There are some tips you should keep in mind while choosing a room to hold your conference or business meet.

IS THE VENUE EASILY APPROACHABLE?

Of paramount importance is the location of the venue; is there proper transportation and is it readily available? Can invitees reach the place easily by air, road or rail? At the venue, is there enough parking space and are there effective concierge or valet services for those who have chosen to drive to the venue.

COSTS

Try to negotiate with the concerned people in order to bring down the costs and keep within the budget. It is best to convey your concerns about the payment with the organizers before the event occurs.

FACILITIES

Try to get a venue that is replete with all facilities- projectors, audio-visual equipment, extra microphones, a suitable stage etc. Check out whether the seating arrangements are proper while paying specific attention to the minute, though easily missed details.

FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS

Most hotels provide snacks and beverages – it usually is a part of the package, but be sure to ask if it is allowed to bring in outside catering too, just in case you want to have your own arrangements.

Throwing a party can be great fun but the moments leading up to it can be full of stress!

Here are some ways in which you can make it all easier!

1. MAKE WHAT YOU CAN AHEAD:  Get your vegetables and other stuff washed, chopped and diced the day before, so that you have plenty of time to prepare for the event. An accompaniment like a sauce, salad or chutney can be prepared earlier than the party day, to save you on time.
2. YOU NEED NOT MAKE EVERYTHING YOURSELF: Trying to make everything yourself will make you tired, miserable and stressed up on the day of the show, so take help from local food vendors for some part of the party that can be sourced out.
3. DO NOT TRY TO GO ALL OUT:  In your bid to try something exotic, you might end up wasting time and the results may not be very amazing. Instead, stick with recipes that you know, ones that you have tried out, maybe a zillion times and that are delicious and edible!
4. START PLANNING IN ADVANCE: Work to a plan; prepare a basic schedule and start working for the party at least a week or so in advance.
5. GET FLOWERS: Get some cheap but nice flowers and arrange them all over the party venue. The venue will look fresh and lovely!
6. SET THE TABLE THE NIGHT BEFORE: You will be supremely busy on the day of the party; so take time off the set the table, decorate the cutlery and arrange the serving platters the night before. This will give you plenty of time to decide how your table should look.

Go have a great party!

Every hotel is a business entity in itself. From the smallest hotel to the largest luxury resort a hotel cannot function if it does not have guests to make use of its services. The key to a good hotel is how well the staff in the hotel treats its customers.

Guests have to be made comfortable and what’s more, they expect that their stay is a pleasant one.

EVERY SINGLE STAFF MEMBER IS IMPORTANT

What differentiates a good hotel from a great one is how the guests are treated by the staff. Right from the staff at the reception desk, to the dish washer to the bell boy it applies to everyone. Although staff like the kitchen boy or the dish washer may not have to interact with the guests it is still important that they behave courteously.

Hotel staff should be cheerful, respectful and courteous. No guest would like to be treated with a slap on the back and “Hey there!” as a greeting. Sir or Madam should be used to greet all guests. If the lady is young then a Miss can be an address of greeting. Flattery too is not appropriate.

A smile, a polite greeting is all that is needed to make your guest feel at home.

Etiquette is of prime importance in a hotel. If it is followed, a guest could come in as a stranger and leave as a friend!

What every good hotel should do for its guests….

1. AN AVAILABLE MANAGER

A good hotel always has a well-rated manager available, always on the premises. He or she should be out on the floor, greeting guests and keeping a handle on the hotel operations. One-on-one hotel service always starts with communication from the top and sets the tone for the entire line of operations.

2. EMOTIONALLY SPIRITED, COURTEOUS AND SPIRITED STAFF

A good hotel has a team of courteous, “intuitive” staff, people who understand what the guest needs. Natural kindness, humor and genuine warmth, these are the core ingredients of a staff that can be called truly hospitable.

3. QUICK CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT

Check in and out should be quick, personalized and hassle-free. The first point of contact with the guest is always the valet, doorman and bellman, so these people should exude warmth with a welcome smile. The reception desk should be quick and thorough in their work, checking in or checking out the guests efficiently.

4. LUXURY TRAVEL ACCESSORIES

The hotel must be able to make the guest feel special. In the room there should be ample cupboard space, a locker to keep valuables, hangers, bottled water etc. This will make the guest feel comfortable.

Summary: This article talks about some must-haves that a good hotel should have, like efficient staff, quick check-in and check-out and some things that serve to make the customer feel comfortable in the room.

Keep these simple but useful tips in mind while enjoying your stay in a hotel –  some to-do things that will never fail you!

1. BE CONSCIOUS ABOUT SECURITY

One always assumes that once you are in your room you are safe. Although the room becomes our very own personal space and a simple DO NOT DISTURB sign is all that is needed to keep intrusion at bay it still pays to be conscious. It is better to use the deadbolt inside of the room door when you are in the room. If there is an unexpected knock on the door it always pays to check with Reception first, before answering it.

2. ROOM HYGIENE

A golden rule – never rush the housekeeping staff! If your room is being cleaned, wait it out. Check whether the bed sheets have been changed, and the door handles and other accessories in the room that can possibly have bacteria been wiped well – are the glasses clean? Has the bathroom been disinfected? Check all of these.

3. DO A CLEAN SWEEP OF YOUR ROOM!

No, not literally! What we mean is that it always pays to double-check your room before you head out. Have you collected your electronic devices – are the chargers taken away from the plugs? Check underneath the bed for any fallen items – have you taken your toothbrush? Little things but ones that are sure to annoy you when you reach home and find out that they are missing!