Our Blog
All things Siesta Key. Stories, news, and event information about Sarasota, Florida's beautiful beach.
Did You Know…? A Look at the Seven Most Interesting Hotel Facts
Every hotel has a unique story to share, from being a part of historic events to breaking world records and even just having an iconic quirk. While there are countless hotels with fun facts and tidbits of interesting information attached to them, we surely cannot cover them all. However, the hospitality experts here at Best Western Siesta Key are sharing seven of the most noteworthy, some even outrageous, facts about hotels around the world.
Light Up the Sky
We know that the “City of Lights” and “Neon Capital of the World” has some impressive displays and spectacles, but none compare to the Luxor Sky Beam. Shooting up from the Luxor Las Vegas hotel is the world’s strongest light beam, the Luxor Sky Beam. This 42.3 billion candelas of brightness is visible from over 250 miles away. The beam also attracts such a fantastic range of insects, bats, moths, and owls that they have established their own ecosystem.
A Real Thrill
Numerous horror films and thriller movies have scenes that take place in hotels. But one infamous movie, in particular, wouldn’t be the same if the Stanley Hotel in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado didn’t exist. The Stanley served as inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s famous novel, The Shining. But the fun doesn’t stop there! Today, the hotel airs the 1980 Stanley Kubrick horror film on a continuous loop. Guests can experience the thrills at any time during their stay simply by turning on channel 42 or joining one of the hotel’s historical or haunted tours.
Security with Wings
Many of us, especially those who love visiting the beach, know the annoyance of seagulls. Whether they are stealing your food or even sending you a gift from above, some people would prefer to steer clear of these seabirds, especially guests at The Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez. This French hotel even hired five trained hawks to keep pesky seagulls at bay to ensure their A-list and influential guests enjoy a peaceful stay.
The Thousand Dollar Omelet
Hotel room service, breakfast in bed, and treating yourself to a grand meal are fabulous perks of staying in a hotel. However, there is truly nothing like breakfast from Le Parker Meridien Hotel in New York City. Their restaurant Norma’s serves an omelet filled with 10 oz. of caviar and one full lobster. Named the “Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata,” this dish is the world’s most expensive omelet and costs $2,000.
Two Places at Once
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in two places at once? Well, the Hotel Arbez might give you a glimpse as this establishment sits on the border of France and Switzerland. More specifically, the dining room, kitchen, several rooms, and the bed in the honeymoon suite allow you to skip from one country to the other in a millisecond. In addition, their single staircase begins in France and ends in Switzerland. Since Switzerland was off-limits to Nazis during World War II, this stairwell made the rooms on the top floor ideal hideouts for members of the French Resistance.
I Spy
Another hotel that lies between two neighboring countries is a bit more controversial. Positioned on the United States and Canadian border is the Smuggler’s Inn, and some argue that it lives up to its name. Each room is named after a celebrity criminal, including Al Capone, D.B. Cooper, and Dirty Dan Harris, and the owner has seen quite a bit of criminal activity and smuggling near the property himself. He once told a reporter to grab a pair of night-vision goggles and he would be sure to spy some illegal trespassers.
Large and In Charge
In 2008 one of the world’s biggest hotel chains, Best Western, took the number one spot on the list as the “largest hotel company operating under a single brand name.” Today, Best Western hotels are open in over 100 countries with over 4,700 properties and offering well over 316,095 rooms worldwide. While Best Western is large and well respected, it was also one of the first hotels to offer online booking. On December 19, 1995, Best Western began offering this convenient service to guests all across the globe and helped establish a new industry standard.
If choosing hotels and accommodations based on notoriety and fascinating facts is important to you, then Best Western Siesta Key will strike your fancy. A short drive or even long stroll across the bridge will land you on the #1 best beaches in the United States. Be sure to take off your shoes and enjoy walking barefoot across the cool, legendary white quartz sand.