The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center

While writing my autobiography I had been reminded of the many occasions when I was able to stay in five star hotels. My last blog on the Bradywine Valley of Pennsylvania, and our wonderful stay at the Folkestone Bed and Breakfast gave me inspiration to share my memories as a guest at several of these elegant, and accommodating  hotels.

This blog is a brief summary of a few visits to the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center.  In the coming week I will also feature the elegant and historical Hotel Hershey, the breathtaking Cliff House on the Bald Head Cliffs in Ogunquit, Maine, the seaside Clarion of Nantasket Beach, Massachusetts, and the hauntingly austere Lighthouse Inn in New London, Connecticut which happens to be on the list of haunted hotels in the world. 

My first glimpse of the Desmond Hotel in Malvern, Pennsylvania, was when I attended the bridal shower for my cousin Kathy's daughter Rachaelyn .  They happen to live nearby in West Chester. The bridal shower was absolutely enchanting, with excellent service, and a delectable variety of luncheon delights.

Everyone was so pleased with the wonderful service, elegance of the hotel, and wonderful meal; that Rachaelyn  then decided that it would be the best hotel for her wedding guests to use during her upcoming nuptials.   Rachaelyn was marrying a fantastic young man who hails from Dublin, Ireland therefore there would be many guests that would need a hotel room.

My four year old granddaughter Maggie was to be their flower girl so Jamiann, Mike, the kids and I were to arrive the day before the wedding.  We had several rooms booked for the weekend.  I made the crown of baby breath for Maggie to wear as part of her flower girl ensemble. 

As I had previously mentioned the food for the bridal shower was so delicious and ample that Rachaelyn held the rehearsal dinner there also.  The rehearsal dinner was held outside on one of the hotels lovely lawn and garden settings.  Just beyond the patio and pergolas there was a tent set up with a floating wood floor, several round wrought iron patio tables, a hot buffet station was set up with a chef in attendance, waiters for drinks, and clearing the tables.  The ambiance was romantic and magical.  Once again the food was fabulous and the Chef has won many awards.  In 2003, The Hunt Room at The Desmond was one of just six restaurants in the nation to be awarded the American Culinary Federation's Achievement of Excellence Award.  I would recommend this hotel for a wedding or any kind of banquet.

The wedding reception was held at the area's  premiere venue for weddings, the Farmhouse at the Peoples Light and Theater Company set amongst the Bachman Gardens. The building is a restored 18th Century Stone Farmhouse and they opened the ballroom's French Doors which led out to a brick patio, and splendid garden setting. 

My daughter Jennifer and I were so impressed with the quality of the Desmond Hotel that we decided to take her daughter Emily and two of her friends there to celebrate Emily's 12th birthday.  It was a really fun and unusual way to celebrate with three enthusiastic preteen girls. The hotel staff were so accommodating, and pretty much gave us free reign over the pool area.  In fact we did not encounter another guest while we used it several times both days.  It was as if it were reserved just for us. 

One of my favorite decorations that adorn most of the walls of the Desmond Hotel are the multiple paintings of both Dan and Pauline Campanelli.  Most of their paintings; Dan's landscapes in watercolor and Pauline's still-life in oils; are reproduced by the New York Graphic Publishing Group, the largest and oldest publisher of fine art reproductions.  Pauline and Dan had lived in the town of Finesville which was only a few miles away from my own hometown of Alpha, NJ.  I own three Campanelli paintings, one done by Dan, and two by Pauline, one which was signed by Pauline before her death in November of 2001 with a special birthday message to me. 

Campanelli of Springtown, NJ mill

For Emily's birthday we were given a suite of three rooms and two complete baths. One room was two queen sized beds, the other was a living/dining room with a fireplace and balcony which was also shared with the second bedroom that had a canopy bed.

The hotel had a cute small flower arrangement waiting for Emily in our room when we arrived.  Jen brought a cake, and goodies.  No birthday stay in a hotel would be complete without an order from room service.

The girls expressed that they loved their time spent at the Desmond Hotel and didn't want to leave.

My daughter Jamiann and her husband Mike also stayed in one of the Desmond Hotel suites for a romantic Valentine's Day without the kids. The hotel had a nice surprise waiting for them when they arrived, two bottles of champagne.

I would give the Desmond Hotel 4 1/2 stars for ambiance,  5 stars for service, and 5+ for the food they serve. If you are ever in the West Chester or Brandywine area and would rather stay in a hotel than a Bed and Breakfast, the Desmond Hotel is the place to stay.

The hotel has many amenities, including a gym, indoor pool, gazebo, patios, putting green, English Pub setting bar, lovely lobby with wall murals, computer room with Internet service, and much more.  Here is a link to their site: http://www.desmondgv.com/