the strange planet inside my head
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rant, rant, rant. STFU already.
where do i start?
there are a lot of things about working in the hospitality industry that are rewarding, challenging, and yes, even inspiring and joyful.
oh, but there's a dark side. (you've probably guessed that if you've read this blog for any length of time.)
the GC and i both have jobs (we don't call them 'careers' because that might mean we're stuck with them) in the hotel business, and we've had many a discussion about theory and the workings of this billion-dollar, money-making machine.
these are the observations of two people in the trenches with five years of front desk hotel experience between them:
the hospitality industry has promoted a mind-set among travelers that is self-defeating and costing them millions. by catering to the guest's every whim, they have conditioned today's travelers to realize all they have to do to save money while traveling is to complain.
that's right. a strange hair on your towel? 20% discount (with no evidence.) hot tub out of order? free night. too much noise? no problem. free weekend (again, no evidence.)
no satisfaction from the front desk clerk? go to the manager. still stymied? call Corporate. Corporate will get on its knees and suck your dick, if you complain loud enough. you'll get points, merchandise, a written apology and Corporate will even swallow. she's a good whore.
it happens all the time. the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and a truer word has not been spoken.
the worst offenders are the 'frequent' travelers. people who have not stayed at a hotel before, or often, ask a lot of questions. like, is there breakfast and is it free, what time is check-out, can i use the computer?
they're polite, respectful, and grateful for the personal attention and amenities that we offer. they generally have a wonderful time and leave happy.
frequent travelers are more demanding. for instance, at the GC's hotel, there's a gentleman that stays at her place only for room 123. that's HIS room. he stays in that room every time. unfortunately, that room was not available to him, and he pitched a hissy fit. demanded that the front desk evict the current guest from HIS room.
(i understand that traveling for a living has got to suck. but honestly, this is not your HOME. people are going to make noise, eat breakfast, use the lobby computer, swim in the pool. they don't know you've been on the road 20 of the last 30 days and that this is YOUR hotel. jeezuz wept already.)
for some reason, for many frequent travelers, they enter the hotel as if we are the enemy. they want *this* room on *that* side of the hotel, adjoining with *this* room and not too close to the elevator. they don't report anything wrong on check-in; they wait until they're on their way out to bitch and there's nothing you can do at that point but take it. they'll drive you nuts with faxes, copies, and internet problems, they'll ask for restaurants and wake-up calls, extra pillows, taxi and public transit info, calls to car repair places, where's the nearest strip bar and don't put any calls through.
(does anyone ever tip their front desk clerk? no.)
i don't mind doing all that if it makes your visit here good for you, but i wish half the people so quick to call and bitch would call and compliment when the situation warrants. i wish a quarter as many people would do that.
****
maybe when you travel a lot, you forget that there are real people getting you what you need, cleaning up your mess, and trying to make your stay as pleasant as possible. frequent travelers don't become better guests with more experience; they become bitter guests. bitter guests make bitter staff.
****
i wrote a story once about people in WalMart, entirely in the second person. it was a pretty good piece. i should do one like it in a hotel.
hmm.
****
there are many good, pleasant people. people who, no matter their "station" in life, still remember what it was like in the trenches. people who don't believe that with the price of a one night's stay they own the souls of the staff that serves them. people who actually act civilized and considerate. thank the Universe for them, thank you. that's what makes this job addicting.
****
Gem sent me a draft of her resignation letter, but i don't know if she's sent it on yet or not. (i wrote one too, just for practice, just in case, and it was a lot different [read: profane] than hers.) if she doesn't send it tonight, she will in the morning and then....
the shit will hit the fan.
oy.
Buddy is on me BIG-BIG to stay. HUGE. pulling out alllllll the stops. brotha from anotha mutha, we'z all fambly, ah gotz yo back, yo gotz da Posse, dat muthafucka mess wit choo ah beat his muthafuckin azz, fo' real i'm not sure what's going to happen, but these are the scenarios i come up with:
1. financially, i can't lose this job right now, but if i did, i now have a car and i can get me another job. i can stay at Gem's while she's training, and that gives me a breather.
2. they offer me Gem's job at her pay. i take it, and after a couple of months and a chubby bank account, i hit the high road. in the middle of busy season. O-O hopefully, the DS will withstand a couple of months of intense stress.
3. they keep me at front desk and bring in an Asshole.
i'm outta here.
4. they fire me.
*sniff* hand me a tissue.
5. they offer me Gem's job at a shitty pay.
no thanks.
OR...
my gut explodes and my insides cover the front desk with bloody entrails dripping from the monitors, and some alien thing starts moving in the slimey tissue...
oh, wait. heh. wrong movie.
****
stay tuned.
Check out TSB for the most legal fun you can have with your clothes on.
there are a lot of things about working in the hospitality industry that are rewarding, challenging, and yes, even inspiring and joyful.
oh, but there's a dark side. (you've probably guessed that if you've read this blog for any length of time.)
the GC and i both have jobs (we don't call them 'careers' because that might mean we're stuck with them) in the hotel business, and we've had many a discussion about theory and the workings of this billion-dollar, money-making machine.
these are the observations of two people in the trenches with five years of front desk hotel experience between them:
the hospitality industry has promoted a mind-set among travelers that is self-defeating and costing them millions. by catering to the guest's every whim, they have conditioned today's travelers to realize all they have to do to save money while traveling is to complain.
that's right. a strange hair on your towel? 20% discount (with no evidence.) hot tub out of order? free night. too much noise? no problem. free weekend (again, no evidence.)
no satisfaction from the front desk clerk? go to the manager. still stymied? call Corporate. Corporate will get on its knees and suck your dick, if you complain loud enough. you'll get points, merchandise, a written apology and Corporate will even swallow. she's a good whore.
it happens all the time. the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and a truer word has not been spoken.
the worst offenders are the 'frequent' travelers. people who have not stayed at a hotel before, or often, ask a lot of questions. like, is there breakfast and is it free, what time is check-out, can i use the computer?
they're polite, respectful, and grateful for the personal attention and amenities that we offer. they generally have a wonderful time and leave happy.
frequent travelers are more demanding. for instance, at the GC's hotel, there's a gentleman that stays at her place only for room 123. that's HIS room. he stays in that room every time. unfortunately, that room was not available to him, and he pitched a hissy fit. demanded that the front desk evict the current guest from HIS room.
(i understand that traveling for a living has got to suck. but honestly, this is not your HOME. people are going to make noise, eat breakfast, use the lobby computer, swim in the pool. they don't know you've been on the road 20 of the last 30 days and that this is YOUR hotel. jeezuz wept already.)
for some reason, for many frequent travelers, they enter the hotel as if we are the enemy. they want *this* room on *that* side of the hotel, adjoining with *this* room and not too close to the elevator. they don't report anything wrong on check-in; they wait until they're on their way out to bitch and there's nothing you can do at that point but take it. they'll drive you nuts with faxes, copies, and internet problems, they'll ask for restaurants and wake-up calls, extra pillows, taxi and public transit info, calls to car repair places, where's the nearest strip bar and don't put any calls through.
(does anyone ever tip their front desk clerk? no.)
i don't mind doing all that if it makes your visit here good for you, but i wish half the people so quick to call and bitch would call and compliment when the situation warrants. i wish a quarter as many people would do that.
****
maybe when you travel a lot, you forget that there are real people getting you what you need, cleaning up your mess, and trying to make your stay as pleasant as possible. frequent travelers don't become better guests with more experience; they become bitter guests. bitter guests make bitter staff.
****
i wrote a story once about people in WalMart, entirely in the second person. it was a pretty good piece. i should do one like it in a hotel.
hmm.
****
there are many good, pleasant people. people who, no matter their "station" in life, still remember what it was like in the trenches. people who don't believe that with the price of a one night's stay they own the souls of the staff that serves them. people who actually act civilized and considerate. thank the Universe for them, thank you. that's what makes this job addicting.
****
Gem sent me a draft of her resignation letter, but i don't know if she's sent it on yet or not. (i wrote one too, just for practice, just in case, and it was a lot different [read: profane] than hers.) if she doesn't send it tonight, she will in the morning and then....
the shit will hit the fan.
oy.
Buddy is on me BIG-BIG to stay. HUGE. pulling out alllllll the stops. brotha from anotha mutha, we'z all fambly, ah gotz yo back, yo gotz da Posse, dat muthafucka mess wit choo ah beat his muthafuckin azz, fo' real i'm not sure what's going to happen, but these are the scenarios i come up with:
1. financially, i can't lose this job right now, but if i did, i now have a car and i can get me another job. i can stay at Gem's while she's training, and that gives me a breather.
2. they offer me Gem's job at her pay. i take it, and after a couple of months and a chubby bank account, i hit the high road. in the middle of busy season. O-O hopefully, the DS will withstand a couple of months of intense stress.
3. they keep me at front desk and bring in an Asshole.
i'm outta here.
4. they fire me.
*sniff* hand me a tissue.
5. they offer me Gem's job at a shitty pay.
no thanks.
OR...
my gut explodes and my insides cover the front desk with bloody entrails dripping from the monitors, and some alien thing starts moving in the slimey tissue...
oh, wait. heh. wrong movie.
****
stay tuned.
Check out TSB for the most legal fun you can have with your clothes on.
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