naviquan

To plan our trips we often use tourist guides like Frommer's, Fodor's, Michelin, etc. Many of these publications have Web sites and both types of resources are very valuable. What is common with approach is that the guides are presumably independent from the establishments they describe or recommend. Obviously, this implies that the information they provide are unbiased and truthful.

Well, at least in theory this should be true. However, in our experience, it's not uncommon that the reality turns out to be different than the one in the guides, and there many reasons for that. The two most important are limited resources to research hotels (and restaurants) and, as a result, difficulties to maintain the data up to date. If this is true, how about for a change to rely in your research on 100% biased information aimed at you to sell hotels? If you think it's a bad idea that may be not true in some cases.

In particular, I am talking about hotel chains, most notably Relais & Châteaux and The Leading Hotels of the World. The former has its headquarters in Paris, France; the latter is in New York, USA. Both have excellent web sites and various publications, and both do what they can to promote their members.

Why would someone trust these associations of hotels more than presumably independent reviewers? The answer is simple - because such chains also do everything they can to maintain higher standards of services practiced and provided by their members. And this starts with very rigorous admission process. Yes, they try to sell. But they sell an excellent quality product, and they stand behind it. The reputation of the chain is paramount for its success.

Relais & Châteaux and The Leading Hotels of the World are different in many respects. The Leading Hotels of the World looks like having more cohesive corporate structure that relies heavily on al modern managerial and marketing practices. It also more direct in selling strategies, and the The Leading Hotels of the World Web site has significantly less information beyond what directly relates to its hotels.

Relais & Châteaux seems to be more relaxed and softer in its approach to travelers, and this appeals to me much more than aggressive marketing of its competitor. The chain's Web site is an excellent resource not only for booking a hotel, but also for planning your whole trip. I especially like a lot of visual information on its site about various destinations - give it a try! If you want more information on Relais & Châteaux, you can find it in my article about the chain.