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Private airport lounges are a recognized godsend to business travelers who typically spend hours at a time waiting in airports. Now luxury hotels are spotting the benefits and are offering exclusive hotel club lounges as a perk for those upgrading their room.

Sheraton hotel chain has just spent $100 million upgrading 120 club lounges for their Preferred Guest members after feedback showed that concierge or executive lounges were a sought-after perk for regular business and leisure guests.

They offer a quieter and more comfortable club environment than the hotel bar or restaurant and include wireless Internet, showers and free newspapers. They are seen as a great place to chill out and mix with like-minded travelers over complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres or continental breakfast. In addition, club lounges are ideal for arranging private business meetings or for killing time in a comfortable environment between checking out of their room and departing for a later flight. Women travelers feel particularly safe as the lounges are only accessible using a hotel room key.

Guests will increasingly be offered this new perk in luxury hotel chains such as the Four Seasons, St Regis, Fairmont, Starwood, Ritz Carlton, Hyatt, Marriott and Sheraton hotels.

by Gillian

How much value do you put on hotel rewards programs? While some travelers are almost obsessive-compulsive in their dedication to collecting air miles and hotel reward points, others simply collect them all and any benefit derived is simply considered a lucky bonus. NextAdvisor decided to calculate the cash value of various luxury hotel rewards programs and their findings threw up some interesting results.

The means for determining the cash value of points was ascertained by comparing the cost of a night’s stay in the peak season in a major US city with the number of points required for such a freebie, thereby getting an actual dollar value per point. NextAdvisor also ran the same scenario for air miles by calculating the value of a free flight using frequent flyer points. They ran the trial on most major US-based programs to compare the best value loyalty schemes.

The simple evaluation showed that Starwood Preferred Guest Program offered the best value in cash terms. This scheme rewards guests staying in Starwood-operated luxury hotels such as Le Meridien, W hotels, St Regis and Sheraton hotels with points which are worth $0.021 each. When double or treble points are offered on promotions, assuming one point per dollar spent, this can add up to 6% discount on the booking. In comparison, other programs such as Marriott Rewards offered points worth $0.008 and Hilton HHonors points were worth just $0.005.

The same value system was also applied to airline points and Southwest Rapid Rewards scheme came top with points worth $0.017 compared to United Mileage plus points which are worth $0.011 when redeemed against a flight, and Delta was slightly lower at $0.01.

Most interesting to American Airlines AAdvantage miles collectors is the fact that the points are worth more if spent on a hotel than if they are used for free flights. Similarly those high value Starwood Preferred Guest points are only worth $0.012 when used against a flight.

by Gillian

As California rolls out the red carpet treatment for the royal visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, luxury hotels in California are getting in on the act. Several hotels are offering special royal packages to celebrate William and Kate’s visit to California in July.

Mission Inn and Spa

This leading Fairmont hotel in Sonoma has put together a Royal Wedding Celebration Package for under $1500. It includes a night for two in the Presidential Suite, a romantic dinner served in the suite, bathrobes, champagne and caviar and a couple’s massage. Guests also get a souvenir coffee table book of the Royal Wedding to take away.

Maison 140

Want to share a celebration with family and friends? Maison 140 is offering the entire hotel for up to 50 guests for those wanting to truly live it up like royalty. The splendid overnight package includes a champagne welcome, high tea, a cocktail reception and dinner at the Petrossian Restaurant. The package includes a special pillow gift, a night cap and breakfast the following morning before returning to normality.

Paso Robles Inn

If you want your Royal Package to include a castle, best book the California Royalty Hearst Castle package. It includes a day tour of the magnificent Hearst Castle, a picnic lunch, overnight accommodation, wine tasting in Cambria and a visit to the Elephant Seals at Pedras Blancas.

Sonoma Safari West

If you want to copy William and Katherine’s engagement safari trip, the Sonoma Hotel offers a Safari Nights experience in conjunction with the nearby Safari West Preserve in Santa Rosa. It includes a Serengeti Sundowner with rhinos and cheetahs and a Behind the Scenes VIP tour of Safari West. Dinner is followed by drinks around the fire pit and a night under canvas listening to the cries of African wildlife, all for the royal price of $2000.

by Gillian

Luxury Hotel group Hilton has been using the latest 21st century phenomena, flash mobs, to attract publicity as part of its Hilton HHonors Great Getaway. The hotel chain recently orchestrated an entertaining flash-mob beach party on the sizzling streets of New York City as it experiences a summer heat wave.

The 40-or-so members of the group discarded their business attire to reveal bikinis and swimwear, to the amusement of commuters making their way more slowly than usual through Penn Station.

The group moved on to Times Square, Grand Central Station, the Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park tossing beach balls, dancing and generally having a good time. Hilton also orchestrated a similar event in London recently which attracted city workers along with Ben Cohen, a former rugby international player. However, I doubt that the weather was quite warm enough in London for beachwear.

The message however was clear. If you want to be part of what’s happening at Hilton hotels, best sign up for Hilton Honors to be included in the next fun event.

by Gillian

Guests have been known to go to great lengths to get a free upgrade, a particular favorite being to pretend you are on honeymoon. However, a chain of luxury hotels in California have decided to make up their own rules for the game. Joie de Vivre are offering one upgrade per day in five of their luxury hotels in California for those with the talent and/or bravery to take the challenge.

The freebie is offered to the first guest to arrive at check-in and sing a particular song. Appropriate songs have been chosen to reflect the personality of the hotels and include Kate Perry’s “California Gurls” to the equally predictable “Hotel California,” first recorded by the Eagles.

If you think singing tunelessly in public is OK as no-one knows you, think again. The hotels will be recording those early morning performances and uploading them to YouTube and Facebook. Worse still, viewers worldwide can log on to the Joie de Vivre hotel website and actually vote for their favorite singer, with the winner getting an additional prize.

This offers seems more likely to appeal to wannabe singers who will do anything to get in the limelight, rather than guests wanting to save a few $$ on an upgrade. But it does beg the question, how low would you go for a free room upgrade?

by Gillian at Luxique Luxury Hotels

Whatever your private thoughts may be about Twitter, the fact is that you are missing out on some exclusive deals if you do not join the club. Luxury hotel chains are realizing Twitter is a source of free, effective advertising and hot deals are literally spread like a virus throughout the network.

Complimentary upgrade offers, secret passwords and exclusive deals are all passed like Chinese whispers through Twitter, reaching both loyal followers and potential guests. What luxury hotel can afford not to be part of this pervasive form of 21st century communication?

Marriott was one of the first luxury hotel chains to see the significance of dropping the odd Tweet in cozy confidence. They use it to offer heart-warming stories along with resort credit offers or limited offers of free breakfast deals when business is a little slow in a particular area.

Fairmont Hotels frequently uses Twitter to connect with its guests, sharing guest comments and photos as well as slipping in the odd nugget of sales info about hotel happenings and great deals. They recently offered a free giveaway of concert tickets to their 14,000 followers – not bad odds for the lucky winners.

The renowned Kimpton Hotel Group has a similar number of followers who are regularly emailed the secret password which, when whispered at check-in, earns them a special surprise treat such as a free amenity or upgrade. Who can possibly resist joining in?

Joie de Vivre Hotels in California recently ran a Twitter competition to name their new hotel restaurant – with a $50 prize to the winner. On a more practical note they also send out event announcements, job postings and special deals to their loyal Twitter followers.

Whether you like it or not, the new generation VIPS are not those brandishing loyalty cards and accumulating points, they are those who take the time to sign up for a Twitter account and follow all the tweets from their favorite brands.

by Gillian at Luxique Luxury Hotels

Everybody’s idea of affordable luxury is different. What some consider a reasonable sum for a luxury hotel per night, offers may consider a fortune. However, reports show that some luxury villas cost the same per night as an average family sedan.

Take the 2011 Ford Taurus, for example. Described as a balance of beauty and strength with a well-appointed console of features, prices for a basic model start from $26,245. Not a bad price for hopefully seven years of comfortable family motoring. But would you be happy paying that same amount per night for a luxury villa?

The Caribbean island of St Barts is where the wealthiest travelers seek rest and relaxation, far from the stresses of the remainder of the world. But a six-bedroom, six-bathroom estate at the Sand Club apparently costs between $21,428 and $35,714 per night, depending upon the season.

A beachfront location, stunning pool deck and a wine cellar are included along with breathtaking waterfront views across Flambards Beach and staff at your disposal 24/7. Alternatively, checkout the luxury hotels on Anguilla, St Martin and St Barthelemy for great value with Luxique.com and put the savings towards that new sedan!

by Gillian

Washington DC welcomes spring each year with its National Cherry Blossom Festival which commences on March 26. The city is beautifully dressed by nature with thousands of Japanese cherry trees laden with delicate pink blossom. Some of the first trees were a gift of friendship from the mayor of Tokyo to Washington back in 1912 and the planting program has continued since.

With a huge choice of luxury hotels in Washington to choose from, it is worth asking about perks for the Cherry Blossom Festival if you plant to visit. We’re not talking a small discount or free valet parking; some Washington hotels are being far more innovative. Cherry pie, anyone? Those staying at The W not only get great views from their room of the White House and National Mall but also get to enjoy complimentary cherry pie for two on the rooftop at the J&G Steakhouse at W.

Liaison Capital Hill is offering guests two $10 metro passes, artisan chocolates and a live cherry branch laden with blossom to take home as a memento, if the blossom lasts that long! The Mayflower Renaissance has a cherry-themed menu throughout the festival and will host the annual Pink Tie Party. The Fairmont is a pleasant cherry-blossom stroll from Georgetown and guests will receive a box of beautiful cherry blossom notecards from photographer Jake McGuire to take home, along with a memory stick full of blossom photos of their own, of course!

For those who can’t stay overnight in the capital, why not splurge on a Cherry Blossom Tea at the Willard InterContinental’s blossom-bedecked Peacock Alley? Afternoon tea is accompanied by the music of a koto, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument and the player will be authentically dressed in a kimono to add to the atmosphere. The Cherry Blossom Festival lasts until April 10, although the blossom may linger on beyond that date.

by Gillian at Luxique Luxury Hotels

As Spring Break approaches, luxury hotels are wising up and seeing the potential for full rooms by offering family-friendly packages to lure guests out of their winter hibernation.

As Spring Break is a moveable feast, with dates varying from state to state, Loews Resort in South California are offering spring break packages with full family entertainment from late March through Easter, which this year is April 24.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort is just across the bay from Downtown San Diego, home of SeaWorld, Legoland, San Diego Zoo and the Birch Aquarium. However, most kids are unlikely to want to leave “camp” as the on-site hotel activities will include marshmallow roasts, dive-in movies, gondola cruises, art classes, surfing camps, nature tours, wine tasting and “crepes for kids” cooking classes. All these add-ons incur a fee, but most are under $5.

Not to be outdone, the nearby five diamond Grand del Mar, with its golf course, spa and tennis activity center is apparently offering a Family Fun Package which extends all year to December 30, 2011. This includes discounted connecting rooms, kids eat free and a four-hour session at the Explorers Club for kids aged 5-12.

Just up the coast, Loews Santa Monica Beach is also participating in an extended spring break season with a host of activities to add to their swimming pools, basketball and tennis courts. Just steps away are the oceanfront and beach, amusement rides at the historic Santa Monica Pier and endless miles of paved strand for rollerblading and cycling.

For those dreading the approach of half term or spring break, luxury hotel deals could just be the place to look for your salvation!

by Gillian at Luxique Luxury Hotels

February is National Heart Month, and one luxury hotel in New York’s Midtown Manhattan East Side is taking it very seriously. Not only does it advertise its state-of-the-art fitness center, it expects guests to actually use it!

In a unique promotional offer, the Affinia Dumont boutique hotel is cutting its prices, depending upon how fit you are. I’m afraid ticking a box that’s say “Super-fit” is not sufficient; instead guests are expected to perform a series of push-ups under the scrutiny of hotel management. It works like this – if you can do one push-up you save one dollar off the standard nightly rate of $169; if you can do 20 push-ups you save $20 and so on, to a maximum saving of $40 per night.

The promo is running Sunday through Friday during February and March, although standard room rates rise in March, so you may have to count on doing a few more push-ups to compensate.

The things you have to do to get an affordable room in New York!

by Gillian at Luxique Luxury Hotels