Chair Wars?

Do you remember when Westin launched it's "Heavenly Bed"?  It wasn't long before other hotels - and even other Starwood brands - came out with their own consistent, brand-standard beds in all of their properties.  In the business we have jokingly referred to this era in hotel marketing as the "Bed Wars".

Well, Sheraton is leading the charge in - of all things - banquet chairs. Their appeal rests with two key features:

1.  A shelf underneath the seat where books or perhaps a lap-top - or definitely an iPad or Playbook - could be stored.

2.  A hook on the back of each chair - for a purse or knapsack.

I can certainly see the usefulness for both, particularly in a tight theatre-seating set-up.  What do you think?  Will banquet chairs be the new beds?

If I Had a Million Dollars

Le Royal Monceau in Paris is one of those legendary hotels that has managed to survive the upheavals of history and still boast a guestbook that includes artists, heads of state, and pop royalty such as Michael Jackson and Madonna. Now a member of the Raffles group of hotels (read: luxury brand well-known throughout Asia  named for the eponymous property in Singapore where the Singapore Sling was "invented" and kissing cousin to Fairmont Hotel and Resorts), and owned by a Qatar investment company (read: extremely deep pockets), Le Royal Monceau Raffles reopened in October of last year following a two-year renovation project under the direction of design guru Phillippe Starck (read: unconventional, whimsical, and at times surreal).

So why would this property - with a standard guestroom rate of over $1000 a night - be on my if-I-won-the-lottery bucket list?  Mostly it has to do with the property's fierce approach to art.

• It has carpets that double as art (one with an artichoke and a horse resemblesa surrealist painting)
• Sculptures in the form of a family of life-sized wooden deer adorn the second-floor landing
• Bedside lampshades are covered in the writings of Malraux "as if he has woken up and recorded his dreams in a fit of panic"
• Artificial sugar packets read "Ceci n'est pas du sucre" - a nod to Belgian artist Rene Magritte
• An on-premises Art Concierge hooks up guests for after hours gallery tours or meetings with local artists
• The hotel's weekly newsletter "Art for Breakfast" lists a selection of can't miss shows (and the blog artforbreakfast.com is updated daily)

My own, more refined version of "Night at the Museum".



Older Sister Gets a Makeover

I absolutely adore - and have written here about - Le Westin Montreal. “She” has certainly enjoyed the spotlight since opening a couple of years ago – and rightly so, for her prime location across from the Palais de Congres and bordering on Old Montreal, her generous space-to-rooms ratio, and branded Westin amenities which garner well-deserved customer loyalty. Oh – and you just might be met by a mermaid swimming above you as you arrive….

Not to be overlooked, though is Le Centre Sheraton – located near the Via Rail station, the Bell Centre, Crescent Street, and all the fabulous shopping on St. Catherine Street – AND whose guestroom renovations completed in November 2009 resulted in each of her 825 rooms receiving a $23,000 facelift. The lobby also benefitted from some of the $24 million attention, with new Front Desk “pods” and the Sheraton-branded lobby internet lounge known as “The Link”. Next on the multi-million dollar To-Do List are the meeting rooms (Le Centre Sheraton boasts a 13,000 sq.ft. grand ballroom and two 4,000 sq.ft. junior ballooms), the atrium lobby, and expanded health and fitness facilities. The Cafe Bar, too, will see some improvements – but please don’t change it too much – we really dig it as it is.

One thing that the Sheraton brand of hotels has that Westin Hotels don’t is a Club Lounge, and the one at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal is “magnifique”. It, too, will be see some changes in the upcoming round of renovations.