Travelers can choose from many quality hotels throughout Latin America, but will likely return again and again to those they feel offer an exceptionally good stay.

Although the definition of an exceptionally good hotel stay varies from traveler to traveler, there are generally a few standards most travelers agree on, according to Langley Steinert, chairman and founder of TripAdvisor, Inc.

TripAdvisor provides a comprehensive travel search engine that helps consumers research their business and leisure travel plans via the Internet. The company’s website TripAdvisor.com, which was awarded Forbes Best of the Web, also post thousands of hotel reviews for properties worldwide that are either written by former guests or by professional reviewers.

“Service is clearly the most important to the majority of travelers,” said Steinert. “A caring staff makes the difference to most hotel guests who often comment on such things as good maid service or a helpful concierge.”

Room quality comes next in importance, with travelers giving hotels high marks for comfortable beds, nice views and large, luxurious bathrooms, Steinert maintains. Good restaurants and attractive outdoor facilities, such as pools, are also frequently mentioned.

“Whether a hotel is exceptional or not to travelers is really about whether it exceeds their expectations,” he added. Three qualities distinguish Radisson hotels in Latin America, according to Michael Turner, president of Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Latin America: Radisson’s YES, I CAN staff training program, the company’s STAY YOUR OWN WAY program, and its excellent distribution throughout Latin America. Two new hotels were added in the region in 2004, the Hotel Radisson Decapolis in Panama City, and the Radisson Ciudad Empresarial.

Radisson’s YES I CAN training program aims to provide all staff with the power to surpass the expectations of guests in an efficient and effective way.

“Radisson is very proud of the quality of service of its employees, who make a difference within the hotel industry. The YES I CAN program is constantly offered to all staff, so every employee who joins the hotel gets this training before coming into contact with our guests,” Turner said.

Radisson’s worldwide STAY YOUR OWN WAY offer personalizes guests’ experiences by granting them the freedom to enjoy the hotels with services tailored to their needs.

To accommodate the needs of executives who travel throughout Latin America Radisson currently has 10 award-winning hotels located in El Salvador, Guatemala City, San Jose, Panama City, Bogota, Quito, Sao Paulo, Montevideo and Santiago. New Radisson hotels will soon be added in Cali, Colombia, Lima, Peru, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Exceptional hotels strike the perfect balance between their quality product and service elements, according to Jeff Karlson, regional director of sales and marketing for Hilton International in Latin America. Hilton operates 10 hotels in Latin America, which are located in Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Belem, Caracas, Barquismeto; Isla Margarita, Quito; Guayaquil and Cartagena.

“Hilton Hotels in Latin America are from the onset strategically designed to be ’special places’ where guests can always expect a more exciting and rewarding experience,” Karlson said.

Hilton guests rave most about the personal recognition they receive at the hotels and the unparalleled reward system Hilton provides through Hilton HHonors[R], Karlson added.

“Our staff are trained to create personal ties with guests that go beyond the business relationship,” Karlson said. “We understand the need of travelers to feel a sense of belonging and personal attachment as they travel around the globe.”

The Hilton HHonors program is unique in allowing travelers to earn both hotel points and airline miles at more than 2,500 hotels worldwide.

“It is one of the few programs which does not make travelers choose between earning miles and points,” Karlson added.

Hilton International recently outlined plans for a unique five star resort development scheduled for completion in early 2006, which is to be situated at the heart of the Amazon Rain Forest in Brazil.

Guests of the Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi in Brazil particularly appreciate the luxury hotel’s friendly and helpful staff that maintains its professionalism without seeming mechanical, according to Luis Perillo, resident manager.

“The feedback that we have received from guests in the extensive surveys we have taken showed that they place a premium on the service of our staff because they are friendly and helpful, but still very professional,” Perillo said. “This is extremely important to us because we encourage staff to be themselves without a lot of restrictions in the belief that they will make guests comfortable if they are happy and proud to work at the hotel.”

The 485-room, elegantly appointed hotel, which is owned and managed by Hilton, was the first of the group’s hotels in Latin America to offer futuristic guest rooms that provide changes in ambiance and decor to facilitate sleep, work and relaxation.

Work areas feature high-speed Internet connections, ergonomic furniture and office supplies, while the bedrooms offer panoramic windows designed to make the most of natural light and plush goose feather comforters.

The Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi, which opened in October 2002, also is home to the award-winning Canvas Bar & Grill, where chefs create culinary works of art on big white, square plates–emphasizing texture, color and flavor. The restaurant–which was named the “Best Business Restaurant” by Latin Trade in 2004 and received a coveted star from the Guia 4 Rodas Brazil 2004–also hosts exhibitions of local artists’ work that rotate every 45 days.

The Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi has received several prestigious awards, including “Best Business Hotel in Latin America” from Latin Trade in 2004; “Best Luxury Hotel” from Guia 4 Rodas Brazil 2004; and “Best Meeting and Convention Hotel in South America” from the World Travel Awards.

Marriott International specializes in exceptional hotel stays with an unrelenting commitment to meeting customer needs through a tradition of excellence in quality, caring, personal service and warm hospitality that started 75 years ago with the founders of the company, according to Susan Tompkins-Payne, regional director of field marketing, Caribbean/Latin America Region, Marriott International.

Marriott was recently named the most admired company in the lodging industry by Fortune magazine, which polled 10,000 executives, directors and security analysts who judge companies based on “innovativeness, employee talent, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, long-term investment and quality of products/services”.

“Over the years, our guests have provided us with many challenges. Misplaced passports, lost luggage, and in one instance–the odd for gotten pair of dress shoes,” said Tompkins. “In this case Marriott arranged for size 10 black wingtips to be brought to the guest’s room immediately. On another occasion, a guest had forgotten his wallet half way across the world. Marriott retrieved the wallet, shipped and delivered it to the guest overnight.”

Marriott has 36 locations throughout Latin America, including Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras and the Caribbean.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Spa Collection in Mexico provides a truly exceptional hotel stay for those who enjoy being pampered in style. All of the hotels in the collection are centered with the philosophy of the Seven Pillars of Wellness–a global vitality trend that incorporates the essential facets of health, beauty and inner peace that provide a well-being approach to fitness.

Spa Collection hotels–which are available in Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta–offer a distinctive portfolio of spa amenities and services: They are home to the luxurious Temazcal treatment, Nopal Wrap and Mystic Mayan Massage.

Guests who experience the Temazcal treatment enter a special chamber heated by rocks. When boughs of herbs are laid over the hot rocks and the rocks are doused with water, a richly scented steam begins the sweating process necessary to relax and purify the body.

The Mayan Mystic Massage is a full body technique using specially blended oils and the healing power of quartz, while the Nopal Wrap uses cactus leaf extracts–ideal for those who have had too much sun, sea or wind.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide–Latin America Division operates 43 properties in 10 Latin American countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay.

Across all of its brands, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) sets itself apart from other international hotel chains through an ideal blend of international standards, and local flair. The internationally regarded IHG family of brands (InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites) includes some of the most recognized and respected names in the industry. As the most global hotel company, with a presence in 100 countries or territories and 535,000 guestrooms IHG’s brands are among the most familiar name in the global hospitality industry.

In Latin America, IHG has, or is about to establish a presence in virtually every major financial center in the region, as well as numerous other cities in key countries throughout the region. IHG, with its roots in Latin America, and nearing its seventh decade of existence, is renown for its ability to balance the complex needs of today’s traveler, be it business or pleasure.

“Corporate and leisure travelers both have grown accustomed over the years to enjoy our standards and amenities across the whole of our brands,” says Alvaro Diago, area president of InterContinental Hotels Group Latin America. “That is why our brands continue to rank amongst the most preferred in the region.”

IHG provides guests with the option to select their hotel needs based on their available budget. And IHG continues to promise the lowest Internet rate guaranteed for all its brands. IHG offers one simple loyalty program, Priority Club Rewards, which provides guests with the option to accumulate points or airline miles across all its hotel brands.

Some of Central America’s finest hotels, personalized five-star service and the best locations can be found in Real InterContinental Hotels brand.

The visual impact of all six hotels represents only the beginning of their many pleasures. Inside, along with the warmth of the colorful lobby and the soothing atmosphere offered by the staff, guests will note the exquisite charm of the award winning restaurants and bars.

Tastefully decorated in warm tropical colors, the spacious guest rooms begin at the deluxe level, followed by Junior Suites that may feature Jacuzzis and spacious living areas, while Club Rooms provide private lounge benefits for members of InterContinental’s Ambassadors Club. A stay on the executive floors ensures the utmost in privacy and personal service, including complimentary buffet breakfast.

Always situated in the heart of the city, Real InterContinental hotels are at walking distance from the country’s largest malls and other entertainment options.

When You Travel with Your MasterCard Car, Exceptional Service Is Routine

In a world in which travel has become increasingly complicated, MasterCard offers exclusive amenities that make every trip simpler and more enjoyable.

INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS

Planning a trip abroad can be confusing, Do you need a passport or vaccinations? MasterCard premium cardholders can obtain complete destination information by calling the MasterAssist[R] service.

Platinum cardholders can call the MasterCard Concierge Service to arrange car rentals, restaurant reservations, tickets to events, and more.

PRESTIGE AND PROTECTION

On your day of departure, you may be able to avoid the crowded gate area and wait in privacy and style at a Priority Pass Airport Lounge, if you are a Platinum cardholder.

And if shopping in the USA is on your itinerary, take MasterCard along. All cardholders from Latin America can take advantage of the convenience of shipping purchases back home with MasterDelivery[TM]. With this exclusive service, you can send “proof-of-receipt” packages to MasterDelivery facilities in Miami, which will handle customs and arrange for delivery to the address you designate.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Cardholders who travel abroad can rely on MasterCard Global Service[TM] for emergency card-related assistance–any time, anywhere, any language,

Has your card been lost or stolen? With one toll-free call, you can file a report, and request a replacement card or an emergency cash advance to cover immediate costs. You can also call Global Service for account-related information or directions to the closest cash machine.

HOW TO REACH MASTERCARD

In your home country, call your card issuer for service. From the United States, the Bahamas, Canada, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands, just dial MasterCard Global Service at 1-800-307-7309. From Mexico, call 001-800-307-7309. From Brazil, call 0800-891-3294. Or call collect to the United States at 1-636-722-7111.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Freedom Magazines, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

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Source: VIP Panama

Michael Taylor owns this very nice three bedroom townhouse on the golf course at the Costa Blanca Royal Decameron Resort in Farallon, Panama. He rents out the three bedrooms in the Villa to guests.

Let me start off with a standard Panama Guide disclosure statement. I just stayed for two nights at Michael’s townhouse free of charge. Michael is not sponsoring Panama Guide, but I felt obligated to tell everyone right up front that I stayed there for free. Michael called me a couple of weeks ago, after having seen the article I wrote about the Los Capitanes hotel in El Valle and he wanted to know if I would come and take a look at what he was offering at the Decameron Resort. I said sure, sounds like fun. And, as long as you readers know my view could me slightly “tainted” by the free room, then I feel I can rest easy.

That having been said, let me tell you a little about the townhouse. It’s basically a three bedroom house, with one bedroom on the first floor and two upstairs. Each bedroom has it’s own full bathroom and can be rented as an individual hotel room. The first floor also has the living room, dining room, and complete kitchen and a guest bathroom. There’s a door to the living room, so it’s possible to rent the entire first floor with the bedroom, living room, dining room and kitchen, and then two other parties can rent the other two bedrooms upstairs. There are a lot of different combinations that will work.

Now, I just got my new professional SLR digital camera, so I used this trip to break it in and learn a little about it. I took about 300 pictures around the Villa, golf course, and the Decameron resort. Unfortunately for this article I can only use five pictures, and the maximum size is 300 by 300 pixels, so I’m kinda limited at what I can show you. Michael is going to be using some of the pictures I took to spruce up this website about the townhouse, so maybe you’ll see some of them there.

The townhouse itself is very nice and comfortable. All of the rooms have a private bathroom and air conditioning. The downstairs bedroom has two queensized beds, and each of the two upstairs bedrooms have a kingsized bed. The livingroom, dining room, and kitchen are very nice and comfortable. There is a complete kitchen with a ‘fridge, stove, microwave and all utensiles, washer and dryer, etc. We were very comfortable staying there, and the maids clean up after the guests. As far as the hotel is concerned, the rooms in the Villas are extensions of the hotel. Like, there were towels and little bottles of shampoo and stuff like that. I mean, it’s half private house and half hotel. Different, but very nice…

The townhouse is located just off the right-hand side of the middle of the fairway of Hole #1 of the brand new Mantaray Golf Course. As a matter of fact, his back yard is about 200 yards from the first green, and all throughout the day we saw happy golfers driving by to play their second shot and make their approach. I didn’t realize that the golf couse was open for business, and didn’t come prepared to play. I fully expect to remedy that the next time I go. Doug (the golf pro) gave us a guided tour of the course, and I’ll probably be doing another article about the course before too long, so stand by for that. It’s a very nice course.

There are probably more than 100 townhouses already built, and they are putting up more just as hard as they can. They are selling really well, and for good reason. They’re doing a nice job on the construction, design, and groundskeeping. The lawns are manicured, security is excellent, and the houses themselves are very well built and comfortable. There are several families that live there full time as well as several expats. Most, however, are used as private weekend beachhomes.

Owners, visitors and guests have access to the private and exclusive Beach Club. Guests who are staying at the Decameron Hotel can not use the Beach Club and they have their own facilities. We went through the Beach Club a few times at different times of the weekend, and there were a few people there but it was not jammed packed or crowded. It’s a very nice facility with a pool, restaurant, bar, and beach bohios. We ate there twice and the food was excellent.

But by far the best deal was to buy the “Convi-Pass” at the reception desk of the Decameron Resort. The passes cost $30 per person per day, and it gives you full access to the resort, plus all you can eat and drink from 7:00 AM until 2:00 AM the next day. That’s all you can eat, breakfast, lunch and dinner, and open bar all day. Without getting into all the details, we spent the day between the beach, the pool, eating at the restaurants, and getting hammered at the bar. We had a really good time, took full advantage of the passes, and certainly got our money’s worth.

There are something like eight different restaurants were you can eat dinner, each with a theme (see the Decameron website for details.) You have to schedule an appointment for dinner, and we set ourselves up with a late dinner at the steak restaurant (forgot the name, sorry…) All the food was excellent, all day long. Breakfast and dinner were buffet style, and dinner was sit-down and served. Very nice, well done, and organized.

The hotel itself was packed with guests. There are more than 600 rooms in the hotel and they were all full. It’s a big task for the staff to feed all those people and keep everyone happy. They were doing thier best to meet the challange. One thing I saw that impressed me — there was a chef out and walking around the buffet lines where we ate lunch. He had a radio in his right hand and would relay orders to the kitchen to call for replacements for dishes that were being depleted. As the guests chowed down, he called for more. He was hovering over the salad bar like it was his personal mission to keep it perfect.

Also while we were eating lunch, I observed the table turn-over procedures in action at the table next to us. The people who were seated there finished eating and stood up to leave. As soon as they were walking away and it was obvious they were done, a steward swooped in and cleared the dirty dishes. A second guy came in with clean napkins, utensils, and water glasses. A new group of guests were seated and attended to. The whole process took about 45 seconds. Let’s just say they’re used to taking care of a lot of people.

At this point, it’s late and I’m tired. I’ll be adding more to this article later. But for now, g’night…

(Added on 18 January 2005) Much better. It’s hard to write well when you’re eyelids are drooping. Now, where was I…

After the publication of the first part of this article, I received several emails from Bill Murphy. He owns townhouse #51 at Decameron and wanted me to let you all know that he rents his out as well. His email address is [email protected] and you can call (507) 223-0582 to make reservations. His townhouse is basically identical to Michael Taylor’s.

I wanted to talk a little about the beach and pools at the Decameron resort. We spent the better part of the day just hanging out on the beach, going back and forth between the ocean and taking dips in the pools. There’s basically one long (huge) pool that runs along the front, ocean side of the resort. There are thatched hut bohios on the beach with beach chairs, so you can set up shop in a bohio, then go into the ocean and swim and then back into the pool for a fresh water dip.

There are a couple of showers for washing off salt and sand but really there were not enough. I only saw a couple of showerheads, and one of them didn’t have much water pressure. There was actually a line of people waiting to hose off.

The beach and ocean there is very nice. The size of the surf changes depending on the rising or falling tides and offshore winds. For the most part you can easily get out past the breakers and swim. The water was very warm and nice, and about as clear as the Pacific ocean gets along that part of Panama’s coast. There were all kinds of kids playing in the sand and making sand castles and stuff like that. Classic beach stuff…

There’s an activities hut where you can rent jet skis, small sail boats, and sign up for trips on banana boats, fishing, etc. There’s all kinds of water sports stuff to do there. Decameron is a very nice, top notch resort.

A little about the golf course. There are now nine holes open for play, and the back nine will be open shortly, before the end of February. There’s a lot of water in play, some long holes, tight fairways, and trees and other obstacles that come into play. The course is very well designed and is in fantastic shape. The resort has a dam and manmade lake on the Farallon river and can pump more than 1,800 gallons of water per hour onto the golf course when necessary. The course will be a total 7,100 yards when finished.

SOURCE: Don Winner @ Panama-guide.com

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Source: VIP Panama