What should we know about the secret lives of hotel workers?

So your reviews are actually seriously listened to, like at every property that I've ever worked at except for a super crappy one.

If an employee's name is mentioned negatively in an online review that isn't necessarily grounds for a write-up,

but it's definitely a fast track there. Most properties watch their online reviews like Hawks.

With almost any situation, unless you're speaking with a manager or someone high up the chain of command,

you're a lot more likely to get what you want if you're being nice rather than rude.

We're talking reasonable things, of course, like high floor with a good view, parking, food charges being removed, little things like that.

You know, I really wish people understood how detailed the pay-per-view TV systems are.

Oh, you want to dispute that $15 charge because you didn't even watch it?

Let me see. Oh, yes. You ordered Debbie Does Dallas and watched for 35 minutes the first time,

and then 17 minutes the second time.

I was thankful for this. I was on a business trip looking through the titles, along with notices,

titles won't appear on bill. I accidentally ordered the Enron story. I shut it off immediately,

called front desk, didn't want to hand HR my hotel bill with movie-rented name withheld,

for a freaking movie about Enron. The hotel took it off my bill.

Look, we know you're cheating on your wife. I mean, don't get me wrong, we don't care,

but don't bother making up a backstory when you're paying in cash once to twice a week in the town you live in. But that Toastmasters convention meets every week in this city, and wouldn't you know it, I always max out my credit card. I work overnight in a smallish hotel, 430 rooms, which means that between 11 p.m. and 5am, I'm alone at the desk. I wished more people were considerate to the fact that when I tell you, I can't run up to bring you whatever you've called down for, because I'm the only person on duty and can't leave the desk, you'll need to come down and get it. I'm not just being lazy. I've got a lot of arrivals, most of them come in between 11 and 1. Or someone might be at the desk checking in or asking a question or buying something from the gift shop, or there's something else ridiculous going on that I'm taking care of. This doesn't mean I'll always say no, but when I do,

I'm actually busy. That Expedia takes a 25% cut. We'd much rather have you go with booking.com,

which is 15%, or even better, contact us directly. I gave up trying to call directly because not once and over a dozen times was any hotel

even able to match the booking.com rate.

Apparently they'd rather lose money than compete with their own online rates.

Yes, this is indeed a problem.

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