The Dorchester Hotel visit
18/02/10
Our visit to The Dorchester Hotel was amazing, it was like none of the other hotels we have visited as part of the hospitality week - it is a 5 star hotel in a class of its own.
When we arrived at the Dorchester we were greeted by Melanie, the learning and developing officer. Melanie gave us a tour of the hotel starting with the security control room where the many cameras look upon the whole hotel making sure everything is alright, and keeping a record of everyone who enters and exits the building. She then took us to the main kitchen which is the size of 8 tennis courts where we watched some of the chefs preparing meals and the food being taken by waiters up a series of escalators, which is unusual for a kitchen, but essential for the Dorchester because of the size. We were also able to see the 'chef's room' which has a table that can seat 12 and can be hired for a minimum of £850. As they sit at the table diners can watch their food being prepared and cooked by the head chef.
We visited all the restaurants based inside the hotel as well as the different guest rooms. The rooms are lovely, clean, tidy and very decorative. The hotel has its own florist based inside the hotel where staff arrive at 4 am in the morning to prepare fresh flowers. The florist told us about a wedding they prepared flowers for that cost over £25,000 just for flowers!
Harley Long
Year 12 Hospitality, Travel and Tourism student
Highbury Grove School,
Highbury Fields School
Cental Foundation Boys' School
St Aloysius' College