THE 12 ELEMENTS OF HOTEL EXCELLENCE

Some people dream of destinations, I dream of luxury hotels.

What really defines luxury in a hotel? Which of those fine details and characteristics that consist a 5-star hotel have that WOW-factor that makes your heart skip a beat?

Should there is something better than a woman who travels, then that would be a woman who knows how to travel – a woman who acknowledges excellence, fine quality and high-standard services.
That is who I am. I live and breathe for high quality in every aspect of my life.

I often get asked: What makes the ideal hotel for you?

Is it the location? The high-quality services offered? Its design and interior decoration? Is it the incredible food, a well-organized spa or its people and the customer service? Well, my answer would be: ALL OF THE ABOVE. That makes a great hotel in my opionion. The hotel that makes me feel more than a guest.

The ideal hotel for me would be the one that feels exactly like home.

I've spent more than half of my career traveling while I've also spent thousands of hours inside a hotel room. That is the reason why I am able to define luxury - and I can do so justly and quite strictly.

My 12 elements of Hotel Excellence are the result of all these years of visiting luxurious hotels around the world. They are also the perfect opportunity to launch my brand new Youtube Video – a new era for my blog begins by presenting those 12 elements through a wonderful video, filmed at the historical Hotel Grande Bretagne – a hotel synonymous with excellence and exquisite quality.

THE 12 ELEMENTS OF HOTEL EXCELLENCE

1. THE FINEST FIRST IMPRESSION

You never get a second chance in making an excellent first impression. That is of great importance when it comes to a luxury hotel. There's more than meets the eye – beyond its design and decoration what really steals a guest's heart are the people;

The very first contact and your very first impression should always be perfect!

2. THE WOW FACTOR

Right after the first impression, comes the WOW factor.

That is more than an overall feeling, rather than an actual impression. That is the feeling you get after entering a beautiful room – a fresh, neat and comfortable room. The excitement you get after seeing a perfectly-made Queen Bed welcoming you. The WOW factor should be an essential part for every luxurious hotel – it is definitely an essential element of success.

3. ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Details DO make a huge difference.

You can tell when there is special attention to detail. Luxury lies beyond bedazzlement; you can find it in those fine details that represent high standards and excellence in customer service.

4. EXCLUSIVITY & PERSONALISATION

Every guest should feel unique. That is the nature of a hotel guest, especially the one who happily accepts the high cost of services provided by a luxurious hotel. Τhe quality and quantity of the services should not only be of the highest level - there should be the element of personalisation provided too.
After all, that is what will emotionally "bind" the guest with the hotel and ultimately, bring him back.

5. SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

There are but a few hotels that offer a complete shopping experience inside their facilities - most of them include a simple souvenir shop. When a hotel provides a luxury boutique hall right at its own lobby, you know that great services are being offered.A visitor's needs often go beyond than the amenities of his room.

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6. LEGENDARY SERVICE

A luxury hotel’s service should be more than flawless – it should be unique. Not only by the aspect of quality but more importantly, service-wise. Α hotel’s personnel are its very image – the face it shows to the world. They are the people struggling behind the scenes with a smile on their faces, a positive vibe shining through their every action.

Customer service is exremely demanding, therefore there should be a careful selection of people who will be dedicated in offering their knowledge on that part. It is an overall experience including every aspect of hotel life from the room to the fitness studio. Every link of this chain is tied in providing exceptional service and to do that, it is essential to love doing so.

A deep understanding of the importance of hiring and training the right people to offer those services to its guests, helps the hotel achieve an extraordinary experience.

7. APPROPRIATE LOCATION

Location plays an important role. A traveler pays special attention to a hotel’s location since it is vital to be easily accessible, situated near the city centre. An excellent hotel room view is equally important. Note that offering a 360° view is what makes a hotel truly stand out, making it an ideal choice for every luxury traveler.

8. EXCEPTIONAL DINING

For someone living inside a hotel, like I do, having the opportunity to enjoy fine dining, unsurpassed services in a magnificent atmosphere is of the essence.
There are hotel guests that pay no special attention to a hotel’s cuisine. Those are not frequent travelers or they simply choose a hotel based on other criteria rather than its gastronomic experience. A luxury hotel guest puts high in its priority list the quality of the hotel’s restaurant.

9. QUALITY & AESTHETICS

Both the quality and aesthetics are of the essence when it comes to a luxury hotel.

If a guest is familiar with the concept of a luxury hotel, it won’t be difficult to identify them right away. Aesthetics win a guest’s heart since they are deeply appreciated, contributing into the personalised experience every hotel should offer. Quality on the other hand is the one thing that will make a guest reserve another stay and return over and over again.

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10. HARMONIOUS DESIGN

Harmony. The element that reveals excellence and special care. The interior design of a hotel tells so much for its character – the one thing that wins a guest’s heart from the first second. That is the importance of every detail being harmonious from the finest to the biggest.

11. SERENITY & RELAXATION

A traveler seeks a wide range of experiences when visiting a luxury hotel therefore it should be considered a guest’s nest, providing serene and relaxing sentiments. Spa services are essential for hotels of this category. I personally cherish facilities such as the fitness center, spa and the pool. They are perfect to re-energize your mind at the end of the day whether you are traveling for business or pleasure.

12. HOME AWAY FROM HOME

What a wonderful feeling.

Feeling at home when actually being a thousand miles away from home. It is particularly important to provide that kind of feeling to every hotel guest since everyone’s hime is considered the best place in the world. When actually feeling that inside a hotel room, it definitely categorizes it as the best hotel in the world!