| Tourists on holiday flock to London for the famous | | | | cellar to die (or kill) for. Check out the Stafford and |
| sights and sounds. There are the Tower of London, | | | | see for yourself. |
| Westminster Abbey, Covent Garden and of course | | | | 6. Hotels in London rely heavily on the luxury stay |
| the East End that was made famous by Oscar Wilde, | | | | tourist. This is the weekend break traveler, who for |
| George Orwell and Jack London. Yet no matter | | | | just one or two nights wants to stay in the lap of |
| whether a short weekend break has visitors staying | | | | sumptuousness. The Dorchester leads the pack when |
| for one or two nights -- or an extended holiday that | | | | it comes to making this happen, but another London |
| may have them enjoying the area for four to five | | | | hotel, the Lanesborough, is nipping at its heels! There |
| nights -- of special interest are the hotels. | | | | the guest receives a personal butler. |
| There are 10 secrets of London's best hotels that | | | | 7. Weekend holiday travelers with a penchant for |
| not even the locals necessarily know about; savvy | | | | shopping at Harrods might stay at the Knightsbridge. |
| tourists, however, may enjoy this leg up on the | | | | This luxury London hotel is an insider favorite of |
| average Londoner. | | | | shoppers in the know. |
| 1. Four and five star hotels anonymously post cut | | | | 8. Visit online holiday sites often, as hotels are always |
| rate deals. Selected websites hold the key to | | | | trying to beat their competition; sometimes this |
| decoding these hotels' identities, but tourists ideally | | | | happens with the most ridiculous offers that |
| bid on the cut rate rooms sight unseen, with only the | | | | nonetheless translate into huge savings. There are |
| approximate location and number of stars being listed. | | | | £1 room promotions and more. Expect this to |
| 2. At least one of the five star hotels in London has | | | | increase in fervor, as the Savoy reopens. |
| an anonymous Intranet posting function for staff | | | | 9. There is a movement afoot among the four and |
| members. It is designed to cut down on errors by | | | | five star venues to quit nickel and diming the guests. |
| correcting one another without the need for rank | | | | While this might not be readily apparent during a |
| and file identification. This is said to increase customer | | | | weekend break at an upscale London hotel, it is |
| satisfaction. | | | | glaringly obvious during a weeklong holiday stay. Take |
| 3. Hotel chains are discovering that a stable | | | | advantage of this move and don't be shy when |
| workforce makes for a better customer experience. | | | | requesting little extras that make the stay more |
| Some chains are getting quite innovative about | | | | comfortable. |
| retaining staff through incentive schemes, while | | | | 10. At the Hempel, the tourist is treated to in-room |
| others highlight the family feel of the operation. | | | | oxygen treatments. |
| 4. London's greenest hotel -- The Cavendish -- may | | | | Hotels in London are fighting hard to outdo the |
| not hold the title for much longer. The Savoy aims to | | | | competition and the lengths to which any one London |
| usurp it upon reopening in spring of 2010. | | | | hotel will go are surefire money savers for the |
| 5. The London hotel that is considered the stuffiest | | | | holiday traveler and -- in many cases -- also the |
| has a strict dress code. On the upside, it has a wine | | | | weekend break tourist. |