December 3, 2009

A Rich List Of Hotels

The leading business publisher, Forbes (of ‘Rich List’ fame) recently announced its experts’ pick of Europe’s most luxurious hotels.

Among them are the following six which are available to book at the best rates through Luxique. Alongside is a snapshot of the jury’s verdict:

Le Meurice Paris: ‘Modern elegance, with the opulence of Versailles.’

Claridge’s, London: ‘The destination of choice for the world’s celebrities and royals.’

Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, St Jean Cap Ferrat, France: ‘A legendary hotel that epitomises and exudes old-world glamour, while simultaneously offering modern amenities for today’s discerning traveller.”

Hotel Adlon Berlin: ‘An historic masterpiece, in a prime location, provoking a sense of awe upon arrival.’

Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, Budapest: ‘Behind the opulent and grand façade lies the fully restored 19th-century spa where guests can enjoy anything from a mud or seaweed bath to an array of full-body wraps.’

Villa d’Este, Lake Como, Italy: ‘A much-vaunted palazzo hotel that has dazzled royalty, celebrities, billionaires and chic in-the-know jetsetters for more than a century.’

by Andy Moreton, with acknowledgements to Richard Carnell of Forbes.com.

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July 28, 2009

Grin And Bear It

The French are seemingly coming round to the view that tourists deserve to be greeted with a smile.

Hard on the heels of the Japanese company that’s using technology to measure the smiles of its employees, the Paris tourist board has set up stands at popular tourist areas staffed by ‘smile ambassadors’.

Officials are worried that it’s the Parisians’ reputation (deserved or undeserved) for unfriendliness, as well as the economic downturn, that’s led to a 17 per cent drop in visitor numbers this year. A recent survey found Paris to be the most over-rated city in Europe, with people citing its high prices and disagreeable residents.

“We have to work on striking and simple images. There’s nothing as telling as a smile,” said Paul Roll, who heads the tourist board.

Another tourism official, Daniel Fasquelle, said that French from all walks of life needed to play their part if tourism was to remain a major economic sector.

“It’s the American tourist lost in Paris that we inform politely, it’s the English person looking for the way in northern France who we don’t get impatient with by honking our car horns,” he said.

by Andy Moreton

You’ll find the friendliest of welcomes at all the varied luxury and boutique hotels in Paris listed on Luxique.com.

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