Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1022594
TRAVEL 28 BCA A .COM FALL 2018 MEMBERS SAVE BCAA Members save on BCAA Travel Insurance. Protect yourself and your family from costly medical bills, trip cancellation fees, lost baggage and more. Plus, get FREE coverage for your kids. bcaa.com/travel TIP! Visit BCAA's Rewards portal to search for fantastic Member savings by destination and region. bcaa.com/ rewards In-person inspections Following a strictly defined procedure, Williams begins every Diamond hotel inspection with a long look at the building's exterior. Does it have a covered area and parking? Is the architecture a heritage style, or distinctive in some way? Inside, she assesses the lobby and public spaces for amenities (plugs, WiFi, USB outlets) design and finishes, among other elements. "At Four and Five Diamonds, we start to look for more luxury elements, like natural stone, real wood, marble and leather," she says. In the rooms, a litany of items get attention: lamps, draperies and floor coverings. Toilets, towels, showerheads, faucets. The heft of the curtains. The pile of the carpet. The size and features of the TV. The location and quality of the lamps, desk and chairs. The comfort of the bed, headboard and cushions. The style of the art and wall coverings. Access to gadgets like iPads or smart devices. The list goes on. Restaurant inspections are just as exhaustive, taking stock of not only cuisine, but the entire dining experience. That means everything from plating and garnishes to ingredient quality, crockery, the wine list, decor, noise level and napkins – even how warmly the staff greet customers on their way in and out. The more skill, quality and creativity go into each element, the more Diamonds it earns. Needless to say, after dining at thousands of restaurants and sleeping in more hotels than she can count, Williams knows exactly what she likes when she travels. Especially when it comes to a hotel suite: "I really appreciate triple sheeting personally," she says, referring to the method of wrapping a duvet inside two flat sheets, so the guest only touches items that have been washed between stays. "I also appreciate a comfortable chair, when it's the weekend and I'm staying somewhere away from home. And a nice, comfortable bed." Don't we all.