Welcome products that make the difference

Hoteliers know just how important welcome products are as they play an important role in conveying the image of the property and even the hotel brand. Whether they are contemporary and at home in boutique hotels, blue and navy on the Riviera or green and natural in the Alps, welcome products offer an added value to the room. Consequently the quality of these amenities is increasingly important. Hotel groups and independent hotels alike pay careful attention to the choice of cosmetic products that they make available to their clientele and do not hesitate to boost this budget heading. For example, Swissôtel recently asked ADA to launch its own line of cosmetics called White Tea. “In the economy sector, we also need a qua lity, original and personalized product,” remarks François Marchand, president of Aficom, a company that developed specific products for the French chain Citotel. Two major trends are stirring up the welcome product market today: the option of luxury cosmetic brands and sustainable development.International chains are making the switch to eco-friendly products. “Natural products appeared in retail some time ago already. Today they are making their way into the hotel industry,” observes the marketing director at ADA, which distributes the range with its evocative name Pure Herbs. Aficom, meanwhile, will launch Maccan in the first quarter of 2008. This will be the first brand bearing Ecocert and Cosmobio approval. Gone are synthetic perfumes, the products in this range are elaborated using essential oils. “Paraben-free, they are nearly 100% natural,” outlines François Marchand. “ADA is currently working to develop a specific certified line,” joins Sylvia Jensch. With the advantage of generating less waste, the other trend is towards soap distributors, such as press & wash solutions at ADA or ecopump at Aficom. The 14 standard ranges by Aficom all offer this ecological solution.Luxury hotels use brands to personalize their offer In very upscale properties, the trend is towards volume with 50 ml and even 100 ml packages rather than the classic 30 ml flacons. Another evolution: VIP packages that include not large flacons but a multitude of different products. But what sums up the current trend the best is, undoubtedly, the major comeback brands are making. There are two main reasons for this: they reassure guests and associate the hotel with the prestige of the cosmetic brands. Roger-Gallet, Carita, L'Occitane, La Prairie, Hermès: all these brands are flourishing on the edges of bathtubs in VIP rooms. And the specialists are continuing to grow the range of brands. Thus ADA will soon add Chopard to its collection that already includes Bvlgari and Lanvin. Aficom will adopt a line of Clarins products in addition to those by Anne Sémonin or Daniel Jouvance. Alongside these brands, some palaces still prefer to offer “house” products, like the Ritz in Paris or Badrutt's and Brenner's in Switzerland. “It costs twice as much, but these are very original products that stand out from the competition, and they fit the hotel’s identity and accompany its concept,” remarks Sylvia Jensch, Marketing director ADA.A concern for sustainable development International chains are making the switch to eco-friendly products. “Natural products appeared in retail some time ago already. Today they are making their way into the hotel industry,” observes the marketing director at ADA, which distributes the range with its evocative name Pure Herbs. Aficom, meanwhile, will launch Maccan in the first quarter of 2008. This will be the first brand bearing Ecocert and Cosmobio approval. Gone are synthetic perfumes, the products in this range are elaborated using essential oils. “Paraben-free, they are nearly 100% natural,” outlines François Marchand. “ADA is currently working to develop a specific certified line,” joins Sylvia Jensch. With the advantage of generating less waste, the other trend is towards soap distributors, such as press & wash solutions at ADA or ecopump at Aficom. The 14 standard ranges by Aficom all offer this ecological solution.