While we are sure golden-boy Michael Phelps is safely ensconced in the Olympic village somewhere, far, far, far away from any distractions that could derail his eight golden medals quest, the International Olympic Committee is kicking it at the Raffles Beijing Hotel.
And they aren't shy about letting you know that either. In fact, there's a press release on this which says that Raffles recruited the best of its employees from around the world to serve at the hotel during the Olympics:
In preparation, Raffles Beijing, which has 100% occupancy during the Olympics, has undergone more than 1,500 hours of Pre-Olympic preparation training since March 2008.
At an average price of around $2,300 a night, the seven-star Town House Galleria in Milan has got to be fairly exclusive. And it is. Every guest even gets allocated their own personal butler, who is responsible for all manner of duties designed to make your stay more comfortable.
Basically, your butler will do anything for you. Craving a particular kind of chocolate bar? They'll run out and grab one for you, or a whole bag full. Needing tickets so you can skip the queue at any Milan attraction? No worries at all.
The butlers at Town House Galleria are also available to take care of all the needs of your small dog (large ones, apparently, are not included).
Speaking of hotel butlers, we came across this snapshot of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach Tanning Butler Malcolm, who we were first introduced to back in December in our Miami Guidebook series. This shot however was taken last August probably before Malcolm got his cool Chanel sunglasses and his deepened tan.
Sophisticated diners know how to pair wine with food. Increasingly, sophisticated hoteliers know how to pair guests with butlers. Yes, butlers, those silent but obsequious senior servants commonly associated with the royal family and other stratospheric life-stylists, are on the rise at luxury hotels. You rang? Preferred Hotels & Resorts is tauting reinvented butler service at several properties.
Essentially floating personal assistants, the butler staff at The Lanesborough in London is on call 24/7 to pamper and problem-solve. The 23-butler staff carries wireless hand-held devices that allow guests to send their requests from parts afar.
If your meeting's running late, ping! A butler will move back your dinner reservation. If you arrive ahead of your luggage, ding! The butler staff will go into high gear.
Need something to wear to, say, dinner at Buckingham Palace? One guest recently did. The Lanesborough's butler staff summoned Sloane Street boutiques to deliver a selection of dresses. Ditto jewelry from Graft.
Kids might possibly get a kick out of the Ritz's "tanning butler", Malcolm, who spritzes sun tan lotion around the pool Thursday through Sunday 11 to 3. Sounds silly, maybe, but Malcolm is one of those miraculously extroverted and charming persons who make this seem natural and fun. You may even end up buying a tanning butler t-shirt, like the one he wears, from the gift shop.
Judging from this picture of tanning butler Malcolm, we are sure that not just kiddies would like to play around with him either. Ahem...how much does it cost to stay there again?
With all the focus on Miami hotels, we forget that it's actually ski season out there in the rest of America. But at the St. Regis Hotel in Aspen, things are just gearing up.
And apparently ski butlers seem to be so yesterday as the hotel offers a Ski Doctor on staff. And no, he doesn't set your broken bones or treat your sprained ligaments. John Clendenin is billed as "Aspen's Famous Ski Doctor" and is a pro to the stars that come into town for lessons.
It is two days of intense instruction, and access to a private snowcat, which offer you the best backcountry skiing in the world.
When you're done on the slopes with Clendenin, the package includes a gourmet lunch at Cloud Nine Bistro, an après-ski massage at Remède Spa and you can take home a limited edition of Head skis. Total cost is $6,000 per guest which includes along with ski doctor time, two nights in a suite and gourmet breakfast served by your St. Regis Butler daily.
Call 866-716-8135 for reservations and ask for rate code SRSNOWA.
The Pan Pacific prides itself on their butlers. And they want to give one lucky guest a butler for a day—just in time for the bustling Union Square holiday shopping season.
Imagine...eight hours of service. But that's not all. The lucky butler master will also receive two nights in a luxury suite at the Pan Pacific San Francisco to "enjoy the butler services as they are intended to be."
So...what would you do with a butler for 8 hours and why do you think you deserve to win?
While we are sure golden-boy Michael Phelps is safely ensconced in the Olympic village somewhere, far, far, far away from any distractions that could derail his eight golden medals quest, the International Olympic Committee is kicking it at the Raffles Beijing Hotel.
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by juliana
