by editorial office, ch
Good hotels are by no means exclusive to the luxury class. Heinz Horrmann, the internationally renowned hotel critic hailing from Berlin, states the most important factors to spot a top establishment by: Flawless facilities without gaudiness, as well as cordial service. “When there is both, the hotel-related offers and service personnel fulfilling their guests’ wishes even before they have actually voiced them, I speak of a good hotel”, says the successful publicist, who will be launching his new live documentary on RTL on April 5.
At a good (first-class/ luxury) hotel, the so-called hardware must meet these decisive criteria:
– sufficient space
– guest rooms of 40 square meters, preferably
– classy, functional furnishing
– comfortable bed with premium-quality mattress
– refined bathroom
– walk-in shower without a step to trip over
– toilet outside of the wet unit
– fleecy towels
– proper facilities, such as spa and pool
– pleasant restaurant (not necessarily awarded with stars)
The service is more important, even. “I would describe the cordial care for the guest as the soul of a hotel”, said Horrmann. The “pampering program” must start with the first welcome and persist to the cordial farewell. “This, however, is exactly the point where I need to clean up the misperception that it has to be an obscenely expensive grand hotel in the elite category. I have often – entirely unexpectedly – experienced the exact opposite: Family domiciles with little glamor, but absolutely satisfactory and with prices that don’t go through the roof.”
Launch of the live documentary “The Hotel Inspector”
Uncomfortable rooms, filthy carpets, dirty bathrooms, awful breakfast and service that doesn’t live up to its name. And hoteliers wondering about the lack of guests! Even though small changes can yield big results. Heinz Horrmann (65) is “The Hotel Inspector” (premiere: April 5, 7.05 p.m.). He will try to save hotels in the face of ruin. His mission is to turn small, unimposing or badly-performing hotels into establishments that any guest will permanently feel comfortable at.
In each episode, the hotel critic visits the owners of a small hotel unannounced in order to get an accurate overview of their situation. How are guests being welcomed? What are the ambiance and the beds like? Are guests being cared for? The hotel inspector carefully analyzes how the hotel is run, observes the operations, tests the breakfast buffet and inspects the rooms and cleanliness in order to find out what may be improved on. He develops an individual concept for the hotel, gives advice on redesign, trains the personnel and, most importantly, holds true to his characteristic way of not beating around the bush.
After approximately four weeks, Heinz Horrmann again visits the hotel owners to check if his advice for improvement has been put into use. Many a run-down hotel has become a top address with good service, facilities and flair!
In eight episodes overall, “The Hotel Inspector” will travel all over Germany: Heinz Hormann will check in unannounced in Berlin and Hönow, on Büdum, in the Harz Mountains, by Dresden, in the Black Forest, the Schaumburger Land and even on Mallorca.
Heinz Horrmann is the most widely-read hotel and restaurant critic in Europe. To date, he has published 32 books and has a readership of millions for his columns in “Welt”, “Welt am Sonntag” and “Berliner Morgenpost”, as well as in the trade magazines “Top hotel” and “Food & Wine”. He was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his publications on the hotel industry and gastronomy.
More information: www.heinzhorrmann.com.
