What can you expect from a hotel?
A good night's sleep perhaps. A morning paper. A bar for a drink to unwind before bed, and an eatery to fill up to start your day.
Well, maybe that's life among the Motel 6 set. In the world of upscale hotel hospitality, it's Surprise Central-styled Pow! that they're selling.
A piece on Starwood Hotels and Resorts' Le Meridien chain in this month's Fast Company examines the group's commitment to shock-and-awe. The initiative is being led by Sr. VP Eva Zeigler, who is recruiting a lineup of artists to come up with everything from limited-edition designer room keys to hands-on cuisine workshops to a custom-created cacaphonic "soundtrack" to greet customers in the lobby. Says Henri Scars Struck, who composed said soundscape:
"The goal is to Surprise."
Equally as Pow!-worthy are the ultra-specialized concierges revealed in a story in Time Magazine. Never mind tickets to the ballgame or a table at that hot bistro, these people can:
--Arrange for dog walks and special food
(the Pet Concierge at London's Milestone Hotel)
--Fix a cozy fire with selections from a log menu
(the Fireplace Butler at the Taj Boston)
--Take you for a sightseeing run
(the Running Companion at Pittsburgh's Westin Convention Center)--Uh...recommend soaps
(uh huh, the Soap Steward at Mexico's Tides Riviera Maya Resort)
Somewhere, the guy who coined Holiday Inn's slogan "The Best Surprise is No Surprise" is rolling in his grave.