If there’s one thing that staying at home has given us, it’s time. Time to read, time to watch, time to listen and time to learn.
The doors of our favourite hotels might be temporarily closed, but many have found creative ways to stay connected with their communities. They’ve flung open their virtual doors and are giving us a taste of travel, hospitality and self-care online. Learning from our sofa never felt so adventurous!
The Connaught have opened up their fine art collection via Instagram, The Dorchester have shared their tips on flower arranging, and the Six Senses have launched a Marine Biology Programme for kids. There’s no travel required, just an open mind and a little bit of time.
Fancy learning from your favourite hoteliers from home? Here’s our round-up of the best.
Dorchester Collection
Filling your home with beautiful blooms makes staying indoors much more cheerful. Learn how to elevate your floral arrangements with help from Phillip Hammond, The Dorchester London’s designer florist. Phillip has filmed a tutorial on creating a hand-tied bouquet, using a bunch of colourful British tulips (though any blooms will do) and some foliage from his garden. The video is super easy to follow and requires minimal equipment – just some scissors, a vase and something to tie the bouquet together (he uses raffia ribbon).
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MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL GROUP
If your living room has turned into your temporary fitness studio, the Mandarin Oriental hotel group are on hand to help, thanks to a collaboration with online fitness experts Grokker. Previously only available to view in-room at Mandarin Oriental hotels, Grokker is offering a free 60-day trial to everyone during Covid-19. Expect a range of different classes including yoga, mobility and HIIT. There are also healthy recipe videos to try and a section dedicated to ‘mind’ which offers meditation and relaxation techniques.
THE PIG HOTELS
Over the years The Pig Hotel’s have been growing, cooking, upcycling and rearing – home-grown is at the heart of the guest experience and influences everything from the menus to the interiors. The garden is a hub of activity, even when the hotels are closed, and to keep us updated The Pig group have created a Kitchen Garden Almanac where they’re sharing Best of British recipes and tales from their community. Find out what’s ‘planting’ and ‘picking’ this month and try making some seasonal recipes – including a Lemon & Lime Basil Posset and Herbal Infusions using leaves from the garden.
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ROCCO FORTE HOTELS
A facial at a Rocco Forte spa might be off the cards right now, but Irene Forte (Director of Wellness at the hotel group) has swooped in to rescue our lacklustre skin via IGTV. Irene has shared her at-home facial rituals using products from her sustainable beauty line, Irene Forte Skincare. The video features a step-by-step guide to application (including boosting circulation with self-massage) and more general hints and tips, including an insight into toner, which ‘removes the calk (calcium and minerals) found in tap water when we wash our face, as well as balancing the pH of your skin.’ More skincare advice from Irene can be found on the Rocco Forte website.
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SIX SENSES
Hotels across the planet are quiet places for staff at the moment, especially on a remote island resort. The team at Six Senses Laamu Maldives have found an innovative way to keep themselves entertained – creating an epic 10-week online Junior Marine Biology programme. Each week the team deep dives into a different part of marine life and have so far included manta rays and coral reefs. Expect loads of activities and videos to keep even the most distracted home schoolers entertained.
For grown-ups, there’s the ‘At home with Six Senses’ blog which features guidance from wellness experts across the world, including videos on essentials oils, stay-home yoga and beauty treatments.
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Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Turndown service is one of those little extras that elevate a hotel stay. The Four Seasons group boasts an award-winning turndown service, and thanks to their Washington DC hotel we can now recreate a calming sleep haven in our own home. Top tips include turning on soothing music, spraying a scented linen spray onto pillows, and folding the duvet over so it’s easier to crawl into bed – the full list is on their Instagram account.
Using the hashtag #fsconnectsathome Four Seasons hotels are also sharing top hacks for staying home, including perfecting a DIY manicure, and giving advice on turning your bathroom into a hotel spa (this tip includes hanging eucalyptus from your shower head for a refreshing scent, investing in some super fluffy towels and lighting some calming candles).
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Belmond
As curators of luxury experiences (think train journey’s through the Andes, and safari lodges on private islands), Belmond know a thing or two about what makes people happy. The brand has recently launched the Belmond Care Package, a blog which aims to soothe the soul and enliven your stay-at-home routine. Discover cocktail recipes from across the globe, learn how to recreate the Steak Tartare from iconic New York restaurant ‘21 Club’, or make bath salts inspired by Anguilla’s coral reefs and cays. Keep your eyes peeled for the next instalment of Belmond Invites – live IGTV videos which have previously included a cooking masterclass with Raymond Blanc and a flower arranging workshop.
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Any Questions or Tips to add?