Plan Your Meetings

PYM Tips and Things We Like: May 2006

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Travel-friendly shoes, safety tips, dog-gone hotels and pampering trends.

Tips

Tired of taking your shoes off at the airport? Tecnica is selling travel shoes that fold flat for packing, won’t set off metal detectors and have a handy world time zone chart on the sole. The shoes will be available at chains such as TravelSmith, REI, Orvis, Sahalie and select dealers around the U.S.

If your non-smoking room is still haunted by the ghosts of cigarettes past, try spraying Febreeze air freshener on the curtains, carpets and bed linens. Hotel general managers swear by it, saying the aroma left behind isn’t overly floral, just clean-smelling.

Travel safe: If you were not contacted before a hotel worker knocks on your door to perform maintenance on something in your room, check with the front desk before letting them in. All hotel workers are trained to leave the door open, so if they close the door behind them, it may signal something’s wrong.

Things we like

The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Estero, Fla., has gone to the dogs… in a good way. Canine guests get a doggie bag of toys and treats, while owners get dog-related local information such as directions to the local dog-friendly beach. Other amenities include an in-room dog bed, doggie appetizers such as pig ears on the room service menu, and spa shampoos for the four-legged set.

Hotels are getting creative in how they personalize experiences for guests and pamper them. Westin hotels have guest rooms equipped with workout equipment and distribute jogging maps from concierge desks. Hotel lobbies are filled with scents to relax guests, ranging from green tea to fig, bergamot, jasmine and freesia. At the Sheraton, each guest is welcomed by an “ambassador” and encouraged to keep in touch with loved ones with a free 10-minute phone card and prepaid postcard. Embassy Suites is expanding its made-to-order complimentary breakfast offerings. Hotels have upgraded bedding and are now focusing on pampering guests with high-quality bath products and amenities such as curved shower curtain rails. With all the perks available on the road, travelers may never want to go home.