Experienced business travelers might get the feeling that if they've slept in one hotel room, they've slept in them all. Along with a bed, desk, wardrobe, and chair, there's instant coffee, a bottle of water, and maybe a minibar stocked with potato chips, candy bars, and miniature bottles of booze. In the fancier hotel rooms, there might be a robe and slippers, or a Demi of Champagne, but even those perks may seem more standard than special. Meeting planners who want to make attendees who have seen the inside of many hotel rooms say "wow" might consider looking for properties that break the hospitality mold with unusual in-room amenities. Here are five hotels that fit the bill:
The Kimpton Goodland (Santa Barbara, CA)
The Kimpton Goodland (pictured) has 158 eclectic guest rooms that are designed to appeal to every guest's inner surfer. And what do surfers like more than anything else? Waves, of course. And not just ocean waves, either. They love sound waves, too. Which is why the hotel has outfitted every room with its own record player. To create a soundtrack for your stay, consult the hotel's record concierge and check out a few records from the hotel's vinyl library.
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico)
San Miguel de Allende is known for its thriving arts community. Guests at the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende can partake in that culture firsthand thanks to "The Artist in You," an artsy welcome amenity that consists of an in-room easel, as well as paint and paint brushes that guests can use to create their own masterpiece to take home with them after their stay.
The Roxy Hotel (New York, NY)
At most hotels, good accommodations are all about creature comforts. At The Roxy Hotel, however, what makes accommodations exceptional is comforting creatures: Not only will the hotel set you up with organic treats, bedding, food and water bowls, and doggy bags if you're traveling with your pet, but it also will hook you up with a live goldfish to keep you company for the duration of your stay if you aren't.
Hilton McLean Tysons Corner (McLean, VA)
Everyone wants a hotel room where they can sleep. If you're fitness-minded, however, you might also like a room where you can sweat. Check out Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, which is one of several Hilton hotels that offer "Five Feet to Fitness," a fitness-oriented guest room that boasts 11 in-room fitness equipment options, including a stationary bike for indoor cycling and interval workouts; a functional training station for strength, core, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts; and a fitness kiosk through which guests can access more than 200 workout videos, including equipment tutorials and yoga classes.
Cavallo Point (Sausalito, CA)
After a long day of travel or meetings, nothing hits the spot quite like a classic cocktail. California's Cavallo Point knows how to serve one up in style: Although it's not standard, for a small fee you can outfit your room with something infinitely better than a minibar -- a bartender. For $60, the hotel's In-Room Bartender program will send a bartender to your room any time day or night to prepare four to five hand-shaken cocktails of your choice. Guests can customize cocktail packages based on their preference for tequila, whiskey, vodka, or rum, and those who want to enjoy their libations privately can opt to either have pre-made cocktails delivered to their room or to have the ingredients delivered so they can mix their drink themselves.