Luxury is . . . .

What is your 'luxury'?

Luxury is different for so many different people, Silver Swan Blogger Holly McQueen has wrote a blog on 'What is Luxury' - http://hollsblogspot.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/what-is-luxury.html?q=what+is+luxury?

Do you think your luxury is the same as your guests luxury? Its interesting when you type Luxury into any search engine what appears, below are images taken from Pinterest - this is their luxury . . . . .

What is Luxury?

(image taken from Pinterest)

Chalet Girl

Who has watched Chalet Girl? Do you think this is a true interpretation of being a chalet girl . . . .

Inside Claridges

Last year Claridges produced a TV programme showing the general public around and inside Claridges, the world’s most quintessentially British hotel in the world. 

Their philosophy is 'never say no' - whatever the guest asks for, the guest will receive, no matter how bazaar it may be. 

Actor Robert Downey Jnr demanded that his suite be turned into a vast personal gym. Ayumi Hamasaki – Japan’s answer to Britney Spears – insisted on her bath being replaced by a £15,000 Jacuzzi. An Arabic princess wanted the entire third floor transformed into a makeshift palace. 

Staff at Claridges go to such extreme lengths to provide guests with the best service they could ever imagine to receive, staff for example, iron the creases out of newspapers. 

Below is an article from the Mail Online by Adam Lee Potter - it is definitely worth a read on a Saturday morning. It is amusing yet impressive as to the heights this hotel goes to give the guest what they want. 

Many of Silver Swans clients are regular guests at Claridges - are you able to provide a comparable service in your villa or chalet . . . .?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2245288/Claridges-BBC-documentary-team-film-inside-Central-London-hotel.html

Below is a clip from the series taken from YouTube:

Written by Silver Swan Blogger, Holly McQueen @ http://hollsblogspot.blogspot.co.uk/

At your service

Host/ Manager and any job which involves being face to face with guests and clients is a very important role. Front of House takes a lot of skill to pull off, being seen but not heard, delivering the best service and anticipating guests requests before they know what they require there selves.

Chef, Michel Roux Jr, chef - patron of Le Gavroche, the three - starred bastion of haute cusine in Mayfair delivered a TV series last year called 'Service' - throwing 17-24 year old's into the deep end of Front of House and training them up to his standard.

"We know the passion and glory of chefs on television. Front of house requires equal passion and gives equal rewards. You can travel the world and get personal satisfaction out of providing great service."

- Michel Roux Jr

"Front of house has to achieve the subtle balance of being skilful without showing off, attentive but not intrusive. Waiters should be there not only for the routine tasks of taking the order and delivering the right meals to diners, but also for coping with the unexpected."

Silver Swan has used examples of Michel Roux Jr's series during staff training to emphasise the importance of professionalism, timing

 and attention to detail. Below is an example of Front of House taken from 'At your service', the final episode where the young interns work at 'The Great Gatsby' along side Michel Roux Jr's father . . . .Do you have what it takes for this position? If so  . . . . get in touch, as quoted by Michel Roux Jr, you can travel the world!!!

Written by Silver Swan Blogger, Holly McQueen @ http://hollsblogspot.blogspot.co.uk/

Master Chef

Whose watching Master Chef? Silver Swan love all things food, perhaps we should host our own Master Chef knockout for our chefs . . .  .

Canada - now that's an idea

Are you like many a seasonnaire and immediately think of the French Alps, Switzerland and Italy?
Well here is a new one . . . .what about considering a longer haul flight and experiencing ski resorts on a different level?

Canada gets huge dumps of snow and many describe conditions as 'Champagne Powder', in some of the quieter, less touristy resorts you can literally have the whole piste to yourself, even on a fresh powder day.

Don't be fooled, skiing in Canada is not a beginners paradise, the slopes are not corduroyed like in Europe, one day you can be riding fresh powder, the next chopped up crud - every day brings a new challenge.

Best of all  . . . .no area in Canada is off limits, the whole mountain is yours to explore - welcome to a world of beauty.

Worried about making friends so far from home? It may be easier than you think - Canadians have such a great outlook on life, they live every day to the full and they do want to get to know you - everyone is someone not somebody. Lets just say - you will never sit on a chair lift in silence, stand at a bar on your own or feel excluded by language barriers and pretentiousness that some ski resorts are so good at.

All ski resorts are like living in a bubble, but Canada is down to earth, friendly and waiting for you to explore.

Silver Swan have some great work placements available in Canada, if you are successful, many packages come inclusive of flights, accommodation and transfers - you will not be alone to organise your adventure.
Get in touch for more information.

Written by Silver Swan Blogger, Holly McQueen @ http://hollsblogspot.blogspot.co.uk/