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December 20, 2009

My Favorite Hotel in the World: The Hotel Montefiore in Tel Aviv

These days, when someone asks me “Of all the hotels you visit each year, which is your favorite hotel?”, the answer is an easy one. My choice?, The Hotel Montefiore in Tel Aviv.

Description (from their website):
"The 12-room Hotel Montefiore, set in the heart of Tel Aviv’s White City nabe (already home to some 2,000 original Bauhaus buildings). The meticulously renovated 1920s mansion has been updated with more contemporary indulgences, like a haute Southeast Asian eatery on the ground floor. Upstairs, rooms have private balconies and original period furnishings—think chairs, tables, and sofas by German designers Thonet—and art by the city's contemporary up-and-comers. The recently opened Bauhaus Center is just a short stroll away; as is its aesthetic opposite, the beach." (and the wifi is free.)

For the past year and a half, every time I have traveled to Tel Aviv, I have stayed at the Hotel Montefiore. And each time I have stayed at the hotel, I was assigned room 26. After a while, I started to get that familiar feeling whenever I stayed there and at this point, the Hotel Montefiore feels like my home in Tel Aviv.

The team at the hotel has always been polite, professional and are always available to serve. Over time, staff members have become my friends and I feel more comfortable staying at the Hotel Montefiore any other hotel I’ve ever visited. Then again, this might be why I feel like I’m at home whenever I’m there. :)

I am not aware of any other hotel in the world that provides as much personal attention to guests like me as the Hotel Montefiore does. For instance, on the days that I schedule back-to-back meetings at the hotel, I can rely on the hotel staff to act as an extension of my own staff and help queue the people waiting for my meetings.

I discovered the Hotel Monteifore because I am a big fan of the Brasserie in Tel Aviv and when I heard that the Brasserie’s owner, Mati Broudo, was opening up a hotel, I figured I just had to stay at it.

In fact, when it comes to personal service, I am not aware of another hotelier who does it better than Mati. During my recent stay at the Hotel Monteifore, when I checked in to room 26, I couldn’t help but notice that there was a sign on my room door, “Jeff Pulver’s room.” To complete the experience, the room key for room 26 had the Hotel Montefiore name on one side and “Jeff Pulver’s Room” printed on the back. While I have been traveling for business for many years, this is the first time I have ever experienced personalized service like this.

If you are traveling to Tel Aviv on business, you owe it yourself it make it a point to stay at the Hotel Montefiore. And when you call to make a reservation, tell them that Jeff sent you. :)

Friends visiting Tel Aviv should also make it a point to visit Mati’s other venues, coffeeBAR and Rothschild 12.

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Tags: Tel Aviv, Hotel Montefiore, Mati Broudo, Jeff Keni Pulver

Posted by jeff on December 20, 2009 12:08 AM | Permalink

Additional resources: #140conf events | Watch the Jeff Pulver Show | Jeff's Qik Videos

Comments

Jeff -
That's actually quite a beautiful story and goes far beyond customer service. It is what life should be like but that too often is not. Congratulations - whenever I hear about something like that it just brightens up my day!
Peter

Posted by: PAWeissenstein at December 20, 2009 09:42 AM

Dear Mr. Pulver,

As the graphic designer of the Hotel Montefiore, I shall thank you for having this job opportunity. Although I'm positive it's going to be an every-now-and-then task from now on, you'll always be remembered as the first.

Lahav

Posted by: lahav halevy at December 20, 2009 09:09 AM

Nice! Does everyone get the same treatment...i.e. the name on the door?

Or if someone else comes to stay...does it still have your name? Like, if I want to stay there, do I request the Jeff Pulver room?

Either way, I think it is incredibly wonderful that of all the places you go and of all the places you stay...that your favorite is here in Israel! I could see from #140conf in Tel Aviv that you have many people who love you here. Glad you came, glad you shared the event and day with us in Israel and glad Tel Aviv (at least), holds a special place in your heart.

Come back and visit soon!!

Paula

Posted by: ASoldiersMother at December 20, 2009 07:42 AM

I think all hotels should ask a returning customer: "Would you like to have the same room as last time or try a new one?".
Assuming, of course, that the room is available.

Posted by: Eliram at December 20, 2009 04:56 AM

Cool! Real estate in that area is booming like crazy!

Posted by: Roee at December 20, 2009 01:06 AM

Customer service in Israel. Now that's novel. I usually stay in Jerusalem and make day trips to Tel Aviv. I like it there, but it feels too much like LA to me.

Posted by: Jack at December 20, 2009 12:55 AM