The Caterer Blog

Quality and service issues aside though, what really is the point of hotels, claiming a fictional star rating? And where does it end? Surely logic permits that after several hotels have been acclaimed as seven stars that the pinnacle will be raised again?

Then again I enjoyed reading Matt's article and this passage in particular

I've stayed at some of the best hotels on the planet and they're happy enough slumming it down in the five-stars. So what do you get for the alleged extra two? As the first journalist to test the Galleria, my initial thought, three weeks before I'd even checked in, was... two whole stars of extra hassle. You see, I was e-mailed a two-page questionnaire. AKA two pages of hassle. It wanted to know what room temperature would I prefer? What language would I like to communicate in? Would I like cotton or linen sheets? Choose a type of pillow. Name your favourite music. What's the capital of Djibouti? When I failed to fill it out, I was e-mailed, then called to ask if I'd got it. Then, a week later, I was called to ask if I wanted a massage. Or tickets to una prima at La Scala? And, if so, a dinner jacket?

From Matt's experience it was his butler Vito, who even managed to track down the hard-to-find export strength Plymouth gin, who made the hotel something else...... but of course it comes at a cost - a basic room costs €800!!

It seems nonsense to me.