As an economically conscious business traveler who rarely stays at five star hotel properties, when it does happen, it’s quite memorable. Superior hospitality isn’t just about the first impression upon entering a hotel lobby or a fancy room. It goes far beyond that and manifests throughout your entire stay.
This past weekend I arrived in Mumbai, India, after a bleary-eyed 15-hour direct flight. Feeling exhausted from the journey (and all the procedures to exit the airport), it was great to see our drivers from the hotel and their immaculately shiny and roomy black SUV’s. This service was provided free of charge to our team of seven given our frequent visits to India and our long three-week stay.
After the hour-long ride, we arrived at the hotel and were warmly greeted at the door with a necklace of fresh flowers (like a Hawaiian lei). The check-in staff had already taken care of the paperwork for us and as we sat comfortably in the lobby, we quickly had room keys in our hands. How fabulous!
Next, upon entering our room, there were rose petals artfully strewn on our bathroom vanity. Next to them, there were dishes containing sandalwood powder and rose infused water, along with directions on how to make a moisturizing mask for your face and body. Needless to say, I dived right in and felt refreshed.
