Guests in a hotel are almost always there for an event that they want to look great for, whether it’s a vacation, a wedding or a business meeting. However, after the hassle of packing and travelling, there’s always something that gets lost in the mix – like nails! They have an outfit planned to perfection, but forgot that chipped nails are going to look awful in those peep-toe heels. So, they head to the hotel concierge and ask about near-by salons that offer manis and pedis. At 70 Park Avenue, a Kimpton Hotel in Manhattan, guests are guaranteed to be directed to NYC’s top nail salons thanks to the new resident Manicure Concierge.
“Whether for pampering or professional reasons, my concierge team and I took note that an increasingly common question from guests was where to get a manicure,” said Bill Babis, General Manager of 70 Park Avenue. “And not just any manicure… people traveling from all over the world want to keep up with the trends and ‘nail art’ seems to be particularly popular. I’ve seen guests walk through the door with crystal nails, leopard nails, neon nails, you name it. New York is raising the bar for manicures so we wanted to make sure that our guests get the top of the line experience within our hotel, as well as at any destination we recommend, including nail salons. We have established relationships for preferred reservations times with some of the nearby salons and are currently working to partner up with more.”
Currently, 70 Park Avenue’s Manicure Concierge points guests down the street to Black Label Nails, or directs them north to the first Essie Flagship Salon, where they can sink into one of the colorful, oversized leather chairs. If they’d prefer to take their nail adventure downtown, they can check out Paintbox or Valley Nails and watch their nails turn into works of art. Or, for the guest that would rather have her fingertips primed in the privacy of her own hotel suite, the Manicure Concierge can arrange for a manicurist to go to her.
A service like the Manicure Concierge is mutually beneficial to both nail salons and hotels. Salon owners should seize the opportunity and approach hotels, encouraging them to be prepared when their guests ask about manicures or other services by having their salon name on hand. Better yet, leave your salon’s business cards with the hotel front desk so that they can be handed out and passed around. It’s one small marketing tactic that can open up a new category of clientele.
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