Most humans are raised to be good people. To be helpful when they can, and if they can’t be helpful, to at least be supportive.
Of course, there’s true meaning to the old proverb, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Although someone may try to be helpful, it might not actually BE helpful. They don’t know the system around whatever “helpful” thing they’re doing and what they consider to be “assistance” winds up actually being annoying, potentially dangerous, or makes more work or cost for all involved.
A while back we talked about things passengers do that flight attendants wish they’d stop. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the same thing can be said for hotel guests. There are plenty of things they do, in an effort to be “helpful” that turn out to not be helpful at all. Here are some of them:
Destroying their key card
Some people think the card gets thrown out after you use it, so they “help” by throwing it out themselves. Others think that their personal information is embedded onto their key card. It’s not (here’s the info included on it), but that doesn’t stop the uninformed guests from destroying them. The truth of the matter is that key cards are reused from guest to guest. Your destroying it just loses money for the hotel, who will have to eventually order new ones to make up for the losses of many people destroying their hotel room cards.
Instead of destroying your key cards, leave them in the room, give them to the front desk, etc.
Trying to Be their “friend”
Unfortunately, some people treat hotel employees as if they’re servants and the only interaction they’ll have is to tell/ask them to do things.
Although it’s much more kind to treat hotel employees with respect, you don’t want to err too far in the other direction, either. Regardless of how likable any hotel employee is, prying questions about their marriage status, if they have kids, their last name if they’re on social media, etc., is overreaching and, quite frankly, none of your business.
Keeping them company
This could probably be in the category of “trying to be their friend.” But some people see the front desk person, or a bartender at the hotel bar, standing there, all alone. They look bored, so some guests will start talking to them, just to “keep them company.”
Don’t do that.
The employee in question will undoubtedly be polite and even friendly to you, because that’s part of their job. But unless they reach out to you first, chances are they have things they’re supposed to be doing during what looks to you like “they have nothing to do and look lonely. I’ll go talk to them and keep them company.”
Not Reporting Problems in the Room
Some people don’t want to be considered a whiner. Others figure it’s no big deal. But when the TV doesn’t work, or the tub drains slowly, or the desk lamp light bulb is burnt, hotel employees really wish you’d let them know. Housekeeping doesn’t check every lamp, make sure the TV still works, etc. So if you don’t tell the front desk, either during your stay or, if it’s something that doesn’t bother you, as you check out, the problem will persist for the next guest.
Raiding the Housekeeping Cart
Some guests may need some extra cups, towels, or bar soap during their stay. They don’t want to bother housekeeping, so they go to the housekeeping carts and take their fill (or more than their fill) from the housekeeping cart.
Taking four extra cups may not be a big deal in your mind, but think about when 10 people take 4 cups each over the course of the day. It adds up.
Hotel housekeepers may have a few extras of things, but when they’re down 40 cups, it could mean they have to stop everything they’re doing and replenish because they don’t have enough to cover all the rooms they’ve been assigned. And when they’re expected to clean X amount of rooms in Y amount of time, that means they won’t be finished with their work at the end of the day.
Saving up the housekeeping tip for the last day
You’ve just had an amazing stay at the Hotel Frou-Frou. Your housekeeper, Chris, was assigned to your room for your entire stay, was as helpful and friendly as could be. So you want to leave them a good tip. You got there on Wednesday and it’s now Sunday, so as you depart, you leave two $20 bills on the nightstand.
There’s one problem – Chris is off on Sundays and Mondays. So Riley cleans your room as you depart, and gets your $40 tip.
Tip daily: travel friends.
Featured photo: fhotels / flickr / CC BY 2.0
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