HotelChatter

Hotel Blog Watch

Hotel Blog Watch: Opus Hotel

June 15, 2006 at 2:25 PM | 0 Comments

Yesterday we let you know that we would be uncovering blogs written by hotels and hotel employees and we gave you a little preview of the Opus Hotel blog, run by general manager Daniel Craig (unfortunately, not the Bond actor.)

Craig dishes on the strange and mundane things happening at this Vancouver hotel, along with general hotel news and lessons about how the hotel industry works. Craig also doles  out some helpful advice for those looking for a career in the hotel industry:

Note, candidates must love smiling. Together with eye contact and guest name usage, smiles form the basics of great guest service. Of course, I'm talking about genuine smiles. Fake smiles, plastic smiles, vacant smiles and smiles that come across as obsequious, condescending or creepy don't quite cut it in this business. It also helps to know when to turn a smile off, like when a guest is yelling at you. But one must never turn off the "can do" attitude.

Craig does mention that "silent shoppers", mystery guests who evaluate the hotel service, showed up last month but would only note, "I'm happy to say that Opus fared exceptionally well. There is always room for improvement, of course, and the feedback from [the shoppers] will help us to get better."

So you won't find out any dirt on the hotel but it's always interesting to hear how a hotel operates from the perspective of the GM, especially one as dapper as Craig. We wonder if he actually does the dusting.

Related Stories:
· Opus Hotel [TripAdvisor]
· Introducing Hotel Blog Watch [HotelChatter]

Hotels

Oxygen Hits At The Opus Hotel

June 14, 2005 at 11:02 AM | 0 Comments

Everyone knows Van is one of the top movie-making centers in North America, but not everyone knows that until recently Vancouver lacked a true design hotel option. Enter Opus.

Opus opened a couple years ago in the fashionable Yaletown district (think SoHo in NY) and has become the place to stay in Vancouver.

The property is a comfortable modern environment with a sweet hotel bar (try the martinis).

Design wise Opus covers all the basics: Phillipe Starck bar stools, Arne Jacobsen egg chairs, and bright colored rooms. Furthermore, in what is quickly becoming a Canadian design hotel must have, Opus has voyeur showers. You know, a window in the bathroom that allows you to watch others shower from the comfort of your bed.

Oh, and Opus went ahead and put in heated bathroom floors, which are a huge bonus if you find yourself BC bound in February.

Unfortunately, you will have to pay for your Internet access, and upgrade to a deluxe room to enjoy the 42 inch plasma tvs.

The clincher for the LA set?  Hand held oxygen dispensers in every room.  What's next?  Botox injections in the lobby?  

Related Stories:
·   Opus Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
·   Other Voyeur Shower Hotels [HotelChatter]
·   24-Hour Room Service: Opus Hotel [The Independent]