A review from a Business traveller
Won me over in the end - A super review from a business traveler
It’s got a comfortable lobby, the location is great, you can walk to bars and restaurants, and it’s easy to get a cab. I’d much rather spend $200 than $400 in that situation. And they’re adding the style elements so you’re not feeling like you’re staying in a budget place. Ms. MacPhail, about Courtyard Chicago, a selected service hotel.
Both Annette and I have a past as business travellers with countless nights in 5 star business hotels.
We agreed in everything when we read Martha C. White’s article in The New York Times – about a new kind of business hotels that were spreading in the US.
Every time we have stayed in one, we would have preferred the more casual and relaxed hotels we stay in when we travel on our own.
So right from the start we wanted to create a space where business travellers and back packers meet.
Yesterday we arrived too late to reach our connecting flight from Istanbul to Kathmandu. So we are now staying in Turkish Airlines partner Kaya Istanbul with 5 Stars, lots of rooms with room service and minibar. We would have preferred to stay in one of our favorit hotels in Down Town.
What we prefer are 1) Location, 2) basic conveniences & 3) cozy common areas where you meet people.
Won me over in the end
When we woke up today jet lagged & stressed and opened our computers to check bookings there was an new review in our mailbox. Won me over in the end it said and continued:
I was worried that it would be trying to hard to be cool. But it was really just as nice as the other reviews indicate. The rooms are all different; none of them are perfect, but they all have a lot of character.
The emphasis on cozy common areas is a refreshing change from a lot of hotels that encourage you to just huddle in your room (but you can still just huddle in your room -- it's fine). The views are really stunning. My stay wasn't problem-free, but it is amazing that whenever there is a problem the staff goes flat-out until it is dealt with; I mean have seen good service before, but these people are taking it to extremes.
The emphasis on cozy common areas is a refreshing change from a lot of hotels that encourage you to just huddle in your room (but you can still just huddle in your room -- it's fine). The views are really stunning. My stay wasn't problem-free, but it is amazing that whenever there is a problem the staff goes flat-out until it is dealt with; I mean have seen good service before, but these people are taking it to extremes.
If it wasn’t for this very inconvenient stopover we probably wouldn’t have had the chance to give this review an extra thought. Not only have we had the time to read it, but because of the hotel we are staying in we’ve also had an occasion to reflect on what we do: We are doing the right things. At least for business travellers who likes what we like.
And more important: Tings may not be the best hotel in Lisbon. But our staff is. Which gives us an occasion to shout out to them.
RESPECT
Annette & Thomas