butlers

Luxury Hotels Make Comeback

Demand for luxury hotels is ticking higher. Even though the broader hotel industry is likely to cope with depressed room rates this year, due to a combination of economic woes and an increase in capacity, the luxury sector could come back in 2010. Of course, – this sector cut rates by as much as 25 percent last year – but what's important is that the rich are looking for the good life again.

Occupancy is the real story of the luxury hotel recovery, though, with heads in beds expected to surge to as high as 59 percent, a strong gain over last year's 55 percent occupancy rate. In Europe, it could even reach 65 percent this year, with room rate recovery coming next year (at a 5 percent increase).

Bruce Siegel, director of sales and marketing at he Ritz-Carlton Naples Resorts in Florida said to Bloomberg News, "On the leisure side, we certainly are enjoying a rate premium year over year." Further, he continued, "Many guests from the U.S. Northeast with clear signs of exhaustion are arriving at our door." Overall room rates, including corporate bookings, are little changed, he said.

So, what are people looking for when they book rooms at the likes of the Ritz or the Four Seasons, often at $500 a night or more? Ocean views are a must, and guests will be paying more for rooms at the St. Regis, where butler service comes as part of the tab.

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Tags: butler, butlers, four seasons, hotel, hotels, luxury, luxury hotels, RitzCarlton, RitzCarltonHotel, st regis

St. Regis Singapore Pampers With a Team of Butlers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Visitors to Singapore have a new place to stay. The St. Regis Singapore is said to be the first new internationally branded luxury hotel to open in Singapore in 11 years. The 20-story hotel is next to the St. Regis Singapore residences which will be in two 23-story towers still under construction. The towers will be home to 173 residences, 92% of which have already been sold at some of the highest prices Singapore has seen. The hotel has 299 rooms and suites and has a ballroom, spa and a fleet of customized Bentleys.

The Singapore St. Regis has 34 butlers who provide personalized service. No self-service coffee bar here, the butlers will prepare drinks and serve them to guests. They will also coordinate courses for room service, offering restaurant-like service in the privacy of your room. The butler service is available to all guests and several butlers are stationed on each floor who are available at the touch of a button. Room rates start at 680 Singapore dollars, which works out to around $465.

[via NY Times]

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Tags: butlers, hotel, singapore, st regis, starwood