Is boutique dead?

Is boutique dead?, After the country house craze came the Boutique accommodation market propelled by the Mr and Mrs Smith guide books, giving the Boutique Hotel Directory and more recently adding Luxury Hotels to the tag line. I guess its like most fashions or buzz words, its passed. So whats next? In fact I see it a bit like fashion. Lets think about it, the toff/ country fashion has hardly changed over the decades, checked stripe shirt, cords, shoes, tweed blazer and or a barber, hey why not throw in a rugby shirt for that casual look. Done! its like a gok make over. I see the hotel equivalent as the luxury hotel market, its always been there, always will be and says what it is on the can. Its safe but we know it wont offend like the boutique. I remember an article a few years ago giving the same commentary of the gastropub market now I think its just a standard that all pubs serve or try to good modern food, almost restaurant standard.

The word boutique refers to being small and individual, like those classy wine bars that we hope no one else will find out about. This definition has been stretch with big chains spanning hundreds of rooms having jumped aboard with the tag line boutique. I don't think the recession has help either, we don't want the risk. When I book a room I'm now looking for luxury for my Penny's not risky boutique, which could be any ones interpretation of applying damask to the walls, curtains, carpet, lamp shades and even bed linen.

This blog has made no steps to decide or evaluate whether the boutique market has finished only explored the questions in a 5 minute break. Enjoy. What I propose is a new buzz word "Lux"

Strattons Hotel is a changing landscape

Hey, have you visited Strattons Hotel recently, the garden has completely been re-landscaped and it looks amazing. For a preview http://www.strattonshotel.co.uk . And the changes don't stop there, as their new development of 2 Eco suites, 2 doubles, a deli, Trade show/ meeting space, and a further 2 rooms are all to come later in the year. http://www.norfolkboutiques.co.uk has been given the task of seamlessly joining these without any lines. I have to also mention Hannah Scotts Caterer Acorn Award for 2009. Amazing award presented to an amazing girl, well done!

Can I keep up with all the twitter

Twitter has exploded! Over the past 2 weeks alone I have read 5 or more articles about how small businesses are utilising its massive world wide web reach. Both Strattons hotel www.twitter.com/Strattonshotel and Norfolk boutiques www.twitter.com/djsh have a place. But there is one thing to be said, its hard to keep up. Look at my frequency on the old blogging thing. I manage about a blog a month at max and that's pushing it! Now I'm checking my twitter account 2, 3, 4 or more times a day to keep up with what Stephen fry has been up to on his world tour. The line with twitter is to mix business messages with day to day chatter. Maybe I should document a life in the day of mittens or one of the chickens to keep the messages flowing. Mittens could have a fan club! Well now that I only use to typing 160 characters I have lost my momentum. so over and out for now