How did you feel about going to The 1 Hotel?
Visiting the Times Square Edition Hotel gave me a glimpse on how luxury boutique hotels operate, the service and amenities offered to guest, and what sets them apart from traditional lodging properties. When I first walked in to the lobby of Edition Hotel, I noticed that the hotel had a potent woodsy smell. At first I thought it was a guest that walked-in with perfume but it turns out that Edition Hotel produces their own fragrance so that their guests associate the aroma with the hotel. This was a noteworthy detail because it tells me they put in a lot of work to ensure guest experience the hotel even in their sense of smell. In terms of design, the color scheme was ivory and white with green statement pieces through the property. The front desk’s back wall was filled with what looked like vines giving the space and elegant and fresh look. As for price, the rooms range from $800-$2,000 offering an incredible view of the city lights and skyscrapers. The room showcased was much smaller than what I expected for the value of the price but I was told that it is the typical size for rooms in area. One detail that did catch my eye was the mini bar selection. Their selection of snacks was brought from local vendors and guests have the option place customized requests. The snack items are typically in accordance to their sustainable practice of reducing plastic amenities. For instance, instead of plastic bottles guest are provided with ‘Just Water’, a cardboard alternative to the water plastic bottle. Overall, the hotel focuses on providing high-quality personalized accommodations to guest to ensure an experience worth sharing. However, personally for me the value of the experience is not worth the cost.

What’s one aspect of the site visit made you want to or not want to work in the lodging industry?
When I think about the lodging Industry and what it takes for employees to successfully do their job, I realize that it is not an industry I see myself wanting to work for. Being a 5-star, 5- diamond Hotel means top-notch service. For the Edition Hotel, I noticed the employees are welcoming, dedicated, and will do whatever it takes to make guests feel special and cater to their needs. The lodging industry requires service, hospitality, and employees that will carry out the mission and brand of the of the hotel with their actions. I have not found my passion in the lodging industry.