Luxury boutique hotel group, Dakota Hotels, has recorded a surge in romantic bookings, up 22% for Valentine’s Day since 2019, and proposal requests have tripled – prompting the hotel group to launch ‘ring reveal’ training for teams to create the perfect I do moment for guests.

With the most romantic weekend of the year on the horizon, Dakota Hotels has revealed the surge in all kinds of wild and wonderful romantic requests by their guests and the new training being provided to its team.

Guest Relations Cupids have all signed up to ‘proposal training’, which includes mobile photography classes to capture the most Insta-worthy I do money shot for the engaged couple to cherish, in addition to lessons on the art of the ring reveal, a special turn down service teaching the team how to create romantic shapes from towels and bedding. On the flip side, they have also been taught how to be sympathetic and helpful when the proposal doesn’t go the right way.

The hotel group has also revealed the top five ring reveal tricks for 2022:

Ring served in fizzing glass of Champagne
Will you marry me? written on a dessert plate
Ring hidden in a short candle, revealing itself when it burns away
Ring placed inside a balloon and revealed when popped
Ring attached to the stems of a bunch of flowers

More unusual requests include several hundred heart-shaped red balloons filling the ceiling and thousands of pounds worth of red roses in the room. A private helicopter ride over the city and an in-bedroom string quartet complete with rose petals leading from the lift to bedroom door have also been on the cards for loved up couples.

Leading the Guest Relations Cupid Team, Lauren Martin has been appointed by the hotel group, known for its stylish, sleek and sensual interiors, as dedicated Proposal Liaison. She will be on hand to check and organise all romantic add-on requests,

Lauren, said: “The ring reveal is no longer a traditional down on one knee in a busy restaurant kind of experience, it has become an all singing all dancing celebration of love, with no expense spared.

“At Dakota, we want to ensure our dedicated team can provide guests with the most romantic proposal experience they will never forget, which is why we’ve invested in one of a kind training to exactly that.

“One guest has requested we light 300 candles on the terrace of our exclusive Grand Deluxe Suite, complete with their partner’s initials in rose petals. With panoramic views over the city, our most luxurious suite is the perfect backdrop for any romantic moment and offers a real wow factor for guests.”

Dakota Hotel group is offering a ‘With love, from Dakota’ Valentine’s package which gives guests the opportunity to make their own memories. Available from Friday 11th – Monday 14th February and with prices starting from £245 for a Classic Double room, guests can enjoy an overnight stay for two with a fully cooked breakfast, a complementary robe and slippers, heart shaped chocolate, a bottle of Taittinger and fresh rose petals.