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Toiletry Dispensers are Out to Eliminate Free Bottles of Hotel Shampoo
We've noticed something lately when it comes to hotel toiletries; let's see if you agree. Does it seem like hotels are moving away from the mini bottles and teensy-weensy cardboard-boxed soap bars and more toward dispensers? The differences between the two are noticeable ones: you can't take a dispenser home with you, but having a dispenser often means more supply and not having to stick your finger in the tiny shampoo bottles to eek out the final drops.
What's more is that having the dispensers—usually mounted to the wall inside the shower, providing shampoo, conditioner and body wash gel—cut down on waste and cost. Thus, we weren't surprised to see them inside our bathroom at the Aloft Chicago O'Hare, but were a bit taken aback to notice that the funky favorite Ace Hotel New York has them as well. No take-home shampoo for you!
Tags: Hotel Delays / Hotel Openings / Aloft Hotels / Starwood Hotels / Harlem Hotels / → All Tags
Aloft Harlem Won't Take Flight Until October 15
When one hotel door opens, another ... won't open for another few months. Yes, more Hotel Delays news, folks. But we don't feel like we can get too upset about this one since it's a Starwood hotel, and another Starwood property in NYC just opened early. That was the W New York Downtown, while the one delayed is Aloft Harlem.
We're not sure what the hold up is here—maybe the hotel needs to hold another talent show?—but the website now tell us that the opening date has been pushed back from August 19 to October 15.
Tags: Hotel Openings / India Hotels / Aloft Hotels / Starwood Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags
Aloft Hotels Take India Before They Can Get to London
Some of us here at HotelChatter aren't the biggest fans of Starwood's budget aloft Hotels experience, but then some of us are. Regardless of preference, we can say that it's pretty cool to see the modern, affordable chain take off and expand around the world with its free WiFi and excellent lobbies.
We've already told you about plans for London's first aloft, called the "aloft ExCeL" (so annoying), coming in 2012, but meanwhile, the first aloft Hotel in India just opened in Chennai, in a very busy and "under-hoteled" I.T. sector.
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No Brainer: Low Room Rates Equals Happy Hotel Guests
We got this room at the Affinia Chicago for $159 a night. And we liked it!
A new report released by J.D. Power & Associates says hotel guests are more satisfied this year with their hotel stays and hoteliers have reasonable room rates to thank for that.
Because of the recession, hotels have had to drop room rates and as we've known here at HotelChatter for quite some time, when we get good deals on rooms, we're happier guests. Also thanks to the recession, hotels have had lower occupancy levels so more guests have gotten room upgrades at check-in. J.D. Powers' Mark Schwartz told the LA Times:
“If occupancy is lower, we find satisfaction with the speed of check-in is higher,” he said. “Guests are spending less time in line, are less likely to face overbooking and are more likely to be able to get an upgrade because more rooms are available.”
And guests are probably happier because hotels are rolling out all sorts of new amenities and services to keep them happy, from free WiFi to wine-tastings to cool in-room technology and upgraded lobby cafes.
Tags: Hotel Openings / Aloft Hotels / Harlem Hotels / W Talent Shows / Hotel News / → All Tags
Aloft Harlem Holds Auditions to Find 'Sassy, Savvy, Outgoing' Talent
The audiences at 'Showtime at the Apollo' are notoriously tough, but yesterday's crowd at the Harlem theater is known for loving a good talent show. Yes, the Starwood HR folks were at it again, this time casting staff for the new Aloft Harlem—which is now opening on August 19.
The hotel's sales and marketing director Aleks Truglio told the New York Times that yesterday's auditions were all about finding "people who are sassy, savvy, outgoing — the people who love working with other people and who embrace human contact.”
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Aloft Hotels to Open Across the Pond With Aloft ExCeL (Yes, ExCeL)
It looks like Thompson Hotels isn't the only one with London on the brain. Aloft Hotels has just announced their own London property--Aloft London ExCeL.
Wait. What? Aloft ExCeL? Is this some cruel grammar and style joke? And is this hotel in anyway related to Microsoft?
No, actually it's neither a joke nor related to Microsoft. The 252-room hotel will be located at ExCeL London, the international exhibition and convention center in the Docklands area of the city. And the Aloft will open in late 2011, just in time for the 2012 Olympics.
It will be the first Aloft in the UK and the second in Europe after the Aloft Brussels Schuman which is expected to open this fall. And Aloft UK will be very much like Aloft America.
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Aloft Hotels to Start Smart Check-In Program on June 1
Back in February, Aloft Hotels announced that they would begin a Smart Check-In program in which guests would get a special Aloft SPG member card that would in effect, act as their room key every time they stayed at an Aloft.
Now HotelChatter has gotten a sneak peek at what this smart check-in program, starting on June 1, will entail. Here's how it works:
· You'll be sent a special Aloft SPG® Member Card that will double as a room key, allowing you to bypass the front desk and go straight to your room whenever you stay at Aloft hotels participating in Smart Check-In.
· On the day of your next stay, we'll send a message containing your room number to your mobile device.
· When you arrive at your participating Aloft hotel, skip the front desk and go directly to your room. Touch your Aloft SPG card to the door lock to unlock it — you'll be checked in automatically and have full access to the Aloft Aloha desk throughout your stay.
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Aloft's New Cocktails Pay Homage to Celebrity Cheaters
If hearing about the escapades of cheating cads like Tiger Woods makes you want to drink, Aloft will help. Aloft's W XYZ bars are using famous celebrity philanderers as fodder for their new signature cocktail menu. Though the bar will have to update its seasonal menu to include Jesse James, who crushed the heart of America's sweetheart with his indiscretions.
Find out which cheating celebs got drinks named after them after the jump.
Tags: Video / Hotel Video Tours / Chicago Hotels / Aloft Hotels / HotelChatter Reviews / Airport Hotels / → All Tags
Inside the Aloft Hotel at Chicago's O'Hare Airport
Aloft Hotel at Chicago O'Hare Airport
They've got free wifi, hip interior design, a relaxed attitude for airport hotels, and even a smart check-in. Who are we talking about? Well, it's got to be Aloft Hotels, of course.
Aloft is like the light version of a W Hotel, which is proper considering that their owned by Starwood, W's parent company too. Alofts aren't in hot, downtown city centers but further out, nearby airports where amenity-rich, style-conscious and affordable hotels are direly needed.
Since Chicago has more O'Hare Airport business-y hotels than it can handle, Aloft's opening here just over a year and a half ago was welcome, and last week we finally went out of our way to check the place out fully. We only spent $99 on the room, and that could have been $69 if we hadn't hesitated several days before we actually booked it.
So was the $99 worth it? Find out, after the jump!
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Aloft O'Hare Has the Free Hotel WiFi Thing Down Pat
If you require further proof that our Annual Hotel WiFi Report is based upon our own testing and internet surfing at hotels around the world, then look no further. We love our free WiFi, and on a recent trip to Chicago, we went out of our way to try out the 1.5-year-old Aloft at Chicago O'Hare Airport.
Of course, the fact that it has a sweet pool, garden lounge area and chill lobby helped out our decision too; it's not just free hotel WiFi we look for in a property. We'll be back with the full review, room tour video and photo gallery of the Aloft O'Hare tomorrow, but for now let's all just have hump day coffee, okay?
[Photo: HotelChatter]
Tags: Hotel Delays / Aloft Hotels / Brooklyn Hotels / Harlem Hotels / Starwood Hotels / → All Tags
An Aloft Will Not Grow in Brooklyn Until October 21
Construction on Aloft Brooklyn, June 2009.
Aside from the fact that we desperately need a new reference other than A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for whenever we talk about Brooklyn hotels, we're totally bummed to find out today that the Aloft Brooklyn will no longer be opening on July 1. The opening date has now been pushed back to October 21.
However, there may still be an Aloft opening in New York before the Brooklyn one. While Aloft Harlem was set to open on the same day, its opening date has been pushed back to August 5. So if you're despy to stay in an Aloft during your next trip to NYC, this might be the better bet.
But still, we wouldn't make any plans around staying at these hotels yet. Starwood has been pushing back the opening date on lots of its hotels lately so just keep checking in with our Master List of 2010 Hotel Openings before booking your trips.
[Photo: Brownstoner]
Tags: Hotel Technology / Hotel Key Cards / Aloft Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags
Aloft Announces New Smart Check-In Program
We're not a huge fan of the Aloft Hotel experience but we are intrigued by the announcement today that Aloft Hotels will be using a new check-in service that allows guest to bypass the front desk and head directly to their rooms.
Here's how the press release describes the new Smart Check-In:
Through the pilot, currently being tested at the Aloft hotel in Lexington, MA, select Starwood Preferred Guest® members who opt to participate in the program, which runs on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, receive an enhanced SPG / Aloft-branded RFID keycard.
On the day of a planned stay, a text message is sent to the guest’s mobile device with their room number at Aloft Lexington. Once at the hotel, guests can skip the check-in line and go straight to the room, where their keycard will unlock the door, giving guests control of their check-in experience in the palms of their hands.
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