what color would you like your tulips?

photo from wikimedia.org, used under the Creative Commons license

This is a story about great, over-the-top customer care offered by the ladies and gentlemen of Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain.

I recently booked a weekend stay for a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary. One of the perks I can offer my clients as a Ritz-Carlton STARS travel consultant is a customized welcome amenity or service. I asked the husband what could make their stay extra special. His wife loves tulips, he said, and he would love to surprise her with a vase of tulips in the room upon arrival.

Ritz-Carlton loves doing special things to make their guests feel special, so I passed this request on to my Guardian Angel. Her response was that she would love to have tulips delivered to their room ... and what special color would she prefer? (Answer: lavender)

It brings a smile to my face to anticipate the pleasure that this simple welcome amenity will provide my clients on their stay at Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain.

UPDATE: the hotel also placed lavender tulips throughout the lobby and restaurant for their stay!

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain | desert resort

desert cactus — photograph by Anne Hunt, all rights reserved

Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain recently hosted a group of Brownell travel consultants for a weekend stay at their desert resort. My assistant Anne Hunt was part of the group and has shared her impressions with me.

Dove Mountain really captures the essence of the desert. Located near Tucson, Arizona, the resort is styled in a contemporary southwestern ambiance: lots of open views onto the desert, natural materials tastefully employed throughout. The Brownell travel advisors all raved about the buffet breakfast; Anne recalls the incredible variety at the granola station, various types of salmon and charcuterie, an omelette chef cooking eggs to order, as well as available pancakes and waffles — carb heaven!

Her Deluxe room was fantastic with a patio (pictured to the left) looking out onto the desert landscape. The bathroom was spacious and had all the features a luxury guest would expect with a very deep tub, step in shower, dual vanities, and WC.

What to do? The group enjoyed a one hour desert jeep tour led by a very knowledgable tour guide. You can even take the tour and bring along a picnic lunch. The resort has a spa and a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course. Anne says to bring a LOT of golf balls; your errant shots will be hard to recover because of the ever-present "jumping cholla."

A member of Virtuoso, Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain provides the following amenities when you book through a Virtuoso travel consultant:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Daily full breakfast, for up to two in room guests
• Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability
• $100 USD Resort or Hotel credit, to be utilized during stay

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.