something fishy about your reservation you can contact, E.O.T the Greek organization of tourism or the tourist police in Athens Greece.
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