Luxury "Healthtel" Doubles in Size

Serving discerning Mayo Clinic patients, Rochester's International Hotel finds success in medical tr

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

ROCHESTER, MN, August 22, 2008. A luxury hotel that caters to the unique needs of discerning patients of the Mayo Clinic has doubled in size this year due to overwhelming demand. The International Hotel in Rochester, Minn., which opened in 2006, has expanded, adding 20 rooms in a 2008 renovation project. Already part of what many consider the nation's pioneer of the "healthtel" concept, the International Hotel has added more amenities to serve the demands of medical travelers.

The International Hotel was built in 2006 as the 25-room top floor of the Kahler Grand Hotel, a historic property that shares an 87-year history with the Mayo Clinic. The exclusive hotel-within-a-hotel is located directly across the street from the world-renowned medical facility and provides sanctuary and personalized service for distinguished travelers.

Guests of the AAA Four-Diamond International find a healthy home-away-from-home including international dining fare, access to more than 360 global newspapers, television stations from around the world, and in-room phones featuring Ask MayoTM buttons, which allow direct access to Mayo Clinic registered nurses. Nutritionist-approved room service options, medical concierge services, and prescription delivery are among the amenities that make the hotel a true "healthtel."

"People have been traveling to the Mayo Clinic from the far reaches of the globe for decades, and the Kahler Grand has consistently provided them with one-of-a-kind amenities conducive to medical treatment and healing," said Bruce Fairchild, regional director for Sunstone Hotel Properties. "We realized a few years ago that there was a market for luxury accommodations above and beyond our specialized services. Just two years after the International Hotel was born, we are adding an entire second floor. The International Hotel concept has been incredibly well received."

Demand for Luxury "Healthtel" Exceeds Projections

While about 65 percent of the Kahler Grand's guests visit Rochester because of the Mayo Clinic, Fairchild estimates over 90 percent of International Hotel bookings are for medical care.

"Our guests come from overseas and across the U.S.," said Fairchild. "These are individuals who get special treatment at the Clinic, whether they are royalty, professional athletes, celebrities, or CEOs participating in the Executive Health Program. Our travelers are accustomed to luxury, and expect even more when traveling for sensitive reasons."

The International Hotel's second floor almost doubles the square footage of the property and signals a rise in luxury medical tourism domestically.

"We had aggressive revenue projections for the hotel, but we have exceeded them by 50 percent," said Fairchild. "Much of this was driven by repeat business. We saw a number of guests return within a year of their first visit."

Schwartz Brings Unique Expertise To Improve the Existing Offering

A design team led by Marlene Schwartz, vice president of design services for the hotel's owner, made a number of improvements to the already exceptional International Hotel offering. Schwartz and HDR-Jordan Architects worked on a very aggressive schedule.

Doubling the size of the International Hotel, the expansion of the 11th floor International Hotel now occupies much of the 10th floor of the Kahler Grand Hotel. Guest rooms that previously made up the Kahler Grand's 10th have been gutted and replaced with 20 luxurious suites, including larger studios and executive kings, as well as two-bedroom suites, per customer demand.

"We had the ability to refine the concept and add the right mix of rooms for this expansion," said Schwartz. "The staff was able to act on insights gathered from customers over the last two years."

With a unique, clean design, the newly renovated suites combine the International Hotel's unparalleled luxury with even more features catering to guests who are also Mayo Clinic patients.

"There is definitely a heightened consciousness of our proximity to the Mayo Clinic, with new conveniences previously not present in the suites," said Schwartz. "We took what was already working successfully and brought it to a new level."

Renovated suites provide larger wheelchair accessible areas, along with wheelchair storage space. Extra attention was paid to furniture height to ensure the convenience of all guests. Storage spaces in bathrooms are strategically placed at a medium height to accommodate guests with limited mobility. Showers feature hand held shower sprays and decorative grab bars. Professional lighting consultants have designed the most careful light placement in the suites, including dimmer switches and overall softer lighting.

In addition to the International's customary walk-in showers, European-style bidets and comforting fireplaces, the new suites are decorated with a fresh, crisp color palette. The renovated suites feature Serta Elite king mattresses covered in 600-count bed linens for a heavenly night's sleep. Bedroom and sitting area floors are adorned with lush woolen carpets and feature motorized drapery. Utility outlets, updated office equipment and ergonomic chairs complement mahogany desks that convert into dining space in the more modest suites.

In the baths, guests enjoy state-of-the-art heated floors, granite vanities with under-mounted sinks, and plush Egyptian cotton bath sheets and towels. Showers are furnished with the finest Gilchrist and Soames English bath products.

For business travelers or those wishing to work in their rooms while in town for other reasons, the International Hotel suites provide large workspaces, direct-dial fax machines and personal telephone numbers. These amenities, as well as personalized stationary and business cards, are just a few of the reasons why travelers choose the International Hotel for their work stay.

Local Flood Victims Benefit From Hotel Expansion

The furniture once present in the renovated rooms is being donated to victims of the floods that devastated nearby areas in the summer of 2007. Dropping a record 15.1 inches of rain in 24 hours, the flood damaged over 5,200 homes, demolishing bridges, prompting mudslide and killing seven people. Several truckloads of furniture from the 42 guest rooms under renovation have been taken to survivors.