Living in the lap of luxury
WITH a private spa, walk-in wine cellar, marble bathrooms, a 10-seat dining room and your own roof terrace, the Royal Penthouse suite at London’s Corinthia Hotel is luxury for the super rich. And only €20,000 a night – what a bargain!
Documentaries about how the other half live are always both nauseating and fascinating. And this one, based at the seven-year-old Corinthia as it works to keep up with the city’s fast-paced hotel industry, is no different.
“The golden rule is you strive never to say no to a guest,” says Dean, one of eight concierges.
We then see two slightly anxious employees wrestling with 83 bright pink balloons, each with a family photograph attached. It’s a last minute request from party planner to the stars, Bryan Rafanelli, who wants to surprise his mother on her birthday. He also wants a pink cake, pink bathrobe, pink cotton candy... you get the picture.
Meanwhile, two room supervisors are a bit giddy as they prepare one of the penthouse suites for former US President Bill Clinton.
And there’s an interview with regular guest will.i.am, who explains that he doesn’t really carry luggage, preferring to leave cases at hotels around the world. “I have clothes in London, New York and Hong Kong,” he says.
Eagle-eyed general manager Thomas Kochs feels the pressure to make everything absolutely perfect. You’ll be amazed at how many meetings they have over the painstaking details of a new afternoon tea.
“Luxury is something in people’s minds and hearts,” he says.
I’d say it was more likely to be found in their wallets.