Hotel Online  Special Report
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Our "Pick of the Month"

E-mail:  [email protected]
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November 2004

We are often asked what hotels or resorts we like best, what would we recommend to others, or where we would like to visit again.  These questions come from clients, guests, and friends.  Beginning in 2005, we will try to provide some answers.

On a regular basis we will highlight a property that we feel merits special recognition.  We expect our choices to run the gamut from large well-known resorts to small obscure inns.  Our selection process is really quite simple.  We will choose places we know well,  have recently visited, and meet the following requirements: 

  1. we liked the experience, 
  2. we feel it offers something special, 
  3. we would like to return, and 
  4. we recommend to others. 
Our picks must meet all four standards; three out of four is not enough.

Our criteria are obviously very unscientific and very personal, but certainly our choices will be greatly influenced by our backgrounds.  As a team we have many years of hotel experiences all over the world; we have seen the best and possibly even the worst.  We have some personal likes and dislikes, but we are also professionals in the business of evaluating hotels and resorts.  Our personal choices will always reflect this professionalism. 

Some of our picks will of course be evaluated and\or rated by organizations like AAA, Mobil, and Michelin.  We will pick some that have no rating because they have never wanted it, or because they fail to meet some requirement mandated by the rating agency.  Many of these requirements are valid and practical but some seem very arbitrary, even absurd.  The result is that many smaller, independent properties are denied a rating.  That limits the public�s  knowledge of these places. 

We have discovered that there are quite a few �hidden treasures� all over the world; we plan to bring some of these to light.

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Contact:

Cheryl Griggs & Harry Nobles
E-mail:  [email protected]
877.220.4260
www.optimumrating.com

Also See: 5 Star vs 5 Diamond: What�s the Difference? / Harry Nobles & Cheryl Griggs / November 2004
Strategic Alliance Announced, Committed to Hospitality Excellence / August 2004
Family Resorts: Suggested Strategies / Cheryl Griggs / July 2004
Are Small Resorts Unfairly Treated by the AAA and Mobil Rating Criteria / July 2004
Designing For Optimum Global Ratings / Cheryl Griggs / June 2004
QualAsia Formed to Provide Authoritative Organization to Inspect and Evaluate Hotels Across Asia; Harry Nobles Appointed Chairman of New Asian Hotel Rating Service / May 2004
Validity of Online Hotel Ratings / Cheryl Griggs / April 2004
Resorts Ratings Redux / Harry Nobles & Cheryl Griggs / February 2004
Are Your Trainers Trained? / Harry Nobles & Cheryl Thompson Grigg /  January 2004 
The Language of Service / Cheryl Griggs / October 2003
Hotel Renovation Ideas vs AAA Ratings Criteria / Harry Nobles / October 2003
New Employee Orientation: Necessity or Luxury?  /  July 2003
Save the Best - Replace the Rest / July 2003
AAA and Mobil Ratings As a Sales Tool / May 2003
How Well Do You Know Your Competitor? / May 2003
Our Favorite Hotel?  / March 2003
The Current Value of AAA Hotel Ratings / Feb 2003
Stars and Diamonds; Some Similarities and Some Differences / January 2003
AAA's Delay: Good or Bad? / July 2002
Timing Is Everything, Or Is It? / July 2002 
Boutique Hotels: Have They Gone Too Far / May 2002
People Really Do Make the Difference / Jan 2002
What Is a Boutique Hotel? / Dec 2001
The Non-negotiable Traits of Leaders / Oct 2001 
How Important is Service? / Sept 2001
Front Desk Service Mistakes / Aug 2001
Food & Beverage Mistakes & How to Correct Them / July 2001
Bell Staff Mistakes & How to Correct Them / July 2001 
Attitude vs Aptitude / June 2001
Female Business Travelers' Expectations / June 2001
Is Outsourcing Your Training a Viable Alternative? / June 2001
Unique Identity + Consistent Service = Success / May 2001
AAA Standards vs  Guests' Expectations / May 2001
Are Your Guests Better Informed Than Your Staff? / April 2001
Are U.S. Hotels Rated Differently From Other North American Hotels? / April 2001
The Design Theme - AAA / Mobil Ratings Connection / March 2001
Attitude Can Make the Difference / January 2001
How Should Casino-Hotels be Rated? / Dec 2000
Does AAA Rate Resorts Fairly? / Nov 2000
Is Your Property Suffering From Design Deficiency? / Nov 2000 
The Future of AAA Ratings / September 2000
What Is Your Optimum AAA Rating / August 2000
If You Disagree With Your AAA Rating�../ June 2000
Are AAA Ratings Always Accurate and Objective / May 2000
Creating Atmosphere / Jan 2000
What is "Atmosphere"? / December 1999
Maintaining Your AAA Rating / Nov 1999
Earning a AAA Rating vs Maintaining a AAA Rating: Which Is More Difficult?  / Oct 1999
Can Outstanding Service Offset Hotel Physical Deficiencies in the Rating Systems? / Harry Nobles / June 1999 
Consistency: The Hallmark of a Fine Hotel / September 1999
Who Should Train Your Employees  / Aug 2000 
Mobil Travel Guide Announces 1998 Mobil Four-and Five-Star Award Winners / Jan 1998 
Key to Success: Training + Follow-Up / June 2000
The Legend of the Pineapple / Harry Nobles / Feb 1999 
To Harry Nobles Hospitality Consulting Index Page

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