Tag Archive for: Mandarin Oriental

Hotel Logos Re-created by 6-Year-Olds!

This afternoon we had the pleasure of hosting two guests in our office. 6-year-old-twins Calvin and Olivia had the day off school so we gave them temporary roles in the graphic-design department and asked them for their best attempts at recreating some iconic hotel logos. Having a couple of kindergarteners draw logos that we deal with every day was a fun addition to our Friday!

It was interesting to watch the creative process of the kids.  In the world of professional design the process can often become over-thought and muddled down by restrictions, it might sound cheesy, but it’s refreshing to watch someone be creative in such a free-spirited way.

Calvin Cutting

As calvin works to trim one of his pictures you can see that his creative process is a bit messy!

Olivia created this rendition of the Sheraton logo.  The choice to cut out and paste the Sheraton S emblem was surprising, and leaving the word “Sheraton” off-center added personality!

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Apparently Calvin thought the lettering for the Mandarin Oriental New York would be better placed above the fan logo.

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Here’s an attempt at the Broughton Hotels of Chicago: City Suites insignia. It’s impressive that Olivia was able to achieve that shape on her first try.

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Once again Calvin liked the motif of keeping the name of the hotel above the image.

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We aren’t sure if shrinking the letters “NTAL” in Intercontinental was an artistic decision or if Calvin just ran out of room on the page.

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Olivia decided to go with a much more minimalist aesthetic in her version of the Mission Point Resort logo.

missionpoint sidebysideThere was definitely some tracing used for these St. Regis Hallmarks but regardless of the method, the similarity to the original is impressive.

St. Regis sidebyside

It was a fun experiment to see how a couple of six-year-olds would fare in trying to copy logos!

 

Thanks for your help Calvin and Olivia! Maybe next time we’ll give you a shot at copy-writing!

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Livvy Holding St. Regis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Hotel Amenities Done Right.

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Amenities are something many hotel goers don’t usually think about, but they can make a big impact on their satisfaction. Though the first thing the word conjures up for people is likely complimentary shampoos or coffee in the room, amenities encompass much more than that.

One basic definition of an amenity is something that increases attractiveness, value, and convenience or comfort.  More specifically Amenities are features that are included in a guests stay but aren’t an additional cost.

Here are 4 Hotel amenities that are tough to forget.

1. Pet Goldfish (Hotel Triton)– Yep, the Hotel Triton offers you some companionship for your stay with a temporary pet goldfish. This unique amenity is sure to help the Triton stick in it’s guests memories. As an added benefit studies have shown that watching fish in an aquarium can have a relaxing effect on people!

2. Custom coloring books (Mandarin Oriental New York)– The Mandarin Oriental helps take a little bit of the stress out of traveling with children by providing custom coloring books to children at check in.

3. Free drink and meal (Various Hotels)– No such thing as a free lunch? We’ve come across several examples of hotels that provide guests with a free drink (beer or wine) as well as a meal during designated times.

4. A Butler (St. Regis)- A Butler probably isn’t exactly what people think of as an amenity, but come on! Having someone wait on you hand and foot is something that will go a long  way towards guest satisfaction. From drawing a bath, to packing your luggage having a personal butler is the epitome of a luxury experience.

What’s your favorite amenity? Leave us a comment below!

Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.’s CityZen Receives Prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award for 2013

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CityZen, the acclaimed signature restaurant at Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C., has been awarded the coveted American Automobile Association’s (AAA) Five Diamond Award for 2013 for the seventh year in a row. According to its official press release, “the restaurant remains the only establishment to have earned this symbol of excellence in Washington, D.C.”

The AAA Five Diamond Award is given to selected restaurants that demonstrate the highest level of excellence in every aspect of operation. To be considered, the restaurants must undergo a thorough inspection by one of AAA’s professional evaluators. AAA Diamond ratings reflect the overall food, service, décor and ambiance offered by the restaurant. Only 53 (out of 26,000) restaurants reviewed by the AAA in the United States have achieved the prestigious Five Diamond distinction.

Since its opening in 2004, CityZen has delighted guests with its modern American cuisine, under the guidance of critically acclaimed Executive Chef Eric Ziebold. “This level of recognition is truly appreciated, and we are thrilled to be recognized once again by AAA with this distinction for 2013,” he said. “We strive to provide an exceptional dining experience dining experience for our patrons, so to have AAA reward us for our efforts, it is a great accomplishment that is shared equally among our team members. We are honored to be part of an exclusive group of acclaimed restaurants across the country.”

Congratulations, CityZen and Mandarin Oriental, D.C.!

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The hotel’s unique location on the southwest waterfront makes Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. the only hotel offering views of the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument, Tidal Basin and Washington Marina.  In addition to exceptional accommodations and gracious service, the hotel features the Forbes Four-Star Spa at Mandarin Oriental, the Southern-style restaurant Sou’Wester, and the AAA Five Diamond CityZen. 

McConnell Marketing Clients Make 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards by Condé Nast Traveler

It’s a good week for McConnell Marketing! Many of our clients have made “The Best in the World!” list by Condé Nast Traveler Readers:

InterContinental New York Times Square
Willard InterContinental, Washington, D.C.
Hotel Vitale – Joie de Vivre
Ventana Inn & Spa, Big Sur – Joie de Vivre
Shorebreak Hotel – Joie de Vivre
The Saguaro Scottsdale – Joie de Vivre
Mandarin Oriental, New York
St. Regis, New York
St. Regis, Washington, D.C.
Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park

According to Condé Nast Traveler, “The 25th annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Survey is available through a secure website. The questionnaire contains lists of candidates in various categories (Cities, Hotels, etc.). Individual candidates are judged by relevant criteria for each. Those that receive a required minimum number of responses are deemed eligible for a Readers’ Choice Award.”

This year, a record 46,476 readers participated and elected a grand total of 1,306 winners ranging in the categories of hotels, islands, cities, cruises and airlines.

Congratulations to all the winners!

McConnell Clients Make Top Hotel Restaurant List

We are proud to announce that two of our clients’ restaurants, Adour at the St. Regis New York and CityZen at Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C., have made The Daily Meal’s first annual “101 Best Hotel Restaurants Around the World.”

According to The Daily Meal, the list “pays homage to the world’s most exemplary hotel feasts. This is our comprehensive look at hotel restaurants that have consistently set the benchmark by which other hotel restaurants are measured.”

The list was carefully curated by consulting the Michelin Guide and other trusted sources, who have traveled and dined extensively around the world.

And because there are an abundance of hotel restaurants around the world, The Daily Meal had to set some guidelines for consideration. The hotel had to have at least 15 rooms, and the restaurant had to be in the hotel (all hotel-adjacent restaurants were automatically excluded). Other than those set guidelines, “We did not discriminate on location; no island, nation or province was off the table,” said The Daily Meal.

The final list spans six continents, more than 40 countries and nations and more than 80 cities! Some of the restaurants include: Joël Robuchon Restaurant at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, La Marocain at La Mamounia in Marrakech and Blue by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands! Check out the full list today!

And we would like to congratulate the St. Regis New York and Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C., one more time for a job well done!