Australian triathlete Courtney Atkinson literally takes winning in his stride.
The 27-year-old, who is based in the Gold Coast, has won competitions in countries including Australia, Switzerland, Indonesia and Japan.
He takes part in the Olympic distance triathlon which consists of a 1.5km swim, 40km of cycling and a 10km run.
He is in town to compete in the Osim Singapore International Triathlon 2007 in East Coast Park today. To get a leg up on rivals, he says he needs a good quality pillow and bed linen in his hotel room to ensure a good night's rest.
Atkinson and his Australian homemaker wife are the proud parents of a seven-month old daughter. He hopes to be in the running for triathlon honours at the Beijing Olympics next year.
Which are the three best hotels you've stayed in?
One of them is the beautiful and serene Banyan Tree Phuket in Thailand. It's part of an integrated resort called Laguna Phuket which houses four other resorts and hotels.
It costs between US$550 (S$830) and US$1,000 a night for the private beachside villas with lap pools. You also get access to the restaurants and facilities of the other hotels and resorts, and the place has great weather all year.
Another is the Establishment Hotel in Sydney, Australia. The boutique hotel is just behind Sydney Harbour.
The cosy, old warehouse-style apartments are located above one of Sydney's hottest bars, The Tank Stream. It costs about A$450 (S$598) a night for a standard room.
The third one is not quite a hotel but it gave me my most memorable stay. It was onboard a private catamaran in Whitsundays, a region made up of 74 islands in Queensland, Australia, right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.
For about A$800 per night, you can sail your own 40ft yacht, with fresh gourmet food included for your barbecue onboard.
What hotel facility can't you do without?
Good quality pillows and linen. When travelling, you just want a comfortable night's sleep at the end of each day.
Ever had any interesting encounters in a hotel?
Well, I don't, but I can tell a story about my friends who went to Beijing for a major triathlon competition. Their toilet malfunctioned and sewage water flooded the room.
They were moved to another room. The next day, when some American competitors checked in, they were put up in that same room. They had cleaned it but the smell lingered. Needless to say, there were fireworks going on between the hotel staff and them.
What's the best hotel restaurant you've ever eaten in?
It has to be the La Rivera in Peppers Palm Bay, Whitsundays, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It's small boutique island resort dining, set in arguably one of the best settings in the world.
There was gourmet cuisine and fine dining, featuring only the freshest ingredients from the local waters. It's so exquisite, and they serve only about 10 people per sitting.
What do you look out for when booking a hotel?
First of all, location is of utmost importance. Second, I like to look for something unique and trendy, but with quality. It's great when you walk into a hotel room and your first impression is: "Wow. This is really different". It's, in a good way, above my expectations.
As a triathlete, I suppose you use the hotel gyms often. So which has impressed you?
In Singapore, I must say that the fitness centre at the Le Meridien Orchard is fantastic. There's a professional health club, Olympic-standard free weights and a huge variety of equipment on par with any private gym.
Ever had any hotel room experience that was so bad, it affected your performance?
Well, actually no. It's probably due to my habit of choosing reputable hotel chains or revisiting hotels that I have stayed at before.
After a hard day of training, you probably make use of the spa and massage service in the hotel. So which was the best?
I usually travel with a trained masseur to help me get rid of aches and stiffness. But if you're talking about relaxation, I'll definitely recommend Banyan Tree Phuket Spa. The traditional hot stone massage with small Thai women stepping on your back is just so soothing.
Does your wife travel with you?
I travel a lot. My wife comes with me if I am overseas for more than three days. She's coming from Europe and joining me here.
Be honest now, do you ever cart home hotel freebies?
Well, I'm not really into shampoo and combs, but I do take the occasional pair of hotel slippers.
