Hoteliers Circle Editorial

In the realm of luxury hospitality, the bar for guest satisfaction is continuously being raised. As travellers continue to seek out more individualised and immersive experiences, the trend of offering unique in-room amenities is set to become an integral part of the luxury hotel industry’s future. While plush beds and opulent bathrooms have long been staples of high-end hotels, the modern traveller seeks more personalised and unique experiences that start right in their rooms. This article explores exceptional in-room amenities from around the world, which redefine what it means to holiday in style. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort - Finland Nestled in the pristine wilderness of Lapland, the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort offers a truly unique experience with its famous glass igloos. This extraordinary hotel allows guests to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Arctic while enjoying luxurious in-room amenities. Unique In-Room Amenities Glass Igloos: The highlight of staying at Kakslauttanen is the glass igloo accommodation. These igloos are designed with a thermal glass roof that stays clear of frost, offering unobstructed views of the northern lights and the starry Arctic sky right from the comfort of your bed. Private Sauna: Many of the igloos and log cabins come equipped with private saunas, allowing guests to relax and warm up after a day of exploring the snowy landscape. Fireplace: Some accommodations feature a cosy fireplace, adding to the romantic and secluded atmosphere. Guests can enjoy the warmth and ambience of a crackling fire while watching the northern lights. The Peninsula Tokyo The Peninsula Tokyo - Japan The Peninsula Tokyo is renowned for its blend of traditional Japanese hospitality and cutting-edge technology. This hotel offers an array of in-room amenities that cater to the modern traveller’s needs while providing a taste of Japanese culture. Unique In-Room Amenities Nail Dryer and Manicure Set: Each room is equipped with a nail dryer and a comprehensive manicure set, allowing guests to pamper themselves without leaving their room. Tablet Technology: The Peninsula Tokyo integrates advanced tablet technology in all rooms, controlling everything from lighting and temperature to room service and curtain settings, ensuring a seamless and personalised experience. Traditional Japanese Yukata: Guests can enjoy wearing a traditional yukata (a casual summer kimono) provided in each room. This adds an authentic cultural touch to their stay and enhances their comfort. The 13 - Macau The 13 - Macau, China The 13 in Macau is known for its extravagant luxury and opulence, offering an unparalleled level of comfort and sophistication. Each villa in this hotel is designed to provide guests with a royal experience, complete with bespoke in-room amenities. Unique In-Room Amenities Private Elevator Entry: Each villa has its own private elevator, ensuring the utmost privacy and exclusivity for guests. This feature allows for discreet and direct access to the accommodation. Baroque-Style Decor: The rooms are adorned with Baroque-style furnishings, including marble bathrooms, velvet upholstery, and ornate gold accents, creating a lavish and regal ambience. Private Pool and Sauna: Select villas come with their own private pool and sauna, allowing guests to unwind and relax in their own secluded space. Aria Hotel Budapest Aria Hotel Budapest - Hungary Located in the heart of Budapest, the Aria Hotel is a musical-themed luxury hotel that harmonises contemporary design with musical heritage. Each room is dedicated to a different genre of music, offering a unique and melodious experience for guests. Unique In-Room Amenities iPads with Music Library: Every room comes with an iPad pre-loaded with a vast music library, allowing guests to enjoy their favourite tunes or discover new ones. The hotel’s music director curates playlists to enhance the musical experience. Sound Systems: The rooms are equipped with high-quality sound systems, providing an immersive audio experience. Guests can listen to music with exceptional clarity and depth, enhancing their stay. Personalised Musical Instruments: Some suites feature musical instruments, such as pianos or guitars, for guests to play. This amenity is perfect for music lovers who want to indulge their passion during their stay. From the mesmerizing glass igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort to the cutting-edge technology at The Peninsula Tokyo, the opulent private villas at The 13 in Macau, and the musical delights at Aria Hotel Budapest, these hotels offer experiences that go far beyond the ordinary. By integrating personalised and distinctive features into their rooms, these properties not only meet the high expectations of their guests but also create lasting memories that redefine what it means to stay in luxury. 

Rina Rizzi, a Guardian of the LGBT+ Culture and Inclusive Tourism Inspector, has been involved in tourism for almost 30 years, paying special attention to the needs of LGBT community. For 12 years Rina has been designated in Europe to coordinate all tourism inspections with the goal of verifying compliance with local and international standards for the inclusion of guests with disabilities, of all cultures, genders and religions. Today, Rina is the CEO of LGBT+GO International Travel - a unique tour operator that soon will face new challenges in a major and remarkable corporate merger. In this exclusive article, she is sharing her advice on inclusivity as the new normal for hospitality. Why is inclusivity important for hospitality?Inclusivity is critical to hospitality because it ensures that all guests, regardless of their background or identity, feel welcomed and valued in the facility. When acompany shows commitment to inclusivity, it helps create an environment of mutual respect and understanding, which leads to greater customer loyalty andsatisfaction. Moreover, having a diverse and inclusive workforce can help attract a wider range of customers and provide unique perspectives that enhance theguest experience. Basically, creating an inclusive environment in hospitality is essential to foster a sense of belonging, promote equality and ensure that everyguest feels heard, seen and valued.Inclusive tourism for the LGBT community means offering tourism destinations and services that are open and welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, andtransgender travellers. The goal is to make LGBT people feel comfortable and safe while travelling, without worrying about discrimination or hostility.Creating inclusive tourism means recognizing and respecting the diversity of the LGBT community and taking steps to ensure that every aspect of the travelexperience is inclusive, from accommodations and transportation to restaurants, bars and entertainment.The benefits of inclusive tourism for the LGBT community are clear: it provides a feeling of safety, comfort and security during the trip and helps foster a sense ofcommunity and connection. It also helps break down stereotypes and prejudices about the LGBT community and promotes greater understanding andacceptance. For businesses addressing to the LGBT community, it can also be good for the bottom line, as LGBT travellers tend to be particularly loyal andfrequent customers.Overall, creating an inclusive tourism industry for the LGBT community is a win-win: it benefits both the LGBT community and local businesses and economies,and helps make travel a more welcoming and positive experience for all. What are the ways to implement inclusive practices in hotels?In general, promoting inclusivity in hotels is not just a trending topic, but a need. Hotels that make inclusivity as a part of their core mission not only become morerelevant, but can benefit from media, positive feedback and increased customer satisfaction. Some rules:● Using gender-neutral language in all hotel communications and advertising, including websites, brochures, signs, and menus.● Diversity and inclusion in hiring: Hotel management can ensure that the hiring process is inclusive and actively seeks people from a wide range of backgrounds. Providing training to all hotel staff on gender and LGBTQ+ issues, including how to provide culturally sensitive and respectful services and support.● Educating hotel employees on the importance of treating all the guests fairly and respectfully, regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation, or religion,can ensure that all the guests receive equal treatment.● Providing accessible facilities: The hotel can make available rooms, ramps, and other features to accommodate guests with disabilities.● LGBTQ+-friendly policies: Developing policies that promote inclusivity, diversity, and respect for guests and employees who identify as LGBTQ+.● Engaging with the local LGBTQ+ community to create visibility and promote inclusivity in the surrounding community. What are the new challenges related to your tour operator?For our TO, while waiting to finalize all the formalities of revisiting and reinterpreting our brand, we are approaching towards new markets that we had initially put on the back burner.We are looking for new hotels and resorts that can satisfy our most demanding customers in the Maldives, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE and Africa.We want to offer our clients true excellence with new partners sharing our idea of holidays. About LGBT+GO International TravelLGBT+ Go International Travel is part of the LGBT International Group with 40 years of experience in the Travel industry, putting together distinctive tours and holidays and ensuring every traveller gets the experience they deserve.