Then we also have Paddleboard School which is held every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Southernmost on th

The Southernmost Hotel Key West Collection does not settle for good, only perfection will suffice. This philosophy is their strength and is exemplified by their willingness to go one step beyond the "Golden Rule."
They've elevated their level of service and dedication to a level of perfection that they refer to as the "Platinum Rule". This is the reason they were chosen for this prestigious Key West award. It's also the reason their guests return time after time.
FKV: Congratulations on being named the Key West Lodging Property of the year! Key West is home to a strong group of outstanding lodging establishments and to win this award speaks volumes about your Southernmost Hotel Collection.
SHC: Well, first and foremost, one of the things that we're known for is our excellent customer service. Our motto is to strive to ensure every guest has the time of their life. Our employees take pride in our reputation continental airlines gift bags and services, and they consider all of the guests their personal responsibility.
Also, every year we put upwards of a million dollars into capital improvements. Our rooms are beautiful, our exteriors are beautiful, our landscaping is lush. I think our success is due to the combination of treating our guests the way they like and want to be treated, and then having a very nice product.
FKV: Of course when people travel to the Florida Keys and Key West in particular, they want to see lush, spectacular landscaping. continental airlines gift bags It's part of the package they're continental airlines gift bags expecting. They enjoy being out on the grounds, and of course when they go inside continental airlines gift bags to their room, if it's attractively appointed, that just makes it all very special for them.
Tell us Carrie, how does it work with your different rooms? continental airlines gift bags For example, let's start with Southernmost on the Beach. You obviously offer different sized rooms, but what are the standard amenities one would find?
SHC: I think one of the most important things is the ocean view. Every room at Southernmost on the Beach has some type of view of the water. Either it's a full ocean view to a little snippet of an ocean view, but every room can see part of the water.
The view is first and foremost why people continental airlines gift bags like to spend their vacations at Southernmost on the Beach. All of our rooms have refrigerators, as well as complimentary coffee and coffee makers. Then there's the usual amenities you would have such as iron and ironing board, in room safe and those types of things.
Also, most of our oceanfront rooms have turn down service and little wet bars and blenders. You can sit out on your balcony and drink the pina colada that you just whipped up fresh in your blender, then relax while enjoying the beautiful ocean view.
The ocean views really are beautiful, and this will help put that into perspective. In 2007, I believe it was, we bought and demolished the Atlantic Shores. We then added on 80 brand new rooms creating the new Southernmost Hotel on the Beach. Part of the process before the rooms were complete was that I did site inspections on the new rooms. I'd go out on the balcony and say to those with me on the inspection, "See, you're so close to the water you can see fish!". Truly you are almost that close. It's beautiful, absolutely beautiful. We have sunrises every morning from the property, and then we have winter sunsets that are breathtakingly beautiful.
SHC: The majority of the rooms have a private balcony, continental airlines gift bags and then the original Southernmost on the Beach has little terraces that aren't private, but are shared. We have what is called the West Lawn and we have all of the adirondack chairs out on the west lawn. Guests sit out there and every evening during the winter we have a sunset continental airlines gift bags celebration where various local entertainers perform continental airlines gift bags island music.
FKV: I understand that when you're staying at the Southernmost Hotel you're also have access to some of the amenities the people staying at Southernmost on the Beach have. So tell us how this works. Is it going to be more economical continental airlines gift bags for someone to stay at Southernmost Hotel as opposed to Southernmost on the Beach?
FKV: I know this is a hard question as there are numerous factors to consider, but can you give us a percentage in terms of how much more economical it would be for someone to stay at the Southernmost Hotel?
FKV: That's quite a bit. So if someone wants to enjoy the luxury that comes with staying at the Southernmost Hotel Collection, but also wants it to be as cost effective as possible, they can maximize their efforts by staying at the Southernmost Hotel. They would also then have the ability continental airlines gift bags to go across the street and use and enjoy all the facilities, including the beach and ocean, that Southernmost on the Beach provides.
SHC: Those are great! We have 5 complimentary Schools at the Southernmost Hotel Collection. One is called the Coffee School and is held every Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and it features a demonstration from a local Barista on how to brew different types of coffee. This also gives the guests an opportunity to purchase some of the different coffees and the little coffee maker which is quite cute.
Then we also have the Wine School which is held every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. over at Southernmost on the Beach. continental airlines gift bags Guests are educated by our in-house Sommelier on how to purchase, pair, and taste a variety of wines. Then we have fruits and cheese, continental airlines gift bags or cleansing of the palate in between each tasting. It's a lot of fun, and a lot of our guests enjoy this School.
We also have a Beer School which we hold twice a week. Tuesday at the Pineapple Bar at the Southernmost Hotel and then Wednesday over at the West Lawn at Southernmost on the Beach. At this School, attendees are taught about the history of beer, and also are given the opportunity to learn about taste as they sample 4 different types of beer.
Then we also have Paddleboard School which is held every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Southernmost on the Beach, in front of Southernmost on the Beach café. Juan de la Playa is our instructor and he teaches guests how to paddleboard. They learn how to handle standing up on the water for hours at a time and how to paddle out into the Atlantic. It's pretty cool.
We also have the very popular Snorkel continental airlines gift bags School. That's held every week day at 10:30 a.m. and you learn the importance of protecting the reef, and you're coached on how to properly snorkel with the correct snorkel gear. Then you do a couple of test swims inside the pool and after, our Director continental airlines gift bags takes the guests to our oceanfront continental airlines gift bags pier. There they get to snorkel out in the Atlantic Ocean around our pier, sightseeing for tropical fish. It's a lot of fun and popular with the guests staying with us.
FKV: Now what can you tell us about your La Mer and Dewey House properties? I know they have the same address and they're an upscale bed and breakfast. What should we know about these facilities as part of the Southernmost Hotel Collection?
SHC: The La Mer Hotel is what was once considered, hmm I think they called it a flop house, although I'm not sure if that's the correct terminology. Perhaps it was more like a boarding house at the turn of the century, in the early, early 1900's.
When we purchased it in 1985, it was already a bed and breakfast. We ran it for 10 years as an 11 bedroom, ocean front bed and breakfast. Then in 1995 we purchased a private home right next door to it.
SHC: Yes. Then we turned continental airlines gift bags the Dewey House into an 8 bedroom bed and breakfast. We of course knocked down the fencing in between the two properties, and now we have a beautiful walkway and a gorgeous ocean front fountain.
We also created a little terrace off the back of the Dewey House where we have a really nice expanded complimentary breakfast. It includes made to order waffles, quiche, fruit, pastries, continental airlines gift bags etc. We also have afternoon tea with fresh fruit, cheese trays, and pastries. continental airlines gift bags All guests at both facilities go to the back of the Dewey House to the veranda to enjoy these amenities.
FKV: Well of course bed and breakfasts and Key West are almost continental airlines gift bags synonymous. In fact I don't believe I've ever seen so many B & B's in such a small concentrated continental airlines gift bags area. However, what you've created at the Southernmost Hotel Collection sounds like a uniquely and delightful experience. Of course, you're also right on the Atlantic so you have the water view. Do the guests have a beach as well?
FKV: I imagine there's a lot of history to these homes, especially with the La Mer having been a flop house or boarding house. Often, in these older Victorians, the management will have old photographs depicting them as they once were.
As part of the concept for this facility, do you have old photographs on the walls? This would give guests continental airlines gift bags a perspective or sense of what these wonderful buildings were like back then. Have you done this?
SHC: We don't at the La Mer. In fact there's very little information on the La Mer at all. However we just received a little bit more information on the Dewey House. It was in fact the private home of John Dewey who was a philosopher and educator, in I think it was the 1960's, but I'd have to check that to be sure. He would come here for the winter months and work on his various projects.
FKV: That's interesting. Now Carrie this is a bit off the topic but I'd like to ask it if you don't mind. Key West is well known for it's older haunted buildings. Some of these buildings, like the La Mer, have had a more than unusual past. Have you heard any reported incidents of anything 'other worldly' occurring at either of these two facilities or for that matter at any of your other locations?
FKV: Good, that should put nervous guests at ease! Now one of the more popular trends these days with vacationers is to go on an "all inclusive resort vacation". They want all the bells and whistles, and they want them to be in one place so they don't have to leave the property unless they want to.
FKV: One of the main goals you strive for is to put your guests at ease. To create this wonderful, perfect, all inclusive resort vacation where everything is right there for