Affinia Hotels Launches My Affinia, a Revolutionary New Customer Service Program

NEW YORK, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Affinia Hotels is at the forefront of the biggest trend of the decade: customization. Faith Popcorn calls it "ego- nomics," other trend-spotters call it the "me-conomy"; now, a first in the hotel industry for a national brand, Affinia launches My Affinia, allowing guests to tap the ease and immediacy of the Internet to customize aspects of every stay in advance.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080506/NYTU020 )

Guitars, hair diffusers, pillows, yoga mats, lap-top chargers and in-room spa treatments, are among the necessities and niceties featured in My Affinia that help make traveling to Affinia properties in New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., more convenient and more comfortable.

Debuting May 2008, My Affinia is a technology-driven service that John Moser, chief marketing officer of Affinia Hotels calls "a revolutionary step" for a national hotel brand. "Never before have guests at an urban hotel brand been able to log on and request the specific in-room services and amenities they need on every visit."

My Affinia allows guests to create a customized profile of preferred amenities, and then when a booking is made, each e-mail reservation confirmation enables guests to further fine-tune a particular stay through the My Affinia Concierge, based on their interests and agenda, from dinner reservations and in-room spa treatments to theater tickets and turn-down treats for the kids.

Using My Affinia's Profile Builder at www.myaffinia.com, guests pre-select from an array of customized offerings that will be in-room on every stay, including the following services and amenities (* nominal fees may apply):

    -- an Ibanez acoustic guitar*
    -- golf putter*
    -- soothing gel eye mask*
    -- Affinia signature Experience Kits (including the StayFit Kit featuring
       a yoga mat, weights, work-out bands and more; the Walking Kit featuring
       a pre-loaded iPod nano or shuffle, city walking guide, pedometer and
       more to help guests explore New York, Chicago or Washington, D.C. "like
       a native;" and the BYOB Kit featuring neoprene wine carrier, picnic
       blanket, BYOB guide to New York, Chicago or Washington, D.C., and
       more)
    -- a selection from a menu of six pillow types (down, buckwheat, magnetic
       therapy, hypo-allergenic, Swedish memory and sound)
    -- iGo(R) cell phone, laptop and Blackberry chargers
    -- grooming options (hair dryer diffuser, nail polish remover and more)

When guests receive their reservation confirmation, they can use My Affinia Concierge to customize an even broader range of stay-enhancing experiences, including:

    -- in-room SPAffinia(TM) spa services
    -- Airline Restriction Relief amenities (including contact lens solution,
       toothpaste, disposable razor, hair spray) as part of Affinia's
       TravelSmart(TM) program
    -- romance and special occasion amenities (including cupcakes, birthday
       cakes, chocolate-dipped strawberries and champagne)
    -- dinner reservations at a variety of local restaurants
    -- theater tickets
    -- a wide range of local sightseeing activities
    -- amenities for children and pets
    -- transportation arrangements

My Affinia was created following a series of focus groups with Affinia customers aimed at determining what hotel offerings were important to them. "Again and again, our guests' preferences came back to 'the three C's: comfort, customization and convenience through amenities and technology," said Moser.

My Affinia is accessed at www.myaffinia.com for reservations made at all Affinia properties, including four in New York as well as the new Affinia Chicago and the Liaison Capitol Hill, An Affinia Hotel, in Washington, D.C. In keeping with the Affinia brand promise to provide customized comfort and experiences for guests at each hotel, such as fitness, tranquility or location, the Affinia Chicago and The Liaison Capitol Hill feature Affinia's newest "cityscape" experience, offering an ideal urban escape with rooftop lounges, destination restaurants, modern social spaces and a sophisticated urban attitude that support guests' desires to make connections and stay connected.

Affinia Hotels, with prime locations in New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., are designed to provide business and leisure guests with an experience of total customized comfort. Operated by Denihan Hospitality Group, a privately-owned company with more than 40 years of hospitality management expertise, Affinia Hotels is a proud member of a worldwide alliance of hotels including Joie De Vivre in the United States, Thistle Hotels in the United Kingdom, Rotana Hotels in the Middle East and First Hotels in Scandinavia. For more information, visit www.affinia.com or call 1-866-AFFINIA.