Memphis
I've lived here in West Tennessee for 18 months and haven't spent any real time in Memphis. So when I picked up a new Memphis-based corporate travel client it was a great opportunity for me to spend a few days at the vintage Peabody Hotel. I'm helping them plan their annual golf outing to be held somewhere in Arizona this spring. It was great to tell the sales manager to "meet me at the Peabody" to discuss event options.
The Peabody was build in 1925 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. You may know it as the place where, twice a day, a flock of ducks is ushered through the lobby by a "Duck Master" dressed in formal attire. It's quite a big deal for some reason to watch the ducks splash around in the ornate fountain. The duck parade happens at ll:00 and 5:00.
The Peabody is large, elegant, and comfortable with a European feel. The front desk staff oozes Southern charm. They went overboard on my behalf when I showed my travel agent credentials. (It probably helped that I told them I would be doing an online review of their services.) The regular rooms are comfortable and light, but I was upgraded to a suite with a parlor big enough to have a party in.
I got a lot of mileage out of my mini-vacation. Everything you need is right there. You have a choice of two main bars: The Grand Lobby Bar, great for people-watching, and the Corner Bar that showcases live Blues on Friday and Saturday. I love that they have bleu cheese olives in their martinis. Capriccio Grill is an Italian steakhouse that's open and noisy. Chez Philippe is elegant, pricey, and also hosts a traditional English Tea service. I treated myself to everything, everywhere and got a tour of the kitchens and spent time with Konrad, the Executive Pastry Chef.
In between schmoozing at the bar and copping free food I took full advantage of my suite, and even managed to get some actual work done. I've been working on a complicated group trip from Costa Rica to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv to Cairo. Even though Israel and Egypt are neighbors, it's a logistical nightmare to get from one place to the other without paying an arm and a leg.
Sometimes you just need a change of scenery to recharge your batteries. Even if it's only 90 minutes from home.
The Peabody was build in 1925 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. You may know it as the place where, twice a day, a flock of ducks is ushered through the lobby by a "Duck Master" dressed in formal attire. It's quite a big deal for some reason to watch the ducks splash around in the ornate fountain. The duck parade happens at ll:00 and 5:00.
The Peabody is large, elegant, and comfortable with a European feel. The front desk staff oozes Southern charm. They went overboard on my behalf when I showed my travel agent credentials. (It probably helped that I told them I would be doing an online review of their services.) The regular rooms are comfortable and light, but I was upgraded to a suite with a parlor big enough to have a party in.
I got a lot of mileage out of my mini-vacation. Everything you need is right there. You have a choice of two main bars: The Grand Lobby Bar, great for people-watching, and the Corner Bar that showcases live Blues on Friday and Saturday. I love that they have bleu cheese olives in their martinis. Capriccio Grill is an Italian steakhouse that's open and noisy. Chez Philippe is elegant, pricey, and also hosts a traditional English Tea service. I treated myself to everything, everywhere and got a tour of the kitchens and spent time with Konrad, the Executive Pastry Chef.
In between schmoozing at the bar and copping free food I took full advantage of my suite, and even managed to get some actual work done. I've been working on a complicated group trip from Costa Rica to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv to Cairo. Even though Israel and Egypt are neighbors, it's a logistical nightmare to get from one place to the other without paying an arm and a leg.
Sometimes you just need a change of scenery to recharge your batteries. Even if it's only 90 minutes from home.
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