When you are searching a hotel's website for the services they offer, it is often the unsaid benefits that may be the difference between selecting a hotel versus not.

Case in point: The Madison Hotel in Washington D.C. Their Hotel Fact Sheet reflects many nice services and their complimentary Wi-Fi is the first item getting my attention since this is one of the top items, if not THE top, desired by travelers selecting their hotel. Magnifying make-up mirror is the second item that stands out. (Gals, many of us love this item, don't we?). A sauna in the fitness center rounds out the top attention-grabbing services. The Fact Sheet reflects many more, though these are the items that had me saying, "Yes, this is a hotel I'm interested in."

Once I visited the Madison Hotel, it wasn't any of the remainder items on the Fact Sheet that captured my attention. Sorry, Madison – I know you spent a lot of time putting together this list J.

So what did get my attention?

• The colors of the hotel lobby, dining and bar areas. If I said 'colonial brown and gray', you might say yewww! But it's stunning. Warm, cozy, comfortable and very different for a hotel. This color scheme is throughout the main areas of the property as well as in the hotel rooms.


• The Lobby Bar. I cannot recall ever saying, "Now this is a bar that I'd be comfortable having a drink alone at!" I avoid most hotel bars because they typically don't feel comfortable and relaxed. This bar radiates comfort, safety, and class. The lamps on the bar were a bonus adding to the warmth.


• The "I can't wait to get into this bed" feeling every time I looked at it. The lush pillows, padded headboard (great for when I work on my laptop while sitting in bed with a cup of coffee beside me), and colonial colors similar to the main areas of the hotel.


• The extra-large balcony off of the hotel room. Sitting outside with morning coffee or late in the evening as a city winds down is pure bliss to me. I love the large balcony that overlooked sites of DC and am envious of those who book this room for 4^th of July celebrations as they will be watching the fireworks over the Washington Monument from the comfort of their own room.


• 
  
  The attitude of management. They were always forthcoming when I asked a simple, "Could I get ...?" As I walked through the PostScript eating area (which has a high-top table perfect for work sessions with colleagues), I spotted an industrial-size blender behind the counter. A manager was walking by so I asked him if they make smoothies. (I often travel with a portable blender so that I can make my own smoothies for breakfast.) He said no, but it's what he said next that sealed the deal for me with this hotel. "But I don't see why we can't." He said that they have fruit and all the makings so there was no reason why they couldn't make me a smoothie. Wouldn't you like to see that attitude in customer service everywhere?

The Madison's Hotel Fact Sheet may not reflect these elements that were the highlights of my visit, though it is often these softer-side characteristics – ones that you may not even be able to pinpoint – that can really make a hotel stay memorable.


Wishing you safe and enjoyable travels!

Carol Margolis of Smart Women Travelers
Author of
Business Travel Success...How to Reduce Stress, Be More Productive and Travel With Confidence!