Comments on: Interview with Tamara Heber-Percy, Co-Founder of Mr & Mrs Smith

By: Erica Johansson

Erica Johansson — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:15:30 +0000

@Spot Cool Stuff, I totally agree with you about Mr & Mrs Smith. So far I haven’t found any other website that provides better information on boutique and luxury hotels. As for finding design hotels, I like http://www.designhotels.com

By: Erica Johansson

Erica Johansson — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:09:22 +0000

@lara, Thanks! I’m glad you liked it. You can expect more interviews in the coming months.

40% of his income, that is remarkable. I knew reviews mattered, but I could never have guessed they had such an impact on some hotels and hostels.

By: lara dunston

lara dunston — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:00:06 +0000

What an engaging interview! Good stuff!

As a hotel reviewer myself – for a wide range of sources, from travel guidebooks to magazine stories to accommodation sites – I’m always amazed to find out how much impact reviews have, and in particular the effect of specific publications on room sales.

For instance, a review of a budget place in a Lonely Planet guidebook can mean success for a hostel or small family-owned hotel that might have been struggling to make ends meet. Pulling a review out of a Lonely Planet book can destroy the business. This is why it’s important to review budget- to mid-range properties anonymously for guidebooks. They have less impact on high-end properties, but we’ll stay in those (not only because we enjoy them more!) but because traveller are outlaying more money for the experience.

But reviewing for accommodation sites has made me realize how much boutique hotels depend on those – a different market/traveller of course – and I had a similar experience in the Margaret River region where one hotel manager he depended on a certain site – not Mr and Mrs Smith! – for 40% of his income. Extraordinary, isn’t it?

Thanks for the excellent interview, Erica!

By: Erica Johansson

Erica Johansson — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:15:03 +0000

@Cate, Yes, it’s really interesting to see how people start out, what inspired them to follow a particular idea, how their project develops over time…and whether the outcome was the same as they thought/hoped/planned it would be from the beginning.

By: Erica Johansson

Erica Johansson — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:08:06 +0000

@Tamara, Thanks to you too. It was great to learn more about your company and best hotel experiences. I love the picture from Blakes. And the safari lodge in Kruger Park do look/sound like something out of the ordinary. Fazenda da Lagoa also sounds VERY appealing.

By: Spot Cool Stuff

Spot Cool Stuff — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:08:15 +0000

Great interview, Erica. Mr & Mrs Smith is a superb source for finding high design hotels. T'was cool hearing the story behind it. Spot Cool Stuff’s last blog post..The Hotel That’s Above Paris . . . For Now

By: Riot Tourism, Travel Picnic & World’s Best Hotels | Venere Travel Blog

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:10:34 +0000

[...] Blissful publishes an interview with Tamara Heber-Percy, co-founder and manager of Mr & Mrs Smith boutique & luxury hotel [...]

By: Cate

Cate — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:17:37 +0000

Thanks Erica for interviewing Tamara. It's always interesting to see how people start out and where they got the initial idea. Can't wait to read more on the US market from Mr and Mrs Smith, and to see moe good interviews like this. Great post. Cate’s last blog post..A window into my Seoul: a taste for Korean tea

By: Tamara

Tamara — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:35:42 +0000

Thanks Erica - wow those pictures look good on this blog - makes me want to go back!! Tamara’s last blog post..That Letter to Virgin – possibly the best travel complaint letter ever