Leisure-Class Lit

	Book Club in Paradise
	Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort

"The problem of leisure: What to do for pleasure?"

This line from new-wave band Gang of Four was the perfect opener for trendy film Marie Antoinette, which captured the jaded lifestyle of a decadent queen.

Luxury resorts of the 21st century still haven't escaped the question: What more can we offer guests who have everything money can buy and, much like the courtesans of Versailles, have seen it all?

The answer for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts lies in an ironically free service for its guests that lets them experience something before virtually anyone else in the world.

With Rosewood's Hot Type program, patrons can get their hands on books from the biggest authors before they hit the shelves, thanks to an exclusive partnership with top publishing houses Random House, Penguin, HarperCollins, Mirimax, Doubleday, Simon & Schuster and Knopf.

It is quite possibly the world's most exclusive book club.

Enlightened Lounging

Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort in St. John, Virgin Islands, remains faithful to founder Laurance S. Rockefeller, who emphasized the island's natural beauty.

Fifty years after its inception, the property still has no television, telephones, fax or radio. Wake-up calls are a polite knock on the door.

But who would want to be text-messaging co-workers when surrounded by seven stunning, white-sand beaches?

When Rosewood built a pool at its Little Dix Bay resort in the British Virgin Islands in 2004, the company began thinking about sunbathers lounging around the water all day.

"In our traditional Rosewood way, we thought about what we could do to make [the guests' experience] unique and different," says Bob Boulogne, chief operating officer of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.

"Reading is very much a part of the culture [at Caneel Bay]," says Boulogne, adding that guests of upscale resorts often look to the intellectual realm for entertainment.

In sync with Rosewood's exclusive standards, Hot Type was born. Now guests don't have to wait for bookstores to stock the most recent works of popular authors: They can simply request the books at the resort, free of charge.

"We're a very upscale hotel chain and try to provide customers with an experience they won't have anywhere else," says Boulogne. "To read Stephen King's novel a month before it comes out gives them bragging rights."

If any other resorts offer a service comparable to Hot Type, Boulogne says he has certainly not heard of it.

Rosewood is starting a trend, Boulogne believes, for guest-exclusive amenities that no amount of money will buy. "[That quality] just makes it stand out," he says.

He believes enthusiasm for Hot Type will continue to grow as it gains renown from glowing guest reviews, and added that about 20% of guests now use the service.