A room to remember
Ian Stalker
Mandy Farmer
Hotel Zed
Mandy Farmer foresees interest in someone who purports to foresee.
Farmer is president of the new Hotel Zed in the Vancouver Island community of Tofino, which includes among its unusual features the Psychic’s Den, home to a crystal ball the hotel found in a vintage store and tarot card readings.
Farmer says hotel management was determined that the Hotel Zed wouldn’t be just another mainstream property and so opted for the unusual features.
“We’ll have an in-house tarot card reader available to guests some days and we are sure that many of our guests will be curious to see what they can learn about themselves and the future!” Farmer says. “It’s a totally unique amenity that we’re proud to offer. As for if they will take the readings seriously, they should! Our tarot reader, Tegan, is very well-respected. She has two decades of studying symbolism and thousands of hours of tarot readings under her belt. And if the tarot reader isn’t in, you are still totally welcome to hang out in the den and explore the unknown for yourself!”
More about Tegan can be found at https://tegan-tarot.com/home.
Farmer says the Psychic’s Den helps ensure that the Hotel Zed — which also has what it says is the world’s first drive-thru lobby for cyclists — marches to the beat of its own hospitality industry drummer.
“We are sure other hotels may bring in tarot readers for special events or promotions, but nobody else has created a unique space like our Psychic’s Den!” she says. “This room features a twinkling, starry ceiling, a stunning crystal ball, seating imported from Morocco and so much more!”
Jerry Grymek
LMA Communications
A resort on the “Nature Island of the Caribbean” is going to considerable lengths to be kind to Mother Nature.
Dominica’s Banana Lama Eco Villa and Cottages is located on the banks of the Cacao River, and is a rainforest vacation rental retreat that focuses on having a minimal carbon footprint while offering ample free space for wellness and serenity.
“What makes this creatively designed property so unique is that it is an off-the-grid sanctuary. Everything is focused on preserving the island’s natural resources. This includes utilizing solar power or electricity, gravity-fed water from a local spring, and meals which are prepared using fruits and vegetables grown from the local garden,” says Jerry Grymek of LMA Communications, which represents Dominica in this country.
But Banana Lama’s efforts don’t stop there, Grymek adds.
“They also offer local experiences such as glass blasting to make decorative materials and even local chocolate-making classes using indigenous ingredients from their own garden,” he reports.
Edward Villafane
Spencer Silver / Silver Collection Hotel
Deciding to have guests use phones to check in has turned out to be a timely call by the newly opened Silver Collection Hotel in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Those wanting to stay at the property use their smartphones to check in virtually, skipping the traditional reception desk process, a move certain to be welcomed by many guests during current concerns about social distancing.
“Mobile keys” provided through smartphones are also used to unlock guest room doors and enable guests to enter the lobby from outside in the “fully automated hotel.”
“We envisioned this concept prior to the coronavirus outbreak. As we progressed, however, we realized that what we were creating was a solution to fit the current environment we find ourselves in. A brand new building with no human contact (between guests and staff),” says Spencer Silver, vice president of Silver Companies, the owner and developer of the luxury boutique hotel.
“We consider ourselves to be pioneers in bringing this type of innovation and technology to the market. SCH offers a true contactless experience for our guests and we believe this represents the future for the hotel industry. We plan to expand this efficient, user-friendly concept to additional markets.”
The only meal served at the hotel is breakfast, which is done via a breakfast bar. The hotel has a housekeeping team to ensure “that all of our accommodations are kept clean, orderly and disinfected during your stay with us.” The staffing arrangement leads Brigitte Belanger-Warner of the Virginia Tourism Corporation to observe that “contact with staff could potentially be completely avoided during a stay, since the rooms all have kitchens.”
Hotel managing director Edward Villafane is confident the hotel will be appreciated by coronavirus-wary guests: “Until travellers feel comfortable venturing out in some sort of fashion as they were accustomed to, the need to stay safe and be conscious of a clean environment becomes more and more pertinent when making travel decisions.”
The hotel uses artificial intelligence dubbed Ivy that can provide guests “up-to-date” answers through smartphones to questions that may arise during their stays.
Villafane concedes there may be “some who might miss the traditional check-in, adding it would depend on “the traveler and that their comfort level is in today’s world, where technology and limited contact is sort of the norm. There are many travellers who prefer not having to wait in lines or engage in idle chit-chat. A streamlined approach and a seamless check-in or check-out seems ideal.”
Meanwhile Villafane says his hotel differs from other hotels in more ways than one.
“Silver Collection Hotel is designed to offer travellers a unique experience that is more residential than hotel-like,” he says. “With 24 suites, we offer a feeling of being in a full apartment, rather than a simple hotel room. Every suite is self-contained with a fully equipped kitchen, living room, in-suite laundry facilities and a private balcony. Ideal for families traveling together, as well as those in town for an extended stay. With plenty of room, the walls don’t feel as though they are closing in on you. We also offer luxury amenities to all guests. From daily complimentary continental breakfast and shared workspaces with all the essentials you need for on-the-road productivity, we’re committed to making your stay comfortable and convenient. Whether you’re in search of a cross-training fitness class or poolside cabana, our adjacent 16,000 square-foot clubhouse is an inviting hub of activity and community.”
