Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/306378
may 2014 / the tasting panel / 81 PHOTO: MONA SHIELD PAYNE How do you make a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip stand out from the competition? If you're the Mandarin Oriental, you put the ixnay on gaming—you won't find a slot machine, a roulette wheel or any tables draped in green felt here. You also utilize the Prestige Brands portfolio as a means to forge connections with those that aren't all that interested in seeing whether luck is going to be a lady. "We don't want our guests to be a number," explains Michael Aquino, Manager of the property's Mandarin Bar and Key Lounge. "We're all about developing relationships with guests through Prestige Brands like Avión Extra Añejo Reserva 44 or Perrier-Jouët, from the stories that emanate from those labels to the drinks themselves." The strategy of building rapport as opposed to chip counts works very well for the property: Aquino states that there are plenty of patrons, locals and visitors alike, that drop by to seek sanctuary from Sin City. "People enjoy coming here simply to escape the madness," he says. "They'll just relax in our bar and sip on one of Prestige's well recog- nized Scotch whiskies." STUNNING ON THE STRIP: Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas Overlooking The Strip from the Mandarin Oriental's Mandarin Bar and Key Lounge, Manager Michael Aquino shares a glass of Avión Reserva 44 with Adam Vesely, Prestige Lifestyle Manager, Pernod Ricard USA. whether that luxury is defined through their reputation, their history or their high quality." And while luxury may mean some- thing different to everyone, products within the Prestige Brands portfolio help these properties establish their status with one quick look at the backbar. "There is a great sense of assimilation between the portfolio and the hotel," says Adam Vesely, Las Vegas Prestige Lifestyle Manager. "A person may not be familiar with the Prestige Brands portfolio's luxury status, but when they walk into a luxury property like the Mandarin Oriental and see a bottle from the portfolio on the bar, they will instantly grasp that these are luxury products." While these properties do use the Prestige Brands portfolios to create a most exquisite tapestry, the importance of the labels' presence can be traced back to the cardinal rule of hospital- ity: Give the people what they want. "There's a demand for high-end products in the accounts that carry the Prestige brands," states Kleineider. "The Prestige portfolio lends itself naturally to meet that important need." TP0514_072-101.indd 81 4/24/14 11:00 PM