Luxury Hoteliers Magazine 3rd Quarter 2016 | Page 8

car maker, Automobili Lamborghini. Automotive aficionados are now given once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to get behind the wheel of the rarest supercars on the planet. Guests have the unique experience to test drive Lamborghini’s latest models, including the new Lamborghini Huracán LP 580-2 and Huracán LP 610-4 Spyder, at seven distinct Waldorf Astoria properties worldwide. Guests are also invited to book Waldorf Astoria Golf Experiences, a collection of exclusive packages that pair the most elite golf experiences with luxury accommodations at select Waldorf Astoria hotels. The annual program will visit new destinations each year, with the inaugural year in 2016 featuring four properties: Waldorf Astoria Chicago, Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, Waldorf Astoria New York and Waldorf Astoria Orlando. At Conrad, our goal is to make our guests’ journeys more inspired through our intuitive service, stylish interior design and sophisticated surroundings and by providing them with access to a world of connections. Through our Stay Inspired initiative, we are creating memorable moments at each of our 26 properties across the globe. We now provide customized and curated activities, accessible at StayInspired. com, in the form of 1/3/5 hour itineraries that offer guests inspiring and immersive experiences. For example, if you have one hour at Conrad New York, you might sample gourmet oysters and sparkling rosé on the Grand Banks schooner; 3 hours, browse the Metropolitan Museum of Art on a weekend evening to avoid the crowds and enjoy the museum’s Balcony Bar; 5 hours, visit Hudson River Park for a flying trapeze class, bicycling and outdoor art installations. These experiences step away from the traditional tourist activities typically offered to guests and create a more localized and inspired stay. How has the currency of luxury changed? What kind of experiences are your guests looking for and how has Waldorf Astoria and Conrad adapted to these new patterns of behavior? In an increasingly hectic world where the lines between business and leisure travel are always blurred, today’s true luxury is time – white space on the calendar. In response to this reality, Waldorf Astoria and Conrad have developed programs that tap into guests’ passions, focus on experiences over products, and leave travelers with meaningful memories and cocktail currency. For instance, the Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, offers a prearranged 90-minute walking tour of the Vatican Gardens or a visit to a classic vineyard in Tuscany or Umbria for lunch and a wine-tasting experience. At Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus, a Conrad 1/3/5 hour itinerary could include breakfast at a former Ottoman residence nestled in a lovely park, an experience in a 16th-century Ottoman bathhouse designed by renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinana, or a day in Asia on a guided tour exploring the contrasting suburbs of Üsküdar and Kadıköy. Has this changed the way you market to your guest? What are Waldorf Astoria’s and Conrad’s approaches? Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam 8 ILHA