A Professional Hotel Guest

I hear from a lot of people that I have a pretty cool job. I have to say, compared to a few of the jobs I've had in the past, this one ranks pretty high. So when I heard about someone else with a similarly cool job, I just had to get in touch.

Mike Thiel, who founded the Hideaways Aficionado Club, stays in a lot of hotels - about 4,000 at last count. Called the "King of the One-Night Stands," Mike visits as many as 300 hotels every year.

How do you decide where to go?

Deciding where to go next is not always easy. Sometimes it is driven by where members say they are most interested in going in surveys we do; other times we are motivated to see new and evolving destinations (like a recent visit to Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit) that we want to explore before others get there and especially before they are “spoiled” by the masses; sometimes we are simply driven by our own whim and interests (like a recent visit to the Azores).

As I have seen a lot of the world often at a rather fast pace, increasingly I am interested in experiencing a destination for a specific activity that it offers and that interests me, e.g. trout fishing in New Zealand or BC; cooking school in Italy; scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef; an on-foot tented safari in South Africa perhaps including some smaller game hunting.

What do you think luxury hotels are doing well?

Most of the big, well-known luxury chains are doing service quite well, albeit, sometimes the service seems a bit mechanical. And I see more and more of them aiming their service at the family market with great programs for kids, and even to the traveling pet lover.

In the boutique category, many hotels are distinguishing themselves with interesting, sometimes eclectic architecture and décor. And, of course, more and more hotels in recent years, whether large or small, have been focusing on their spas and on the whole doing a good job on them. I just wonder if the luxury spa trend will ultimately flame out.

What do you think they could still improve on?

We like to see hotels with imaginative architecture and décor, preferably that reflect their native environment, but if not that, then something really creative.

Do you have any pet peeves about luxury hotels?

Yes, for sure. I am not fond of severely minimalist “design” hotels that are cold in feeling and lacking in comfort, all in the interest of being “cool.” When that trend first started, I think that it was accompanied by staffing that emphasized having hip front desk and other staff that often came with a lot of “attitude.” I still see this in some places and find it a big turn-off. On the other hand, I think there is a delicate line between good or top service that is friendly and overly formal stuffy and insincere service. The latter is quite easy to recognize and almost as big a turn-off as casual attitude-projecting service.

Being nickel-and-dimed for things like Internet access and at resorts for use of sporting facilities that have no marginal cost associated with their use.

Minor peeves: swimming pools and whirlpools that close too early. What’s the matter with a (quiet) midnight dip? Other facilities with limited hours. Saunas that are not kept hot so that they are useless to the guest with a short on time or with a short planning horizon.

Next week: Part Two of our interview with Mike Thiel, Founder and CEO of Hideaways International, Inc.

^{Image courtesy Mike Thiel}