Reality Check
REALITY CHECK
FLIGHTS / HOTELS / APARTMENTS / CAR HIRE / TRAIN JOURNEYS / CHAUFFEUR DRIVE / AIRPORT PARKING
HOTEL MOTEL ONE, EDINBURGH
THE HOTEL: The Motel One Edinburgh Royal is the German designer budget brand's first foray into the UK market. A second Motel One is due to open in the city this summer, followed by its first in London (Tower Hill) in 2014. The group currently operates over 40 hotels across Germany, Belgium and Austria. THE CHECK-IN: The hotel is in a prime location between Princes Street and the Royal Mile, right outside Waverley Station and the terminus for the Airlink bus service to the airport – so finding it was easy. Despite arriving an hour or so ahead of the check-in time (3pm) the solitary member of staff found an available room after a short delay. THE ROOM: On the sixth floor of the unusually shaped building, the room looked out across Princes Street Gardens and the street itself. Large windows, a high ceiling and largely white decor made for a nice bright room, with Motel One's trademark turquoise adding a flash of colour to the motifs in the carpet, curtains, pillows and throws. Facilities were limited to a small desk, armchair, flatscreen TV, Artemide Tolomeo reading lights, large mirror and two clothes rails. The bathroom exceeded expectations, with an excellent walk-in shower and dark granite and white-tiled walls and floors.
Extras available at reception included iron and ironing boards, tea/coffee facilities, extra bathroom amenities and alarm clocks. THE BUSINESS: There's free wifi throughout the hotel but there are no meeting rooms. THE FACILITIES: Turquoise is Motel One's signature colour and here in Edinburgh it's nicely incorporated into tartan upholstery in the trendy ground floor bar and lounge area. There are long rustic dining tables, plus cosy sofas, arm chairs and bar stools. A breakfast buffet costs £7.50 and includes a range of cereal, pastries, fruits, yoghurts, cold meats
and cheeses. Snacks and drinks are served in the lounge and bar throughout the day. THE VERDICT: This is exactly what Motel One claims to offer – 'great design for little money'. Rooms are fairly basic but time and money has clearly been spent on creating a cool, very likeable brand. What's more, this particular Motel One is in a terrific location. THE DETAILS: Motel One Edinburgh Royal, 18-21 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1BL. Rooms start from £69 per night. Tel: 0131 2200730; see:
www.motel-one.com. ANDY HOSKINS
HOTEL SWISSÔTEL MÉTROPOLE, GENEVA
THE HOTEL: A hotel since construction in 1854 and a five-star Swissôtel since 1998, the Metropole is one of the few on the left bank of Lake Geneva. It is is in the heart of the city’s financial (and shopping) districts and has 127-rooms/suites. Twelve rooms have been converted to ‘Signature Rooms’ with a further 19 to undergo the same upgrade. THE CHECK-IN: Welcoming and efficient with that perfect blend of formality and friendliness that typifies Swiss hoteliers. THE ROOM: One of the initial 12 ‘Signature Rooms’ where ‘design and comfort take first priority’, and overlooking the lake. Floors are parquet and the colourful wallpapers have been specially designed. The mosaic bathrooms are open (although can be curtained off) and provide guests with steam showers or Jacuzzi baths with Pürovel toiletries. All lights and electronic instruments are navigated via a central control panel and the 150-channel 42-inch TV is integrated into a room-high mirror with a media connection panel. Rooms also include a desk (with three-pin UK socket), minibar, ironing service on arrival, Nespresso machine, free wifi and small balcony. THE BUSINESS: Swissôtel Métropole features seven meeting rooms that can
accommodate from five to 350 people and all include high-speed wireless internet access and natural daylight. The hotel also has a business centre. A fifth floor terrace with stunning lakeside views is due to open in May, available for private hire. Delegate costs range from 130 CHF (approx. £92). THE FACILITIES: Meals are served in Le Grand Quai. The new fifth floor terrace will also serve drinks and dinner. Adjacent to the hotel lobby is the Mirror Bar. There’s a fitness centre and, across the road, a 6km lakeside promenade for jogging. The
Swissôtel Métropole also has a partnership with the nearby 43 Spa by Valmont. THE VERDICT: An outstanding combination of the luxury Swissôtel product and exemplary Swiss hotel-keeping offering an ideal and attractive base for senior business travellers. THE DETAILS: Swissôtel Métropole, 34 Quai Général-Guisan, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland. Rates are from 690 CHF (£486) or from 950 CHF (£669) for one of the new lakeside Signature Rooms. For more information, see:
www.swissotel.com/hotels/geneva. ALAN ORBELL
104 THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
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