Are the 2008 Olympics going to be a huge flop or what? We say this because we think it's really weird that the most popular hotel in Beijing (according to TripAdvisor reviews, at least) isn't even booked out on the night of the Opening Ceremony.
This #1 hotel is the Holiday Inn Central Plaza Beijing, and it's popular despite being located in a less-than-convenient spot (most people say taxis are cheap and easy enough that the exact location doesn't matter).
Apparently the big attraction at this hotel is a concierge named Storm Li, whose good deeds are described in literally dozens and dozens of detailed TripAdvisor reviews.
If you're like us you shy away from the standard tourist traps when you travel. You know, the same old attractions, big box stores, and hokey-theme restaurants. That's for amateurs.
Kimpton Hotels knows just how you feel, so they've launched Quick Concierge, an easy to use pocket-size guide filled with personal recommendations for food, fun, shopping, and more from those in the know, the locals.
With this exclusive reference system in your pocket, you'll never be stuck on the streets wondering where to grab a terrific burger, meet for a drink, or dance the night away. The very "best of" the city is right at your fingertips. Or at least that's what Kimpton's promising anyways.
Already available to guests at many Kimpton Hotels, Quick Concierge becomes a brand standard on May 1st.
Move over shopping and nightlife concierges. The newest kid on the block is the Cocktail Concierge and you can find him or her at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
Newly-appointed cocktail concierges mix up martinis (shaken or stirred), muddle mojitos and craft any number of guests' favorite libations and tropical beverages in the comfort of one's seaside guest room.
The service is available in your room from 11:30am to 1am. You can even use these cocktail concierges (who come equipped with their own Cocktail Cart) to help you pair a wine or beer with your room service meal. Try one of the signature cocktails, the Living Room Martini.
Room rates start at $299 a night and there's a standard 20 percent service charge to the drinks but hey, you'll have no problem getting the bartender's attention.
Have you stayed at the Harbor Beach Marriott? Let us know what it was like in comments below.
The Viceroy Santa Monica has been bringing out the cool gimmicks for ages. They once had a video game coach back in 2005 although we're sad to report that job no longer exists. Yet now with summer coming, the hotel is bringing out a few more tricks to keep us interested.
This time it's a pool concierge who's going to provide "special poolside amenities" from the Memorial Day weekend all the way through to Labor Day. These include waterproof games to play when you're resting poolside and the pool concierge will also help you coordinate trips to the beach by providing sunscreen, towels and a beach picnic. But if it's a Thursday, Friday or Saturday, get back from the beach by 2.00pm, because there's a surprise snack or drink, like a glass of champagne or a homemade popsicle.
If you feel like you've been out in the sun too long, you'll also be able to climb into a couple of the poolside cabanas which will be converted into mini movie-theaters. While you watch they'll bring you popcorn and kids will get drink choices like chocolate milk and fresh lemonade from a special menu. We hope that adults will be allowed a glass of chocolate milk, too.
If you've ever wondered about the inside life of a concierge at a pricey five-star hotel, you'll be keen to hear about the day UK Times reporter Matt Rudd spent playing the role of a trainee concierge at London's exclusive Jumeirah Carlton Tower.
His pre-concierge-experience training was not much more than learning the phrase "Certainly, sir, I'll look into that and call you straight back." Rudd then watched the three experienced concierges in action, dealing with guest dramas like booking last minute tables at exclusive restaurants, arranging an urgent car to the airport and needing a pencil sharpener.
Probably Rudd's most interesting learning point was the code for ordering a prostitute: "Can I have another pillow?" He also met a regular guest who had a habit of asking strange questions and walking away. All part of the fun of a day's work.
If you're not the kind of person who's familiar with guests able to spend nearly £100,000 (US$200,000) on a hotel bill (and we're certainly not), then the life of a concierge at a place like this would definitely be pretty intriguing. But we're not sure we could handle the stress, or be able to tell the difference between a guest wanting an actual pillow and wanting something else.
You might remember that we were already a little uneasy about the book deal given to the two former concierges from the Four Seasons Chicago. And it turns out we were right to think this wasn't really the way concierges should go.
We've now heard that the book deal has been canceled because the concierges signed confidentiality agreements when they worked at the Four Seasons.
The concierges say the publisher, Random House, knew all along about these agreements, and that attorneys had agreed they didn't apply to the content of the book--but in the eleventh hour, following a complaint from Four Seasons, Random House decided not to release the book.
On the one hand, we love this. Two former concierges at the Four Seasons Chicago have written a book, Great Reservations (pun on Dickens title duly noted) about the celebrities who used to stay at the hotel with their outrageous (but normal for celebrity types) demands.
Abigail Hart and Nancy Joyce Callahan spent years as concierges at this swank luxury hotel and have tons of tidbits on who requested what when they visited. For instance:
For a mere 12-hour stay, assistants for Nicole Kidman shipped a set of pink, 800-thread-count Italian sheets to the hotel ahead of her visit - along with diagrams and pages of instructions on how to make the bed. The then-Mrs. Tom Cruise never actually arrived.
Nightlife Concierges: Betsy Rivera and Maria Roa-Warrant
Miami Beach is one crazy scene. It seems as if it gets more and more crowded each year. And if navigating the streets in your rental car (or even on foot) wasn't enough drama for you, then picking a place to hang out at night is probably even harder.
Hopefully, you will stay in a hotel with the hottest scene like the Delano which has the Florida Room. But sometimes that isn't always possible, especially if you don't want to spend $800 a night.
Over at the slightly more affordable Four Seasons Miami, (rooms are at $575 a night) the hotel has introduced their Nightlife Concierge team--Betsy Rivera and Maria Roa-Warrant, two women who help you get into whatever club, lounge, bar your little heart desires sans waiting in line. We're told they can even help you get into other hotels' hot lounges, such as the Florida Room, where "they have a particularly close tie."
You might remember that we were already 
