A Question for the Traveling Escorts

[leigh.bess.toad]

Hey guys -- just out of curiosity, when you are going to a major city (DC, NYC, LA, Chicago, Boston, etc.) do you normally tend to try to stay in what would be classified as a 4 or 5 star hotels (a boutique, Hilton, Four Seasons, Marriott, you know the names), a 3-4 star hotel more suited for business travelers (Embassy Suites, Residence Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, etc.) or some other sort of establishment? Do you normally look to get a suite, a room, etc? What exactly do you look for when you are looking for lodging when you travel for business?

 

Thanks for the answers and thanks for traveling to us.

[Steven_Draker]

I tend to stick to my favorite hotel chain: I know what to expect; get hotel points toward free nights; am regularly upgraded to a bigger room or a suite; am treated nicely. A regular guest is remembered, treated with respect and gets personal service. Loyalty is rewarding.

[JoeyBryant]

I usually vary it up. One day I may be at the Doubletree or Renaissance, then may switch to a Mariott Towneplace to get a suite. I have even tried economy hotels in the event its too late at night to book online.

 

As for being treated nicely, I have to say that I use websites to book hotels and dont notice much a difference in treatment. Just because someone isn't a loyalty member doesn't mean they wont be treated above and beyond. Its called customer service. Thats what they are supposed to do. I have a rewards card with Mariott and Holiday Inn (which covers all brands of the Holiday Inn company including Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, etc.) and although I dont usually book directly thru the hotel to get points, I can order off the menu and accumulate points that way.

 

Sometimes, its about demanding what you want (nicely of course) to get what you need. Im not talking about something like free room upgrades, but just simple stuff...bed choice, someone to bring up plates/silverware, and free parking downtown. Even if Im not a loyalty member, I still expect to be treated like one if Im paying my money. Whether I pay online or walk right to the front desk.

[migueldeltoro]

For the most part I stick with four star hotels and I lean towards Hyatt or Kimptons. I feel that if you're going to be hosting more often than not, it's important to offer a nice comfortable atmosphere. They also don't ask questions when you want extra towels or sheets whereas some of the lessor class hotels do. I also find that the four star hotels are larger so it offers more anonymity to both myself as well as my clients.

[Bart]

Actually I have a lot of experiece booking hotel and airline arrangements on many occassions. I would say that it does matter where you stay to the client or the gentlemen. When you stay with a chain on a regular basis they know it and I do believe it comes with a lot of little perks yes to the positive but to the negative as well. Should something go wrong they are more likely to correct the situation quickly and possibly with enhancements because of your loyalty. A couple I got to know quite well always stays in the same location when they come and have even gotten to know the staff a bit. They always leave a tip for housekeeping each day for room clean up and you can see the difference.

 

Through my bookings which is usually expedia, I have been given upgraded status with expedia and when I had made a mistake in June on a trip and corrected it but the hotel piece was not corrected, they bent over backwards to get it corrected and gave me a nice credit.

 

I think it is valuable escpecially when you plan on visiting a city on numerous occassions throughout the year, a one time visit probably does not matter as much but it cant hurt.

[AdamATL77]

Hey guys -- just out of curiosity, when you are going to a major city (DC, NYC, LA, Chicago, Boston, etc.) do you normally tend to try to stay in what would be classified as a 4 or 5 star hotels (a boutique, Hilton, Four Seasons, Marriott, you know the names), a 3-4 star hotel more suited for business travelers (Embassy Suites, Residence Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, etc.) or some other sort of establishment? Do you normally look to get a suite, a room, etc? What exactly do you look for when you are looking for lodging when you travel for business?

 

Thanks for the answers and thanks for traveling to us.

 

I currently don't travel but when I did, I avoided some higher rated hotels due to security. When I did stay a such a hotel, the security would question anyone they didn't recognize or looked like they didn't belong. I hate that. And clients like hotels with side entrances, not a big front one that makes them feel like the entire staff will have an opportunity to recognize them.

 

But after what Philip Markoff did, I can see why I should have stayed in hotels with better security.

 

I generally switched my hotel choices based on where I would get the most repeat clients from my previous visit. Of course, this was dependent on whether they chose to disclose what part of town they were from and what was most convenient without being too close to home.

[JoeyBryant]

I currently don't travel but when I did, I avoided some higher rated hotels due to security. When I did stay a such a hotel, the security would question anyone they didn't recognize or looked like they didn't belong. I hate that. And clients like hotels with side entrances, not a big front one that makes them feel like the entire staff will have an opportunity to recognize them.

 

But after what Philip Markoff did, I can see why I should have stayed in hotels with better security.

 

Oh gawd...when I went to Boston last summer, it was only a couple months or so after that incident. By staying in a hotel and the fact that they were all 3+ stars, Clients just wouldn't even walk in the lobby. Im hoping it's changed since then though...

 

Personally though, I try to make the accomodations as comfortable for myself and the client, but I'm not going to do backflips to get a certain star level hotel in a certain area. For example, I rarely stay downtown unless Im flying or in a small town. I have to make sure I like where Im staying in the event I dont get anyone at all.

 

As for being questioned...whew, I've had some run-ins. I always get the most nervous when I'm checking into a hotel. Once I've got the key, nothing else matters. Sometimes, I end up in hotels that are usually frequented by business travelers (in suits). And when they see some young Black guy dressed casually checking in, they just cant help but wonder. But I try to prevent them from prodding too much, because Im in town working on a freelance assignment...thats ALL you need to know! I just try and get on their good side, and let them know that I appreciate their nosiness..I mean, being a good conversationalist (not)