Does Your Hotel meet the Definition of Luxury?

How does one define luxury? Luxury cannot be a necessity, if it was it would lose its charm of some thing that is not available commonly or to all for that matter. Luxury is something way beyond necessity or essentials; it is something that caters to the desirability thirst of the human being. This is precisely what luxury hotels fulfil- thirst and desire. They provide the guest with a relatively higher quality experience. Luxury hotels could be beach hotels, resort hotels or city hotels.

 With the availability of surplus spendable income in the pockets of travelling public, the industry saw an explosion in the expectations of guests. The scenario provided a window of opportunity to exploit, as the people were willing to pay a premium for an exclusive and exciting product. This acted as a catalyst to the emergence of the concept of creating services and product beyond the expectations of a guest. Luxury hotels surfaced.

The industry saw chain as well as independent hotels create an exclusive niche product for this specific user segment and termed it as luxury hotels. To distinguish luxury hotels from the regular hotels, they were classified as five Star Deluxe Hotels or Luxury hotels.

Luxury Hotels - A Class Apart

While physically, the product remains almost the same as a five star hotel but it is qualitatively far more superior in product standards and style. The lobby is warm, rich and inviting with a touch of class, the elevators are well decorated in mahogany with rich inlaid Italian marble flooring. Floor corridors become more cosy and intimate and the hotels room- well, very plush with rich carpets, luxurious fabrics and high-end fixtures and furniture. The rooms are provided with TV's, music, electronic do not disturb and clean my room signs etc to list a few.

 
The bathrooms also get a make over. Luxury hotels provide a minimum of 5-fixture bathrooms fitted with ultra high end and branded fittings and fixtures. Most bathrooms have the provision of a bathtub and enclosed shower cubicle. The floor is adorned with expensive granite or Italian marble and so are the walls. The bathroom also have a HDTV and speakers for music.

The super fine linen, on the bed and in the bathrooms, enhances the quality of comfort. Branded amenities are provided to reinforce hotels commitment to quality, winning guest's appreciation and confidence.

Luxury hotels and resorts have at least one specialty cuisine fine dining restaurant in addition to an upscale coffee shop. The Bar is relaxing and soothing and generally have a club lounge atmosphere with finest labels on the shelf and in the cellar. The qualitative aspects are reflected in the service and presentation style of food and beverages. The attempt in a luxury hotel is to attain perfection with continuous improvement and evolution.

Staff of a luxury hotel is very well trained in not only their technical traits but also in the guest interactions. Courteousness, care and compassion are virtues that they practise and perfect. They are trained to address all guests by their names, making the interaction personal.

The emphasis in a luxury hotel is to ensure that the guest gets a real good and memorable experience of his stay in the hotel, something that will make him feel nostalgic. As we walk ahead, the definition of luxury keeps on changing, forcing industry to constantly redefine the term adding further luxuries to luxury.

Ram Gupta is a professional hospitality consultant with over four decades of experience in Asia, Far East, Middle East and Europe. He has been associated with over two dozen hotel projects. His web site can be viewed at http://www.bcgglobal.com and can be contacted at ramgupta@bcgglobal.com