Boutique Hotel in Central Mexico
Casa de las Flores Staff Seeks New Ways to Make Guests Feel Special
A bed and breakfast hotel near Guadalajara, Mexico, strives to add creative amenities while staying inexpensive. Local flavor and the personal touch helps B&Bs stand out.
Tlaquepaque is a small town in the Guadalajara area of central Mexico. Luxury Travel recently received a query from the owners of a bed and breakfast hotel there, called Casa de las Flores. This B&B bills itself as offering tourists to Mexico a relaxing retreat, with large accommodations and a personal touch. The friendliness and eagerness to try to create a special bed and breakfast certainly indicates that the owners of Casa de las Flores have a solid future in the travel industry. Excerpts from the email exchange follow, with some editing for clarity.
Casa de las Flores: I have a small bed and breakfast in Mexico, and your comment on luxury being more of a state of mind is something I always have thought to be true. I have tried to add a few special touches that may take a bit of extra time, things you wouldn't find at a hotel, and I am always looking for more. For example, we leave folded towels and face cloths on the bed, shaped as different animals (like fancy restaurants in the 50s and 60s, that twisted your aluminum foil clad leftovers to take home in the form of a swan or peacock). Granted, you are walking a fine line between smaltzy and attentive - but in the long run any little amenity, like a classic choclate on your pillow or a turn down service, is always appreciated.
Might you have some suggestions of such amenities that do not cost a fortune but would be novel and hopefully helpful, and in small ways let guests know that they are beng thought about?
Luxury Travel: When I think of my favorite B&B's, I realize that the "luxury amenities" that I most appreciate there are very different from those at big luxury resort hotels. People who make travel plans that include bed and breakfast lodgings, expect less glitz and glamour. So, when I was thinking about your question, I realized that little extra amenities that reflect the local culture, and local plants and food, can really make B&Bs special. For example, if thre is a type of flower specific to your region that someone from hundreds of miles away might not be familiar with, a small bud vase with plant clippings on the bedside table would provide a nice touch. And, preparing breakfast with some local ingredients (making sure the guests know about it) also would add to a special vacation at your bed and breakfast hotel.
Luxury family travel is growing in popularity. If you get enough families with young children staying at your B&B, then I know they would appreciate a special - small - package waiting in the bathroom. This might include bubble bath and a rubber duckie, that sort of thing.
If you aim more for romantic getaways, the same package can be waiting in the bathroom, but instead of the bubbles and bath toy, bath items would lead to romance. Bath oils come to mind, you get the idea.
These are just a few ideas that come to mind. Please tell me if this is helpful or not.
Casa de las Flores: All very helpful. We call ourselves a B&B hotel and may be trying to be a boutique hotel, but we are a bit too eccentric. Family with children are not our target, but couples and girl friends traveling on their own are, along with some business guests.
I am never quite sure of the food strategy. If guests are out and about confronting new things on menus outside of Casa de las Flores, maybe more comfort food would be appreciated. Chile rellenos are always a hit, but dealing with food too spicy for northern pallets, or completely unknown products like huitlicholi (corn fungus; a pre Columbian ingredient very unique to Mexico) has had mixed reactions. Thre is also a very popular breakfast dish called chilequiles, which are corn tortilla triangles tossed in a hot skillet, with scrambled eggs and lots of cheese. This typical hearty Mexican country breakfast has also been met with mixed reviews. So, my conclusion is that northerners are not very experimental in the morning.
And I guess you are also right; I am not necessarily looking for luxury, but thoughtful touches that let guests know we are thinking of them (in this day and age any personal attention is a luxury). Thank you for you insightful comments and your interesting outlook on the industry.
Your hosts in the folk art capital of central Mexico,
Stan Singleton, Jose and all of the great staff of Casa de las Flores.
Well, Luxury Travel isn't sure how useful the "insightful comments" were, but clearly, the owners and staff of Casa de las Flores care deeply about their guests. A traveler to Guadalajara would be well advised to look into a stay in this boutique bed and breakfast hotel.
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