As a professional Hotel & Restaurant inspector, and judge for Taste of the West I am especially delighted that, in addition to other notable authors, we have been able to secure Alastair Sawday as one of our speakers for the Ilminster Literary Festival, held this year from 30th May to 8th June.
Over the last 25 years Alastair has gained an enviable reputation for hunting out those quirky, interesting places to stay, breaking away from the norm of corporate standardisation that seems to dominate the hospitality market.
I stay away from home a great deal and always welcome somewhere that is different, whether it is for eating or sleeping. Over several decades of sleeping around the places that most readily spring to mind are those that have that indefinable 'something', which of course may not be everybody's cup of tea. We all want something different and the knack of a good hotel or B&B is to identify that and respond.
I can well recall a totally over the top 'pink' B&B in Bovey Tracy, the amazing attention to detail in Dulverton, the splendid bathroom in the Cathedral Suite at The Swan at Wells, and the waiter standing at the end of the jetty on our arrival at St. Martin's on the Isle of Scilly, with a glass of Champagne.... these places are not always the ones that gain five stars, multiple AA rosettes or Michelin stars, but you know that as a guest they have put their heart and soul into making your stay a memorable one.
The team at Ilminster Literary Festival are really looking forward to hearing Alastair talk about his experiences, and perhaps reveal a secret or two?
His mantra is .... Celebrate quirkiness and difference; Follow head and heart; Do important things, brilliantly; Bring positive energy
To this I would add my own philosophy, 'Attitude is Everything'.
In the hospitality industry not everything goes to plan all of the time; it is how you deal with the situation that counts.
Linda Piggott-Vijeh - Service Matters
No comments:
Post a Comment