Hotels and hospitality are meant to be synonymous despite the difficulty in appeasing a broad base of clientele with vastly diverse needs. One need that transcends all segments of the market is WiFi access. Hotels across the country are scrambling to offer it – some free but most for outrageous prices with intermittent service. The Wall Street Journal has a report on the troubles road warriors encounter not just in hotels but also at airports and in the air.
On a somewhat lighter vein, the needs of a VVIP who may end up in your hostelry are a tad more predictable. Usually, a head honcho has an advance guard that notifies management of their boss’ preferences. That certainly appears to have been the case for two prominent politicians, John Kerry and Dick Cheney, on the campaign trail during the last presidential elections.
Kerry’s preferences were said to have been:
“Vitamin waters,” protein bars, Boost “weight maintenance” drinks and peanut butter (Skippy creamy).
Down pillows.
Milano cookies.
A recumbent bicycle.
Television with the “ability to order movies in-suite.”
Poland Spring bottled water – but not Evian.
The New York Times, The Washington Post and local paper
No tomato based products
Cheney’s quirks were not revealed in such depth other than a requirement that all TVs in his suite were to be tuned into Fox News.