“ We understand that on vacation or on a night out , guests may like to indulge in alcohol and that is why we have our ‘ Secret Bring Your Own ’ code ,” Ekbatani adds . “ Our guests can comfortably bring from their own cellar their favorite vintage wine or cognac , to enjoy along with our mocktails . We can easily pair them . Of course , without any corkage fees .”
MESMERIZING LAUNDRY Among the other unique aspects , ette boasts the world ’ s first open house laundry service , where guests can watch the linens and towels being cleaned and pressed through an oversized viewing glass while sipping a cup of tea .
While maintaining hygiene has become the top priority for hotels amid an ongoing pandemic , Ekbatani said the concept of the open , back-of-thehouse laundry service was conceptualized almost three years ago .
“ We believe in complete transparency , even down to our main laundry room ,” he says . “[ Open laundry rooms ] differentiated us then and well-positioned us now after the pandemic . Similar to the open kitchen concept in the restaurant industry , the open concept back-of-house laundry will become the new norm in hospitality ; we are the pioneers of this concept .”
The laundry ’ s open nature will give guests comfort and confidence about ette ’ s cleanliness standards , Ekbatani states .
While there is no “ tangible return on investment ” attached to the open laundry system , Ekbatani says that it is full of non-tangible values , including guest confidence in their standard of cleanliness .
“ ette ’ s curation team , along with its team of experienced architects , carefully designed the space to streamline the flow of laundry operations while differentiating its presentation to enhance the guest experience . The current laundry facility could not have been monetized in any other way ,” Ekbatani says .
ETTE DETAILS The 126-room hotel is located four miles south of the popular Orlando theme parks and will focus on high-touch service and personalized experiences .
“ ette is the culmination of unique 5-star experiences and elements to create a sense of place that ’ s earthy , true , timeless , and elegant ( ette ),” Ekbatani says .
The hotel has partnered with Michelin-starred chef Akira Back and offers dining spaces spread across two floors . Salt & The Cellar , the hotel ’ s Mediterranean-focused restaurant , will serve breakfast , lunch , afternoon tea and dinner . The lounge and rooftop bar , LIPA , boasts a unique vantage point and panoramic park views . Along with the mocktails , LIPA will serve a fusion of old-world and new-world Asian haute cuisine .
The hotel ’ s rooms vary from suites and wellness suites , complete with a Peloton bike and Technogym weights , to more traditional Queens and Kings . Additional amenities include space for parties , weddings and executive meetings , and a luxury gym outfitted by PENT Fitness .
THERE IS PLENTY OF MONEY IN MOCKTAILS , AS PEOPLE DON ’ T MIND PAYING HIGHER PRICES FOR THESE DRINKS WITH A SPICE-INDUCED ENERGY KICK , RATHER THAN THE SUGAR OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND THE NEXT-DAY HANGOVER .
– ALEX EKBATANI
July / August 2021 hotelsmag . com 111