THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

Wes Anderson's THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. See the trailer here and read an early review below.

Movie review by Joel D. Amos of Movie Fanatic

Wes Anderson has a fan base for his films, but there is something about The Grand Budapest Hotel that will simultaneously please them, while it is also uniquely universal.

From Rushmore through his most recent Moonrise Kingdom, one knows when you are watching an Anderson film. The shot framing, the dialogue and that ensemble cast that he possesses that reminds us of an ever-expanding repertory theater company... it all screams "Wes Anderson."

The Grand Budapest Hotel has all of those... and so much more.

Ralph Fiennes, new to the Anderson ensemble, stars as Gustav H. He is a legendary concierge at the titular establishment. His story is central to the film, but it expands much beyond that to cover fascism, romance, war, freedom, family infighting, mentorship, loyalty and delightful confections.

We don't want to give away too much of the plot or even what it entails or how it is told, for fear of denying a viewer the utter joy that is the entire The Grand Budapest Hotel experience. But, there is a murder and Gustav H. is considered a suspect. The elderly woman who owned the hotel was mysteriously poisoned and her family suspects that Gustav did it. See, our world's best concierge has an affinity for rich older ladies and they quite enjoy him as well.

There is also an absolute charm to this picture that arises from a mentorship between Gustav and a lobby boy, played by Tony Revolori... who is a revelation. The mentor takes the mentee under his wing and teaches him everything about pleasing the high-end clientele that frequent their hotel. It is charming to witness as the mentorship evolves over the years into a dear friendship, one that will be challenged not only by the murder charge, but also the winds of World War II that are knocking on Europe's door.

Anderson's regular performers astound in their roles, from Jeff Goldblum and Edward Norton to Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. And as can be seen inThe Grand Budapest Hotel trailer, the supremacy of the cast does not stop there. Just a sampling: Jude Law, Harvey Keitel, Willem Dafoe, Tom Wilkinson, Owen Wilson, F. Murray Abraham and Adrien Brody!

The screenplay by Anderson -- based on a story by the helmer and Hugo Guinness -- is nothing short of art. The wordplay between the characters is like watching a ballerina move effortlessly across a stage. It is powerful, whimsical and completely delightful from beginning to end. And the auteur's direction has only gotten tighter, fiercer and frankly funnier. The Grand Budapest Hotel is not short on humor. In fact, it lies around every plot turn.


But, the star of the film has to be the production design. It is like watching the most extraordinarily crafted wedding cake with colors that subtly pop, lush backgrounds and scenery that explode with the minutest of details. Our The Grand Budapest Hotel cannot recommend enough checking in to Anderson's latest.



It is, in fact, one of our 11 films that could win the 2015 Oscar Best Picture!

MARCH TRAVEL PICK

ParkRoyal on Pickering, Singapore

It's a city with ample green spaces, but even in Singapore you probably wouldn't expect a building to sprout so much greenery from its façade. Tiers inspired by rice paddies dominate the lower levels of the 16-storey ParkRoyal on Pickering, and foliage spills out at regular intervals from ever-higher terraces. 

Architects WOHA and landscape specialists Tierra Design have continued the natural theme inside too: the lobby features a living wall of mosses and plants; the infinity pool on the fifth-floor terrace is backed by a two-storey waterfall draped in greenery; and pale green hues and wood dominate the hotel's 367 rooms. 

Apart from enchanting visitors, the thick vegetation acts as insulation, shade, and allows natural ventilation. So innovative is the design it has won the Green Mark Platinum Award, the highest rating for green buildings in Singapore. 

The hotel, located close to Raffles Place, between Hong Lim Park and Chinatown, also features a great rooftop bar.



3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore; Tel: 65.6809 8888; 

www.parkroyalhotels.com

LOFTS @ SOHO HOUSE BERLIN

THE LOFT



The Berlin Lofts are a series of vast modern spaces available to hire for short to long term lets, as well as private parties and tailor-made events.



Each Berlin Loft benefits from an open-plan living and dining area that features a, 5.1 Cinema system, 75” TV, high-spec Kitchen, a dining table for 12 guests and either a grand piano or fussball table.



With a fully stocked Bar and Eat- in Kitchen, vintage DJ decks and speakers, and enough space to throw a Party, the Lofts are the perfect base for those wishing to lodge, live and entertain in Berlin. All four lofts will be serviced by a 24-hour Concierge and daily Housekeeping service. Guests will also have the option of private dining, including a personal Chef, Bartender and Waiter service.


The Berlin Lofts are available in two different categories:

FLOOR 1 & 2 (253 sqm): These Lofts feature three bedrooms, each with adjoining shower or bathrooms.

FLOOR 3 & 4 (253 sqm): These Lofts feature two bedrooms, each with adjoining bathrooms (one of which has a steam shower), a large living and dining area, and access to three private balconies.

Soho House Berlin

Torstraße 1
10119 Berlin, Germany
T +49 (0)30 40 50 440
Soho House Berlin Loft

WORLD'S MOST EXCLUSIVE SUITES

The world's most exclusive hotel suites

With Valentine’s Day just two days away, Wealth-X, the world’s leading ultra high net worth intelligence and prospecting firm, reveals the world’s most exclusive hotel suites for lovers with deep pockets.

“For the world’s most demanding ultra wealthy individuals, only the best will do, regardless of cost,” said Tara Loader Wilkinson, editor in chief at Wealth-X and editor at large at sister publication Billionaire. “With the help of travel consultants Kiwi Collection and Elite Travel International, we have ranked these hotel suites top in taste, opulence and amenities.”


1. Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson
Geneva, Switzerland
Average price per night: US$67,000
1,800 square metres



2. Ty Warner Suite, Four Seasons Hotel
New York City, USA
Average price per night: $45,000
400 square metres




3. Hilltop Estate Owner’s Accommodation, Laucala Island Resort
Laucala Island, Fiji,
Average price per night: US$40,000
1,200 square metres



4. Penthouse Suite, Grand Hyatt Cannes Hôtel Martinez
Cannes, France
Average price per night: US$37,500
180 square metres



5. The Royal Villa, Grand Resort Lagonissi
Athens, Greece
Average price per night: US$35,000
410 square metres



6. Royal Suite, Hôtel Plaza Athénée
Paris, France
Average price per night: US$27,000
450 square metres



7. Presidential Suite, Mandarin Oriental
Pudong, Shanghai, China
Average price per night: US$26,450
788 square metres



8. Shangri-La Suite, Shangri-La Bosphorus
Istanbul, Turkey,
Average price per night: US$26,385
366 square metres



9. Presidential Suite, Hotel Cala di Volpe
Porto Cervo, Italy
Average price per night: US$26,000
450 square metres



10. The Apartment at The Connaught Hotel
London, UK
Average price per night: US$23,500
285 square metres

HOTEL WEBSITE MISTAKES

Hotel website mistakes that may cost you bookings!

Your hotel website is the key to being found and the most profitable pathway for room bookings. So why do so many hospitality websites make the same mistakes and turn away booking leads? There are dozens of small issues that appear again and again, but for this article I will focus on these six issues. As with all my posts, the goal is maximizing your booking conversion rate.

Take action to avoid these easy to fix hotel website mistakes.
Frightening your website traffic away



I realize that many hoteliers invest a lot in professionally produced videos of their property and services. This is a sensible and effective way to promote your hotel and showcase its best features. So do not squander your investment by auto-playing videos on your hotel website.

You may think you are doing your visitors a favor by setting auto-play to on. After all they probably want to see your hotel and hear about your luxurious, award-winning, relaxing, active, ... amenities. However the reality is more complicated. Here are the reasons why your hotel web videos should default to paused.

• People may be researching a trip itinerary at the office, perhaps when they are supposed to be working. The sound of your video playing will cause disapproving stares from co-workers. As a result, your target customer will end up closing his or her browser before you had a chance to sell your travel brand.

• Whether at work or at home, many people use headphones to listen to music while they are surfing the Web. Playing your hotel video with its background music or voice over is only going to annoy or perhaps even scare the people who are considering booking a room.

• Speaker volume on home computers is often turned up to full blast, whether as a result of watching a movie or talking with family on Skype. So when your auto-play kicks on without permission, your message gets blasted to someone who is just getting to know your hotel business. Not only are you startling your visitors with an unwanted message, you may be disturbing the baby (or husband) asleep nearby.

For a hilarious take on why NOT to auto-play your hotel sales videos, you must read this Travergence auto-play music on websites blog post (which laughed about an earlier blog post on this subject). Here is a quote:

• Of course the sites that play animal sounds or babbling brook noises or god-awful new age music are still better than the sites that launch videos with voices telling you about the joys of jet-skiing, or some other travel activity... Most of us are conditioned to think if we hear a voice when we open a website we're about five seconds away from unleashing a hideous virus on our system.

Glossing over your Wi-Fi capabilities
Free Wi-Fi has become the most requested hotel amenity (see TripAdvisor Hotel Amenities Travelers Can and Can't Do Without) with 89% of travelers surveyed wanting it. More and more hotels are offering it as part of the room rate, but many are not "going all the way". Not all free WiFi is truly free when it comes to meeting the expectations of your guests. Here's why...

Regardless of whether your Wi-Fi comes with limitations or not, you may be losing bookings if you don't document what is available. Is your Wi-Fi free in public areas only and not available in most rooms? Is it possible to request a room with a strong Wi-Fi signal? Does the internet connection limit the number of connected devices or the number of minutes per day? If there is a cost to in-room Wi-Fi, what is the price and what do you get in terms of speed and sharing with phones and tablets?

Those are the types of questions people are seeking answers about. They will likely be getting those answers from reviews of your hotel on TripAdvisor or Booking.com and those guests may not be telling a complimentary story. Just read the many easy to find reviews for hotels on TripAdvisor that talk about how their "free" Wi-Fi experience was slow, broken, or frustrating to connect. Every minute spent jumping through hoops to access your Wi-Fi network is a negative review in the making.

That is why you must list your Wi-Fi offering in complete detail. By being complete and upfront about your internet services (avoiding surprises), you will get more bookings from people who must stay connected for business or leisure.Hiding behind your hotel brand
This mistake applies mostly to Bed and Breakfast properties, but is also applicable to small, boutique, and independent hotels as well as tour operators. When you run a small business, consumers are often curious about the owner and why they are passionate about what they do.



People stay at a B&B for reasons beyond just a place to sleep and a free breakfast. They want to know the place is run by a real person who cares about delivering a pleasant and memorable stay or travel experience. If something goes wrong, they want to know there is someone (and not an "I just work here" type of person) ready to help. When your travel business is independently owned, put your name and face on the brand.

Therefore it is a best practice to include the name(s) of the owner or property manager plus photo on the "About Us" page. Forgetting to include this information makes your property seem less authentic and could be perceived as possibly misleading. Travelers are seeking a personal experience when they choose to stay at an independent hotel. Welcome first time visitors to your hotel website with real photo of both owner and front desk staff.
Discouraging direct bookings

Your travel marketing goal is to get more bookings, but it is more profitable to get more direct bookings (yes, I know that is obvious but keep reading). That is why you created a professional and optimized hotel website, is it not? So don't stop there and hope that visitors will book direct without a tangible reason.

If people do not feel they are getting the best rate or something extra by booking direct, they will keep on looking. And when they are comparing places to stay on a meta-search hotel booking website (OTA), another hotel may catch their eye and you'll lose out a second time.

Optimizing your website for booking conversions means to convince people to complete a direct booking every time. So it pays to offer a good reason to "Book Now" direct, such as one of the following:

• Guaranteed best rates (don't promise this unless you can ensure it is always true)
• Free breakfast, meal, or drink at the bar voucher
• Complimentary upgrade upon check-in (based on availability of course)
• Early check-in or late check-out options
• A free bottle of wine or other welcome gift waiting in their room
• Other discounts on hotel amenities, parking, or local tours and attractions (talk to your local tourism partners)

Failing to start a book later conversation
Now it is time to get a stark reminder about the effectiveness of the booking conversion funnel. As much as 97% of your website visitors will not make a booking on their first visit. Whether they are likely to return and book later is up to your proactive efforts.

At the same time, email is still the most effective medium on the Internet. Therefore the best way to convert lookers to bookers is to start a booking conversation. How? Ask them to sign up for your hotel email newsletter. Don't have one? Now is the perfect opportunity to publish a monthly newsletter about your hotel or tour business.



Steps to an Email Remarketing Conversion Engine

1. Sign up for an email newsletter account. The free starter option atMailChimp is a very popular and capable choice. For more sophisticated email marketing tools and customer support, select the entry-level option at GetResponse or AWeber. Refer to the BookingCounts article on choosing a travel email service provider for detailed comparison points.
2. Embed your customized email sign-up form in the sidebar template (left or right) so it appears on every page of your hotel site. Don't have a sidebar? Add a link to your sign-up landing page (hosted by your email vendor) from within the website header so it can easily be discovered.
3. Turn on the welcome email feature and write a thank you message. Remind subscribers of the many reasons to book travel services directly on your site (include a link back for when they are ready).
4. Publish a monthly email newsletter to all subscribers which contains the latest happenings and events in your destination (non-promotional) along with a special offer for readers to book now.

Telling the world you don't care how you look

This last mistake is probably the most common, so unfortunately travel marketers still require a regular reminder to spell-check their website. People planning a trip to a foreign country realize that English may not be your first language. In these situations, you will be forgiven for at least a few spelling mistakes. However if your operation is in an English-speaking country, there is no excuse for not fixing those visible spelling errors.

Your website is your public image and it is your choice to look sloppy and disheveled or to look neat and polished. Too many glaring errors on a hotel website can raise concerns about the attention to detail (or lack of) at your property. If a spelling mistake is easy to spot on your home page, what are people to believe about your ability to deliver quality hospitality services?

With all the automated spell-checking tools at your disposal (grammar too!), you can quickly resolve this problem right away.Summary
There are many more mistakes that hotels make which are sure to appear in future posts on BookingCounts.com. In fact these same mistakes appear on all types of websites including tour operators and independent travel agents. While you may not have a website design budget like the big names in the travel industry, you can still look like a pro by avoiding all six of these common mistakes.