Vacation Rental Owners can Learn from Hilton Hotels
Recently, we have written a lot about the amenities that luxury hotels are offering their guests. We do this because we have learned that vacation rental guests come to expect these amenities at vacation rentals. Recently, we had the opportunity to stay at a new hotel in the small South Georgia city of Albany. This hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn, has only been open a few months.
We thought it would be interesting to carefully check out what one of the nation’s oldest successful hotel chains is putting in heir newly-constructed hotels. Not so many years ago, the Hilton chain, would put a complementary copy of the biography of the chain’s founder, Conrad Hilton, in its hotel rooms, so we were familiar with the proud history of Hilton Hotels. If anyone should know what is the successful formala for hotels of the future, it should be the Hilton chain.
Moreover, we felt that Hilton would apply its knowledge of best practices and trends when building a new hotel. While Hilton or any other chains might be slow to make renovations to some already successful properties, surely they would apply the best practices and allow for the latest trends when given the opportunity to build a brand new facility.
We were not disappointed. While this is a mid-price business hotel in a location that is definitely not a resort destination, we were impressed with both the amenities and the service. Some of the amenities were 1) free high speed internet access, both in the rooms and throughout the facility, 2) refrigerator, microwave oven and coffeemaker, 3 nice workout facilities, pool and whirlpool, 4) very comfortable luxury bedding without the fluff of excessive pillows, and 5) even the use of workout kits for in-room exercise.
In the common areas, there were flat- screen TVs. The guest rooms had tube TVs, but the absence of the traditional large armoire indicated that Hilton has flat screens in mind for the future when prices decline further. The bathrooms were nicely done with shower massage shower heads and granite vanity tops. Granite was also used for other areas wherever possible. This is a good idea for both the look of look of luxury and for durability. It was obvious that Hilton had built with the future in mind.
