Wow! Visiting the latest addition to our hotel portfolio last week, I could not help it but to notice I was truly impressed by the dedication of its owners to deliver excellent guest service.  They have true hoteliers blood running through their veins. Let me share this inspiring story of genuine Scottish Hospitality with you.

The Ednam House Hotel, located in Kelso, Scotland, contacted us a few weeks ago, requesting our help on their online distribution and pricing strategies. As with all leads, I qualify them by doing some research online. Going on their TripAdvisor profile (see here) I directly noticed we were dealing with hoteliers that truly cared about what their guests had to say. Every review was carefully answered, addressing all the feedback remarks positive and negative in a constructive and positive manner.

After several conversations I was certain this was a hotel I would be proud of to add to our portfolio. And I was extremely pleased to learn that in return they were also putting their trust in Xotels to implement revenue management for their hotel. A site visit was planned so we could gain a better understanding of the uniqueness of the Ednam House. And little did I know before this road trip that the word unique could be completely underrated. I can honestly say that this 2 day adventure is without a doubt amongst the ones I have enjoyed the most since we launched Xotels back in 2006.

Following a late flight from Barcelona on one of my least favorite and very client unfriendly low cost airlines (which name I will not mention in order not promote their name in any way), we arrived in Edinburgh where we would stay the night. We were warmly welcomed at the EasyHotel in Edinburgh, another client of ours, where we were given rooms with breathtaking views of the Castle of Edinburgh. We enjoyed a comfortable night sleep and picked up the rental car, a cool Fiat 500, following a morning strategy meeting. The road trip was about to begin.

We drove out of the city, down the Scottish motorways into the country side. The landscape was beautiful with mountains, rivers, and fields with cows, sheep and little lambs running and playing. The change of scenery really made an impression on us, but little did we know there was so much more to come. After about a one hour driving adventure we arrived in the town of Kelso, located in the Scottish Borders region on the River Tweed. We drove around the village to get our bearings and a general impression. It surely hit us as a beautiful and charming historic town, perfect to spend a long weekend or relaxing break.

Arriving at the hotel a non-stop volley ‘awe’ impressions started. The Ednam House is located in a gorgeous Georgian Mansion sitting in 3 acres of gardens overlooking the famous River Tweed. Driving up the entrance courtyard, you cannot help it by being overwhelmed by the stunning setting. We were immediately welcomed by Ralph and Anne, the fourth generation of the Brooks family, who have owned and ran the hotel since 1928. We were immediately invited to join them for lunch, ad treated on wonderful stories of their family and history of the hotel. I could tell they had true hospitality blood running through their veins. And actually the hotel was just one of the businesses they were running. They truly live for their business and understand what it means to create a story.

Anne gave us the grand tour of the property, literally taking us back in time. Whilst the original building has been updated and extended through the years, it has retained its historical character and oozes charm; the original woodwork, plaster ceilings & marble fireplaces are truly magnificent. The lounges with grand red velvet sofas, armchairs, landscape paintings, porcelain vases, are breathtaking. The entrance lobby with fishing rods subtly tucked away in the corner with a few wind-coats hanging from a peg, shows you this is not simply a concept, it’s an original! You truly feel yourself in another, and actually you are. Moreover the informal friendliness of our hosts is just unwinding and simply sincere. Everything about this place is real …

Throughout the tour Anne explains us all the nicknames of the rooms, like the blue lounge, which is no longer blue as the original blue wall paper was covered with red many years ago. But also the beautiful traditionally decorated bedrooms have been named based on the wallpaper, and include curiosity instigating names like ‘the naughty monkeys’, ‘blue birds’, ‘William Morris’, ‘Chinese room’, Tulips room’. She tells us that repeating guests request specific rooms, as they like the setting and decoration. They even prefer not to be upgraded to a larger room, but simply want to stay in their room, where they have always slept.

Sitting in the lounge in the evening night catching up on emails, I overheard some of the other guests, mostly fishermen whom have been coming to the hotel for many years, talking amongst each other. One thing stroke me, they all knew Ralph and the barman George by name. Ralph sat with them discussing what the day had brought them. There was no barrier between host and guest, no everyone was simply at home!

Ralph and Anne take their passion for hospitality and catering further than simply exploiting the hotel. They take their dedication of providing service to their guests to an unparalleled level. Actually besides using local fresh ingredients in the kitchen by Ralph, who has been head chef since the days his farther used to run Ednam House, I was intrigued to learn that they also smoke their own salmon, have bee hives and produce honey for your breakfast, raise free range pork, bake fresh bread, and have their own Whisky brand.

They also exploit a modern Deli, ‘Pharlanne’, located at the entrance of the hotel, where you can buy these fresh ingredients and products to take home with you. They put together hampers as presents to bring back as a souvenir or gift for the holidays. And the wine served in the restaurant and sold in the Deli is produced by Anne’s family back in France.

Now this is a story about genuine Scottish hospitality to share, I thought …

Isn’t that what a hotel should be all about? A story worth sharing … An experience you would want to talk about on your FaceBook, Twitter, Google+ and personal Blog … Such a unique experience cannot be replaced by any social media marketing strategy!

What an authentic adventure! I feel extremely fortunate that we can count the Ednam House Hotel amongst the hotel clients of Xotels.

I hope this story has inspired you.

Cheers,

Patrick @ Xotels

Want to know more about our services? Click here: Hotel Management Company

It’s that time of year, when everyone’s beginning to plan how they will spend their summer vacations. For some, their idea of a perfect holiday is sunning themselves on a golden, sandy beach. For others, it means caravanning across Europe, shopping in Rome, or even sailing to the Arctic Circle!

However you choose to spend your vacation, there’s one item which you absolutely cannot do without – insurance. No matter where you are or what you’re doing, insurance will help to keep you, your loved ones and your possessions safe.

Finding a Great Insurance Provider

There are so many insurance providers on the market today, so finding a great one can sometimes feel like an insurmountable task. But there is a key to finding the right travel insurance, and that is to find a provider who is committed to meeting your specific needs. If your current provider isn’t up to the challenge, it might be worth checking out www.towergateinsurance.co.uk – the specialist insurance broker for people who value personal service.

Get to Grips with Your Insurance Needs

If you don’t know what type of insurance you will need, you may find yourself being sold unnecessary protection policies. Before you choose a provider, you should always make sure you have a good understanding of your insurance needs.

For example, if you are travelling in a caravan, you will need insurance which is specifically designed to cover both a domicile and a vehicle. But if you have your own holiday home, you may wish to investigate the benefits of holiday home insurance. This type of insurance is very similar to standard home insurance, but is specifically designed to cover properties which may be standing empty or rented out for periods of time. Similarly, there are different types of insurance for people who intend to take short trips or long vacations, and still more for those who intend to take more than one holiday in a year.

Get the Best Deal for You

Finding the right insurance provider can be tricky, but hopefully these simple tips will help. Most importantly, you should always shop around for your insurance provider, to ensure you get the best deal possible. But remember, at the end of the day a good deal can only really be assessed on how willing a provider is to meet your needs. After all, you can’t put a price on good service.

What is needed is some information about a handful of the very best ones, so that you can focus on these, and there is no question that the Bellagio is one of the very best.

This is one of the most famous casinos in Vegas, and rightly so, because it offers luxurious accommodation combined with a spectacular casino. Indeed its so big that there is one whole floor devoted purely to slots games, and it is unlikely anyone will fail to find their favourites games here –although be warned: it’s not cheap.

The same can be said of another star Vegas casino – the MGM Grand- as you might expect from the name. Again this is a hotel and casino, and it is one of the best places for all round entertainment, with five swimming pools and a host of different attractions in the Garden Arena, alongside the casino games.

On the other hand if you aren’t interested in other forms of entertainment, one of the best casinos for focused gaming is the Wynn Las Vegas, which has built its enviable reputation almost entirely on its casino.

Finally there are many themed casinos in Vegas, but perhaps the best two are the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino and the Venetian. The former, styled after carnival time in Rio, is lively, colourful and welcoming, as well as boasting excellent cuisine, while the latter is quieter, but more romantic – complete with gondola rides through a replica of Venice. Thus the Rio may appeal more to the outgoing, while the Venetian will suit those who prefer something a bit calmer.

To try a wide selection of online pokies before you visit Las Vegas for the real deal, go to Lucky Nugget.

Cannes is a luxurious town in a part of France known not for budget travel but for opulence and elegance. So how do you experience this most famous of French Riviera towns on a budget?

It’s not easy but if you’re willing to be creative and work a little harder than the normal vacationer, it’s entirely possible to experience the luxury of Cannes for less! I spent several days this spring touring the city and I found out there is a way for almost anyone on any budget to enjoy themselves.

If you’ve come to Cannes for the fashion, you’ll want to start on Boulevard de la Croisette. Boutiques like Celine, which represent the very best of French fashion, will inspire and inform you as to what’s currently in style yet other high-end designer stores like Chanel, Hermes and Cartier will make your wallet groan. So, head instead to Sandro or Maje for chic French style at half the price tags found on Boulevard de la Croisette. There are even outlets and less expensive, but still luxurious, boutiques back on Rue d’Antibes, which runs parallel to Boulevard de la Croisette. For affordable, yet luxurious, men’s fashion seek out San Francisco.

Perfume is another draw for many shoppers in Cannes. Instead of buying the latest designer scent at an astronomical price, take a day trip to Grasse which won’t cost more than 12 euros on the train, and make your own customized scent in the same place the high end perfumeries take their inspiration and science from. The personal nature of making your own perfume there is most definitely a luxury that’s still accessible.

Also on Rue d’Antibes in Cannes are wholesale pharmacies where you can stock up on French skincare at prices significantly less than full retail. Sizes are the same, the brands are the same, there’s no sacrifice in luxury – only a less painful impact to your wallet!

It won’t take you long to notice Cannes is filled not just with luxury clothing but with luxury cars as well. If you want to fit in and drive such a car along the palm tree-lined boulevards, consider renting a convertible for just a day or a portion of your trip, instead of the entire length of your holiday. Plan accordingly so you can really show off the car while you do have it, and then spend the rest of your time walking Cannes or utilizing its inexpensive bus system to get around!

If you’re visiting Cannes to experience the great restaurants and culinary culture, there is a way to experience that almost painlessly as well. Most of the best restaurants in Cannes have lunch menus that feature lunch-sized pricing attached to food that is every bit as luxurious as that found in the evening menus, for less. Often lunch is even cooked by the same chefs and features the very same ingredients. For instance, a restaurant that in the evening would cost 80 euros total for just one person could be experienced during the lunch hour for less than 25 euros. Most restaurants feature a prixe fixe menu enabling the consumer to enjoy wine, a starter and a main entrée, all for one set price. Choose to then cook dinner at home in your HouseTrip apartment and you could cut your food expenses in half without sacrificing experience.

The number 200 bus departs regularly from Cannes and can be taken all the way to Monaco for only one euro. While Monaco is even less inclined to be ready for budget travelers than Cannes, a save in the transportation department means you can splurge a little once you do get to the city that is actually a country, made famous by Princess Grace and James Bond.

By renting a HouseTrip apartment and following even a few of these simple tips to experience the luxury of Cannes for less, you should be able to have an affordable dream holiday in one of the French Riviera’s most sought after destinations – even during the film festival!

“Von einander Lernen” unter diesem Motto hat die Österreich Werbung schon vor einigen Jahren ein internes Austauschprogramm mit dem Titel “Mobilitätsprojekt” ins Leben gerufen. Dabei werden Mitarbeiter/-innen für 2 Wochen in ein anderes ÖW Büro “verliehen” und haben die Möglichkeit an einem Leitprojekt mitzuarbeiten und sich ein paar Tipps und Trick von den Kollegen abzuschauen. Ich persönlich bin ein sehr großer Fan dieses Programms und hab mich irrsinnig gefreut als ich den Zuschlag für Berlin bekommen habe.

Die Idee ein Stückerl Österreich dauerhaft nach Berlin zu “verpflanzen” fand ich eine sehr sympathische und nachhaltige Art der Außenwerbung. Unter dem Titel “Wir machen Berlin ein Stück Österreicher” haben die Berliner Kolleg/-innen gemeinsam mit den Landestourismusorganisationen mobil gemacht und über 700 Alpenpflanzen, Apfelbäume, Felsformationen, Holzbankerln und sogar ein Fernrohr zusammengetragen um einen vernachlässigten Park – im sonst so schicken Bezirk Charlottenburg – wiederzubeleben.

Was hier so einfach klingt, war aber in Wirklichkeit ein ganz schön aufwändiges Projekt und ist wohl nach und nach zu einem Gesamtkunstwerk gewachsen. Und der Funke der Begeisterung ist ganz offensichtlich auch auf das Gartenbauamt des Bezirks Charlottenburg übergesprungen. Gemeinsam wurden sorgfältig Pflanzen ausgewählt und extra ein pensionierter Stadtgärtner (und bekennender Österreich Fan) für dieses Projekt abgestellt, um dem Park nicht nur den Namen Österreich Park zu geben, sondern auch eine Österreichische Landschaft und die typische gemütlich-entspannte Atmosphäre einzuhauchen.

Als ich ca. 2 Wochen vor der feierlichen Eröffnung des Parks im Berliner Büro eingecheckt habe, liefen die Vorbereitungen natürlich schon auf vollen Touren. Und bei Saras Update zum Status Quo hat mich dann auch das Parkfieber gepackt. Mit wie viel Liebe zum Detail dieses Projekt umgesetzt wurde, ist mir spätestens beim Zusammenstellen des Briefings für die Wanderbegleiter/-innen so richtig bewusst geworden. Mit “Hier ist der Park, bitteschön liebe Berliner” war‘s hier nämlich nicht getan!

Es wurden extra dynamische und sympathische Österreicher/-innen rekrutiert, die 350 wanderfreudige Berliner/-innen von der österreichischen Botschaft durch den Tierpark zum Österreich Park begleiteten und dabei das Gefühl des “Willkommen sein” verbreitet sollten. Im Park selbst wurden 9 Österreich Erlebenstationen mit Kunstinstallationen, Spielen, Kunsthandwerk, Entspannungsinseln, österreichischen Köstlichkeiten und stimmungsvoller Musik aufgebaut um die Übergabe des Österreich Parks an Berlin gebührend zu feiern.

Und den Berliner/-innen dürfte die Idee mindestens genauso gut gefallen haben wie mir. Die haben uns im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes die Türen eingerannt. Die Karten für die Wanderung (damit wir unsere Gastgeberqualitäten auch richtig wahrnehmen konnten) mussten auf 350 Teilnehmer/-innen limitiert werden. Die waren so schnell weg, wie sonst nur die Tickets für das Glastonbury Festival!

Auch im Park haben ca. 700 Berliner/-innen die Eröffnung des Österreich Parks mitgefeiert. Die Picknickwiese hat an eine riesige Österreich-Fahne erinnert und war mit Sitzkissen in Rot-Weiß-Rot nahezu gepflastert. Und hätte es nicht rechtzeitig zum Ende der Veranstaltung einen Regenguss gegeben, würden die Berliner /-innen wohl immer noch feiern.

Es ist schön zu sehen, wie viele Österreich Fans es in Berlin gibt und auf wie viel Begeisterung dieses Projekt bei den Berliner/-innen gestoßen ist. Gegen Ende der Veranstaltung hab ich mich an ein steirischen Apfelbäumchen gelehnt, mir das bunte Treiben auf der Picknickwiese angesehen, dem zufriedenen “Schwatzen in Berliner Schnautze” gelauscht und mir gedacht: “Schön, dass ich hier dabei sein durfte.” Dankeschön Berlin!

Mehr Informationen zur Aktion finden Sie in der Aussendung: ÖW eröffnet Österreich-Park mitten in Berlin.

Sind Österreichs Mitarbeiter/-innen im Tourismus und in der Gastronomiebranche eher pessimistisch oder zuversichtlich, was ihre Jobchancen betrifft, fühlen sie sich schlecht bezahlt und freuen Sie sich über hohes Ansehen? Die Arbeitnehmer/-innen können hier ihre eigene Sicht der Arbeitswelt  mit jener ihrer Berufskolleg/-innen aber auch mit der Stimmungslage in anderen Branchen vergleichen.

Jeder Job hat sein Image. Kellner laufen viel und verdienen wenig. Handwerker machen gutes Geld und haben hohes Ansehen in der Bevölkerung. Und Handelsmitarbeiter müssen zu den unmöglichsten Zeiten arbeiten. Doch wie sehen die Betroffenen ihre Berufsgruppen wirklich? Und wie unterscheiden sich die Einschätzungen im Vergleich zu anderen Berufsgruppen?

Mit nur wenigen Klicks können Sie ihre eigene Arbeitswelt ganz anonym mit der Sicht von Berufskolleg/-innen aber auch mit anderen Sparten vergleichen. Die Ergebnisse werden anhand von personalisierten, interaktiven Grafiken*) dargestellt.

Hier geht’s zum Job-Image Check.

*) Die Daten basieren auf einer repräsentativen GfK-Studie im Auftrag von stellenangebote.at unter 737 Österreichern zwischen 15 und 60 Jahren.

Begeistern Sie mit uns für Österreich!
Wenn Sie Interesse haben bei der Österreich Werbung, einem  dynamischen und internationalen Unternehmen mit vielen Möglichkeiten der Entwicklung und Weiterbildung sowie einem angenehmen Arbeitsklima zu arbeiten, dann bewerben Sie sich doch bitte hier.

There is something of the spaghetti Western about the Villas Salobre, Gran Canaria, with its parched landscape and baking, empty streets. But the only thing I’ll be going mano-a-mano with is an over-sized G&T at the clubhouse.

I love the Canary Islands. I never fail to be amazed that it only takes just over four hours from London for the plane to put you down, blinking in a year-round haze of brazen sunshine the like of which you ignorantly thought you had to suffer at least twice that for. Others may look down on them as brash and inauthentic, but I’m with Oscar Wilde when he said ‘Being natural is simply a pose, and the most irritating pose I know.’ I have done the authentic experience with HouseTrip before in Amsterdam and loved every minute of it. But authentic isn’t what Gran Canaria was made for. It’s for sun, sea and surfing your way to the nearest cocktail.

JF Marrero

In Gran Canaria, only the phoney feel the need to call themselves travellers and bother the indigenous people; those who by nature believe in keeping it real have no trouble at all being tourists and frequenting purpose-built resorts. The Salobre – with its two huge golf courses, umpteen swimming pools, and perfect villas with plunge pools – fits this description to a tee-off.

bortecristian

Only ten minutes in a taxi to Maspalomas promenade and the delightful inauthenticity continues. A girl croons New York, New York on the seafront. We go to a gorgeous Mexican & sushi restaurant. A white man sings the blues at The 19th Hole, a golf-themed bar, restaurant and shop where the waiters wear plus-fours and show you the menu on a tablet. The strange lunar sand dunes of Maspalomas are made of sand blown straight over from the Sahara. The Canaries are a mixed-up, shook-up shlock of the new, and I’ve never had a bad time there. I invariably stay in 5-star hotels and limp off the plane at Gatwick having lost much of my life-blood through over-generous tipping (a better rush than any drug, in my experience) so I was interested as to what the benefits of borrowing someone’s house would be.

It was very, very cheap, comparatively, which until recently I would have only used as a diss – but desperate times call for desperate economies, and when you could go on four of these trips for the price of one week in a 5-star sleep-factory, needs must. Another pleasing aspect was the privacy angle, which if you’re as keen on loud, sweary marital combat and equally vocal making up as I am is much nicer for the neighbours in a detached villa rather than a hotel room. Though I missed being on a beach, a shuttle bus left for a beach club on Maspalomas prom several times a day.

The week passed in a blur of blazing sunshine (while there was springtime snow at home), extreme drinking and aggressive splashing in the various pools and once more I left the Canaries keen to return ASAP. You can keep the authentic pleasures of Tuscany and Provence – I prefer my peasants wielding tequila guns and pirate hats.

Von den 10 Märkten mit dem höchsten Ausgabevolumen entwickelten sich 6 positiv: Deutschland (+1,4%), Niederlande (+3,4%), Schweiz (+13,3%), Großbritannien (+1,8%), Russland (+28,7%), USA (+5,7%). Die Einnahmen aus Frankreich stagnierten. Rückläufig entwickelten sich Italien (-4,1%), Ungarn (-1,6%) und Belgien (-1,4%).

Die höchsten absoluten Zuwächse aller Märkte zeigten sich aus der Schweiz (+101 Mio.), Deutschland (97 Mio.), Russland (+86 Mio.), den Niederlanden (34 Mio.), Japan (31 Mio.) und China (22 Mio.).

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