Marchant told me that her guests often unnecessarily informed her when they were getting back that evening, and women who stay in the hotels tend to spill out the contents of their shopping bags to show her what they have acquired from Harrods or Harvey Nichols that day. You would not do that to the concierge at Claridges. The feminine touch manifests itself in various ways. At The Milestone guests are provided with hot water bottles. The splendid interior designs and fabrics used at The Sloane are all on sale.
Guests can, if they wish, ship home a virtual replica of their bedroom.
Women, my hostesses maintained, have a better eye for detail than men. Flowers were used impulsively. If a guest looked unhappy or unduly stressed a bouquet was sent up to his or her room. Marchant puts women traveling alone in rooms filled with orchids, and men into ones decorated with tartans. Several times she has learned that the men were unhappy to be deprived of the flowers.