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Airline passengers are not the only ones who have found travel increasingly stressful. But some hotels are more inclined these days to provide new services to make guests forget about that bad flight. A New York Times story found these included some ingenious alternatives: —An “airport concierge” found at the Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel who is there to solve any airline problems, which can range from getting access to lounges to getting better seats. There is no charge for arriving guests but fees can add up to $100 per family for various services. —For guests who don’t want to be charged for bags, Westin Hotels & Resorts began lending guests' sneakers and workout apparel to help reduce bulk in carry-on bags. Other hotels are eliminating the need for luggage completely by storing clothes for repeat clientele, sometimes at no charge beyond laundering. —For a $315 fee, the Trump SoHo in New York goes a step further, gathering guests’ garments with the help of the luxury valet company that stores and catalogs clothes by size, color and season, and will pull together outfits for specific occasions, wrote the Times. —Many hotels now offer meals to go. Some hotels report up to 60 percent of departing guests order food to go rather than trust what they can buy at the airport or what is served on the plane. —A growing number of international hotels are also adding their own airport lounges for guests after a long flight or for relaxation before takeoff. The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, for example, opened an airport lounge at Kona International Airport with a wet bar, Wi-Fi, and charging stations for electronics and refreshments. Hotels at airports are also stepping up, the newspaper reports: Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, for example, offers half-day rates at its airport properties for travelers with long layovers or delays who want to spend the time in the privacy of a hotel room. By David Wilkening
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