Sunday 9 April 2017

World's Top Ten Greatest Hotels

World's Top Ten Greatest Hotels
Welcome to the fold as we collectively peep into the hotel choices of the rich and famous who stop at nothing to ensure they enjoy first class treatment at all times.

1. The Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai
This awe-inspiring edifice, one of the most photographed in the world, was built on a small artificial island into the sea to make it look like the huge sail of an Arabian dhow. Each suite spans two floors with fantastic views and everything within is exquisite and state-of-the art. There is an attached heliport where choppers can take off and land with guests. Hanging tennis courts are also available for brave tennis buffs and the entertainment and dining options are out of this world. Personal butlers are available around the clock and chauffeur driven Rolls Royce limousines also ferry hotel guests around town on request.

Use the link below for bookings and more information about hotels in Dubai
https://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?city=-782831



2. The Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
This magnificent hotel was built at great cost with close to 400 rooms and suites as well as dozens of conference halls to satisfy the yearnings of royalty and the creme de la creme of society. It has a beautiful white sand beach and very many pools and fountains. The suites are lavishly furnished with marble walls and floors as well as hundreds of crystal chandeliers. The suites, rooms and the spas are fully equipped with all the latest gadgets to provide as much comfort as possible to the hotel's exclusive clients.
Use the following link for bookings and more information about hotels in Abu Dhabi

3.  The Mardan Palace Hotel, Antalya, Turkey
This very impressive hotel with one of the largest swimming pools in the world is also among the most luxurious in Europe. There are also very many bars and dining halls, a fully equipped spa and a sunken aquarium containing lots of exotic fish.The suites are lavishly decorated with gold leaf, Italian marble and crystal chandeliers. The beach was enhanced with special white sand imported from Egypt and a personal butler service is available around the clock.


Use the following link for bookings and more information about hotels in Turkey.
https://www.booking.com/country/tr.en-gb.html


4. The Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas.
This is the number one destination for wealthy pleasure seekers heading for the Bahamas. Its flagship is the Royal Towers Bridge Suite on the 23rd floor with very high ceilings, full length windows, a whirlpool, a beautifully furnished dining room,all kinds of entertainment and a staff of seven to provide everything you need.
















Use the following link for bookings and more information about hotels in The Bahamas  https://www.booking.com/country/bs.en-gb.html.


5. The Palms, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
This massive hotel is famous for its rooftop suites, hanging rooftop Jacuzzi, private glass elevators, rotating beds, fully equipped gyms, saunas and bars to make your stay as pleasurable as ever.


Use the following link for bookings and more information about hotels in Las Vegas
https://www.booking.com/city/us/las-vegas.en-gb.html


6. CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa, Anguilla
This paradise-looking resort was originally built to satisfy the very high tastes of its owner who later changed his mind and decided to expand the facility to let others share in the fun. It offers very many luxury rooms and villas, a beautiful beach, the world-class Venus Spa and Fitness Complex as well as a golf course designed by Greg Norman. It is a great hideaway for celebrities who cherish their privacy.

                                                                      











Use the following link for bookings and more information about hotels in Anguilla
https://www.booking.com/country/ai.en-gb.html


7. The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
This hotel is over a hundred years old but it has been kept up to date through refurbishments and great renovations. Its flagship is the Villa la Cupola Suite which spans two floors with grand old style furniture, a private fitness room, a dining hall, sauna, steam bath and Jacuzzi. It is a favourite destination for those who do not mind spending lots of dough for their pleasure.
This exclusive hotel located in Manhattan is the choice destination for celebrities and wealthy folks visiting the Big Apple. Its flagship is the Royal Plaza Suite which boasts of the best views of downtown Manhattan, an old-world furnished three bedroom/three bathroom suite, a classic dining hall, a gym, a library, a complete kitchen and pantry, a butler service and private elevator.

This magnificent hotel was an ancient royal castle which has been restored to even surpass its former glory. Its six bedroom presidential suite is well appointed with Italian marble floors, crystal chandeliers, expensive Persian rugs, impressive dining room, theatre, library and a dedicated kitchen staff over four floors to see to all your needs. At $45,000 per night, it is definitely not for your average Joe.

Use the following link for bookings and more information about hotels in India. 
https://www.booking.com/country/in.en-gb.html


10. The Grand Hyatt, Cannes, France
This plush hotel is a favourite hangout for Hollywood celebrities who flock to France annually for the Cannes Film Festival. It has a great view of the Mediterranean coast with a beautiful private beach.

If you win a prize of a one week all expenses paid trip for you and your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend or partner to any of these hotelswhich one of them will you choose? Kindly let me know. Thanks                          
Anthony Iduh is a freelance writer


Sunday 2 April 2017

Hotels and Hospitality




HOTELS AND HOSPITALITY
Introduction:
Can anyone imagine how life could possibly have been before hotels came into existence? Well, I believe it should rather be imagined than experienced. You probably travel to a distant location with no way to make it back to your home base that same day. You have no friend or acquaintance in the strange place either, even though your pockets are bulging with more than enough cash or rather, your MasterCard, Visa or American Express card is right there with you. What to do? Your guess is as good as mine. What you simply need is a hotel to lay your head.

Hotels are Essential for Various Reasons:
A hotel, which is sometimes referred to as “Home away from home,” is a highly essential aspect of modern life. It is important to today's hospitality industry and comes in different forms, sizes and classes. Based on forms or types, they fall into different categories. There are the commercial hotels, usually located in busy business districts to cater to the needs of transient businessmen and women who stay for a few days or less. Their location downtown makes them easily accessible to the head offices of banks and insurance companies, retail outlets and departmental stores.

Airport hotels are often sighted close to airports to serve airline passengers and crews who might need to pass a night or two due to delayed or cancelled flights or other reasons. People who prefer a homely hotel with a separate bedroom, living room and kitchen will normally go for a suite hotel. Residential hotels also are suite-type hotels which offer long-term or semi-permanent accommodation to guests.
Other hotel types are the resort hotels which provide sports activities like golfing, bowling, swimming and tennis to vacationers; small bed and breakfast hotels whose owners usually reside on the premises to provide breakfast for guests; casino hotels which offer gambling facilities; and conference hotels which are designed to handle large groups of people who might require a sizable conference centre in-house.

Classifications for Hotels:
Based on size or number of guestrooms, hotels can be classified as small, medium, large or extra-large. Small hotels are those that have less than 150 guestrooms; medium sized hotels would have between 150 to 299 rooms while hotels with between 300 to 600 rooms would be considered large. There are also extra-large hotels with over 600 guestrooms. Going by the International Tourism Organization ratings which are dependent on the quality of service provided, a hotel is classified as 5-star or deluxe if it offers excellent services; 4-star or first class if it offers very good services; 3-star or standard if the services are simply good; or economy when its services are limited to bare necessities. But, the Burj Al-Arab in Dubai is said to be the only 7-star hotel in the world although that is yet to be universally acknowledged.

What to Look For:
For the average hotel guest anywhere in the world, the main things he or she would often look forward to are smooth arrangements regarding booking, reservation or registration as the case may be, and checking in or checking out. Friendly and servile staff from the manager to the cleaners is always a plus any day and good food, choice drinks and a relaxed atmosphere are a must. Rooms should be equipped with at least a fixed line telephone, television and internet facilities to satisfy both communication and entertainment needs. A good size refrigerator is also necessary.

Also, there is no gainsaying that any decent hotel should have a parking lot with ample space for vehicles; some greenery in the form of flower gardens and lawns, an unencumbered driveway and in most cases an impressive main building. With the façade staring at you as you arrive the premises; you go through the main entrance and vestibule to be greeted by a friendly porter, and a spacious well-appointed and ventilated lobby, lounge or reception area.

You are beckoned to the front desk by a courteous front desk officer who meticulously registers and welcomes you to your temporary home while giving you the keys to your room. After dropping off your luggage in your new 'crib' upstairs, you head back downstairs via the same neat and efficient elevator to the bar, restaurant or café either for some refreshing drinks or for dinner. The bar or restaurant setting is complemented by soothing music and a good mixture of local and out-of-town guests who are just out to have fun.

To whet your appetite, continental dishes or local ones should be available on demand. Shopping can be done in an in-house boutique, jewelers, tobacco shop or newspapers stand. Throw in a bureau de change, a casino, a ballroom or conference hall, as well as a real nightclub and you have everything in place for a really great time. Depending on your mood, you can stroll to the bandstand, barbecue stand, tennis courts or mini-golf course in order to participate in some other fun activities.

All facilities including toilets, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry and service elevators should be spic and span, properly maintained and in tip-top shape. Trash cans, garbage bins or dumpsters should be readily available and well-positioned too to prevent littering. Oops! Let's not forget a well-organized taxi stand, a gift shop, an accessible hotel manager and a tight unobtrusive security set up. You will always want to come back again and again.
 Question:
If you find yourself in a far-off city for one reason or another; maybe for a football game, a concert, an exhibition, a seminar or just sightseeing and you missed your flight, train or bus back home that day. How would you pass the night?
A. At the home of a relative B. At a girlfriend or boyfriend's apartment
C. In a nightclub till daybreak D. In a shelter for the homeless E. In a sleeping bag at the venue
F. In an affordable hotel. Give me a reason for your choice. Thanks
                                                                            Anthony Iduh is a freelance writer













World's Top Ten Greatest Hotels

World's Top Ten Greatest Hotels Welcome to the fold as we collectively peep into the hotel choices of the rich and famous who stop at ...