Asking what you pay for in luxury hotels?

[Teadrinker11]

This is probably a very stupid question, so I apologise for being an idiot. I am wondering why luxury hotels are able to charge such minted prices? I was looking at the London Savoy recently and it's nice, but why are they so expensive? What are guests paying for other than a bed, shower / bath and toilet and pleasant staff? What the hell validates the crazy prices?

For the same reason you might pay a lot of money for anything.
A % is because the quality and service is superior, it’s cost more to make/run/train/upkeep.
The other % is for the name/brand and prestige that comes with it.

I'd never normally choose to stay in a luxury hotel in UK because I just don't see them as being worth the money at all. I do splash out on really fancy places abroad though, the types of places that have your own private pool, incredible sea views, overwater villas etc...

Same here @shivawn. A lot of things that people mention as 'the extras that are worth paying for' I'm either not bothered about or find offputting.

As long as it is clean, comfortable, the food is edible and the staff are normal levels of nice/polite/helpful than I'm more than happy.

I don't care if they remember my name or not and wouldn't want to be pestered, fetched and carried for and cleaned up after three times a day.

@Smartiepants79

For the same reason you might pay a lot of money for anything. A % is because the quality and service is superior, it’s cost more to make/run/train/upkeep. The other % is for the name/brand and prestige that comes with it.

Paying a luxury price does not guarantee a luxury product. In a fit of madness I paid £16 for a bottle of L’Occitane shampoo. It is absolutely not worth the money. I get better results from my normal shampoo which is less than half the price.

@WelshyMaud

What are guests paying for other than a bed, shower / bath and toilet and pleasant staff? What the hell validates the crazy prices?

It's like asking why two three bed houses in the same town are priced at £200k and £400k. They both have 3 beds, 2 baths and a garden after all, why would one be more? Because it's nicer, a higher standard of finish, bigger, more convenient etc.

Exactly! You just want everything much nicer. Bathroom is a big thing for me. I don't want a manky, 'at least it's clean' bathroom. I want a very nice bathroom. It's also the little perks, such as the extra mile that the place is willing to do.

I stayed in a lovely posh country house hotel for my 30th birthday. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. I rather suspect that if I had called down to the front desk and asked for a silver unicorn they'd have just asked what colour bridle I'd like. We arrived early with the expectation of leaving our bags and going for a walk, as they knew it was my birthday they quickly arranged an afternoon tea with cakes in a side room, compliments of the house.

The room was immaculate, decent toiletries, loads of fluffy towels, windows that opened and a decent TV with a full selection of channels. Choice of a bath or a shower. Somewhere to sit and write, a full length mirror and most importantly accessible plugs by the bed for charging.

Compare that with the last budget big chain hotel I stayed in for work:

Sat in reception for forty minutes whilst they were late getting my room together.
Noisy hot or cold air conditioning and windows that opened an inch at most.
50 in one body wash/shampoo/conditioner/drain cleaner/car oil in fixed containers on the wall.
Wedge of hair in the drain in the shower.
TV with only a few permitted channels.
Have to either leave my phone by the door or move a bedside table out to unplug a light and plug my phone in.
One towel.

It's like comparing apples and oranges.

privacy, we've had pool villa's and not had to see anyone all week, just hotel staff.
priority booking at the hotel restaurants
private beach area, just raise a little flag when you want a drink
defiantly weeds out the riff raff
all cases unpacked and put away for you
amazing beds and pillows
mini bath robes for the kids
a present on our pillow every evening, the kids got really lovely things
Alway pay 5* in developing countries, here not so much.

They do work at providing a calm and quiet mood atmosphere throughout. Not easily achieved in a busy building.

Very expensive furnishings, style, quality food and drinks. Attentive staff. The royal treatment etc.

And the name

Well it’s the quality of the service, the rooms, the facilities but for me it’s often about the atmosphere and the location/views.

We’ve stayed at the Savoy and had a beautiful room overlooking the river. Everything was great - the spa, the breakfast in the morning. The location is perfect.

My favourite hotel is the Park Hyatt in Tokyo. It’s the one that was in Lost in Translation. It’s pricey but it’s got a bar on the top floor with amazing views of Tokyo. You can swim in the pool again with amazing views. Massive luxurious rooms with views of the skyline. That’s what you’re paying for. It’s just perfect.

It's not just the staffing, furnishings, furniture, food etc. There's also the building itself. I'd hazard a guess to say that the owners of The Savoy paid a hell of a lot more for it than it cost to build a bog standard Travelodge off a motorway roundabout. The ongoing costs of the building itself has to be charged to the guests, i.e. cost of capital, plus they're always larger, more regularly re-decorated with quality paints/wallpapers/murals, plus they often have expensive artworks and antiques. It all has to be paid for.

Luxury hotels don’t need to ‘validate’ their prices, any more than Hermès need to ‘validate’ charging £10k for a handbag or Rolex charging £25k for a watch. It’s a luxury item ; a discretionary purchase and in a free market economy price is part of the exclusivity of the product. Not everyone can afford these things, and that’s the whole point.

If, like me, you are not prepared to pay that much for a hotel room, book Premier Inn instead. They offer excellent value for money.

You pay for the sheer luxury of it all. I watched a programme with Giles Coran and Monica Galetti when they went to The Lanseborough in London.
The prices were truly jaw dropping, and some people stayed there for months at a time.
No tea making facilities in the room - you rang for the butler instead.
They asked what kind of flowers you wanted in your room, and the decor was sumptuous.
So, I might think about it next time I'm in London. (I'll think about it while I'm staying at my usual Premier Inn).

I forgot to add - the guest book included The Queen, Michael Jackson and Madonna. Although why the queen wanted to stay there I don't know, since Buckingham Palace is just across the street....oh, wait...

£350 per night, breakfast not included
Fluffy robes & slippers
Mini bar
Towel elephants
Access to the infinity pool with a view of the city, which is why we stayed there
Marina Bay Sands Singapore

I've seen a programme since visiting, which shows how the hotel complex was built

Well you’re paying for the service, the location, the amenities. I will say in my experience, standard in the UK and Europe are a lot lower than elsewhere - a UK/European 4 star hotel would be a 2 star in somewhere like Dubai/the Middle East.

Depends on the purpose of the trip but if I’m on holiday, I don’t want to stay anywhere less nice than my home so just a clean bed/bath won’t do. I’d rather stay home then.

For me it’s either a premier inn (clean and reliable) or properly luxury - there’s no point going 3 or 4 star because there just isn’t enough to differentiate it from a premier inn.

We stayed at a luxury Scottish castle. We had our own butler, the food was divine, the grounds were gorgeous and they arranged wonderful days out. The room was serviced twice a day, the towels and linens were top quality.

I've stayed at the Savoy our room was quite small but it was lovely. I remember there were pictures up of the Beatles staying there.
I arrived in a black cab and the top hatted man opened the door for me and took my luggage. The only food I had was a club sandwich room service it was nice but it wanted to be for £25!

Service mainly I guess. For example, I stayed in a Four Seasons in SE Asia. I have a dickie lower back and was gutted to discover the bed felt too soft. I could see it had a topper. Rang housekeeping and asked if possible to remove. Went for a swim. Got back within a couple of hours and it had been done. Ah, lovely....

Slightly different angle, but I use 5 star hotels for work events because the events teams are so well trained and if I end up not being able to attend for the whole event, I can rest in the knowledge that the same person will be on hand and possibly be able to run the show for me. I have a lot of work at the beginning to prep and run through everything but then I have my contact there and their mobile number and they really look after you and your group. Wait until the end of each day to debrief if things need tweaked the next day etc etc. The front of house discreetly acknowledge who is senior / who is the organiser and staff know if there is a master account. The chefs in 5 star hotels/venues are obviously a cut above, and the rooms for delegates are never complained about - it is fail-safe for my job.

There's a series on the ITV Hub about the Savoy, gives a good idea what people are paying for.

Agree with PP that after a certain amount it’s mainly it’s to keep away from the riff raff and/or for the privacy and discretion of staff.

@FlissyPaps

Quality, standards and service.

The Savoy for example, it was the first luxury hotel built in London, so has a lot history behind it. That’s one USP. I’m sure one of the restaurants has a Michelin star.

I’m sure the guests of who stay there are looking for more than just a “bed, shower/bath and peasant staff” they want a luxury experience.

Maybe the “peasant staff” are the reason they go

MIL & FIL go to London and Paris sometimes. They always stay at the suite at Claridge’s in London or when they visit Paris - it’s Four Seasons Hotel George V.

They say it’s the little things they appreciate. The butler knows them by their name, remembers their preference at breakfast, rooms are immaculate, attention to detail is unparalleled & the rooms are elegant.