Interview With A 'Travel Spy': Jeff Gurtman

KGB? CIA? Nope, and nope. Try the Travel Channel. Yup, turns out the travel channel hired a trio of spies. Late last week we spoke with Jeff Gurtman one of the "Travel Spies" from The Travel Channel's new show of the same name, which premieres tonight at 8 PM.

Jeff, a former hospitality industry consultant and secret shopper for luxury hotels, is joined by Travel + Leisure magazine Senior Editor Nilou Motamed, and interior designer Kenn Gray. Together they travel the world, incognito, armed with hidden cameras, challenging hotels to live up to their promotional promises - whether it is convenience for the business traveler or luxury and pampering for the rest of us.

Our sit down with Jeff after the jump.

On the first of two new episodes tonight, "Travel Spies" goes to the Halekulani Resort and Spa in Oahu where Jeff and company test the staff's resourcefulness with a request for an in-room luau complete with ukulele music and hula lessons.

According to Jeff, "This is the type of `high touch test' we like to throw at them to see if the hotel will go above and beyond to meet a guest's needs."

In the New York City hotels episode that follows at 8:30 PM (ET/PT), the "Travel Spies" pose as fashionistas who have brought their own toilet seat with them and request the hotel send someone up to remove the offending seat and replace it with their own. Will they? Jeff's not willing to give us the dirt on this -- you'll have to watch the show to find out.

HC: These tests seem somewhat extreme. Is it really fair to expect a hotel to go thru this?

JG: "Absolutely, these things actually happened. We took everything from real life stories we've heard from contacts within the industry."

HC: For those of us with more modest needs, what's your best tip for getting great service?

JG: "Use the concierge! They can get you tickets to sold-out shows, entrée to exclusive clubs and restaurants, and even have someone do a little shopping for you. But you have to remember, this is a special service and be willing to pay for it."

HC: And if, say, the airline loses my luggage?

JG: "Well, I know of one New York hotel concierge that got Bergdorf Goodman's to open up after hours for a guest so that he could buy new clothes."

HC: WOW. That's movie-star luxury. What hotel is that?

JG: [declined to spill the beans - we need to work on our interview skills]

At the end of every episode, the "Travel Spies" ambush the hotel's General Manager with cameras running for their version of the standard TV show final reveal. They make a point to give the GM actionable suggestions. Jeff says, "We're always hoping to catch the staff doing something right, not the other way around. We're really pulling for them."

Sounds like the "Travel Spies" have a heart. I guess we'll be tuning in tonight to find out what happens with that toilet seat.

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