My Undermining

It's the type of guest who has been a pain all night, isn't listening to what you're saying, and just won't accept that this isn't how things are done.

It's a time when you are playing it by the book because you know it will be difficult and you don't want management to have any reason to question your actions.

It's the type of supervisor who will bend over backwards because they don't want someone raising their voice to them...

...and will then scarper so you're left dealing with the guest for the rest of the night, who will think you don't know how to do your job and will make the next few hours of your shift hell.


I used to have this happen all the time when I worked on the bar. The guest refuses to acknowledge what you're saying, won't accept they're wrong and you're just doing you're job. The supervisor then makes them think they're right (THIS IS DANGEROUS), and that you're an idiot who doesn't know the procedures and policies of the hotel as well as they do, leaving you to deal with the consequences.

On the plus side if the guest continues to be a pain, you can go and see the supervisor's supervisor and tell him exactly what you think of the supervisor and why.


Irritatingly, on nights I now have to deal with an absent supervisor, courtesy of hotel guest relations and a 24hr telephone hotline.

Now, the guest who is being a chore can ring a guest relations operator who will bend over backless regardless of the problem, and duly ring me to tell me to do whatever the guest wants. Complimentary goods run rampant.


Don't get me wrong, I don't usually play things completely by the book. It is a GUARANTEED way to irritate people who would overwise be quite easy to get along with. However, there are some people you just cannot do this with...

...and at times like this you just have to remotely disconnect the phone in their room.

My Valentine's Day

Joy of joys, I had the dubious privilege of working this Valentine's Day.


On a personal level, I'm not too bothered by this. My girlfriend told me she didn't want to take it too seriously and so didn't want a large fuss. This was clearly a lie, but by working Valentine's Day I managed to juggle my days off to match hers so she's happy (because now I can make a bigger fuss over it).


On a professional level, I don't like working Valentine's Day. And here's why;-


Men

a) No matter how sexy your partner thinks you are, I really don't want to see you at reception wearing just a bathrobe - Because she's wrong

b) If you insist on having drinks in the bar before retiring to your room for the main event of the evening, WAIT TILL YOU GET TO THE ROOM!! - It's difficult to keep a straight face whilst being told by an elderly couple that someone is getting 'frisky' in the bar

c) If you insist on hiring someone for the night, I don't want to become involved in your little games - Telling me that someone will come to the front desk and ask for T-Rex is just wrong


Women

a) All of the above - Why do you let him behave this way?!

b) If you're going to get in a fight with your partner, please don't sit in reception crying - Sit in the bar, hopefully it will make everyone else go to bed

c) Please try to maintain a civil volume - Enjoying yourself is one thing, waking up the rooms on either side is another


Sexist and stereotypical I know, but the results don't lie...

My Interview II

A while ago I wrote about carrying out interviews for new staff. Having now searched for and found a new job, I thought I would share my view of the flipside - Going to interviews.


a) If I am underqualified for the position, why bother calling me for an interview? Surely you could have gathered this from my CV.

b) I don't care if you don't call me to let me know if I got the position or not, unless you specifically said you would. Touch irritating.

c) I don't really mind where the interview takes place, however I think it a little inappropriate to do it in the bar when some old man is celebrating his 80th birthday and there are children running around screaming their heads off.


And my personal favourite.


d) If I have driven 45 minutes to come to this interview, I would appreciate it if you asked me more than 2 questions (one of which was, "Is there anything you'd like to ask me?")!


I have never before had an interview that lasted 3 minutes (and that was dragged out whilst I finished my tea).

I then had to drive back through rush hour, so it works out as;-


Interview Time - 3 Minutes

Driving Time - 1 Hour 55 Minutes


I was not amused.

My Secret

Ah bless, word has filtered back to me about a little incident at my previous hotel.


Apparantly, at around 3am, my replacement received a page telling him that someone was at the front door. When he opened it, 2 very skimpily dressed young women rushed in. They were chatting excitedly, until one of them looked at him and said;-

"Wait, you're not D! Where's D?!"

I would like to say there is a tawdry story to go behind this, but unfortunately there's not. The 2 women were friends of mine from university who would come in from time to time after parties to use the cigarette machine.


That said, I see no reason to explain this to the hotel. I'd rather let them use their imagination on this. Keep it my little secret...

My Absence

Ah, a prolonged absence, I know.

I'd like to say I've been busy. I have been on holiday, and I have been taking exams as part of my university course. However, this does not mean that I have been busy. In truth, I have been remarkably... UN-busy. You see...

I quit.

I quit my job at the hotel and due to 'anonymity's sake' have to leave posts somewhat haphazard to protect myself.

Oh well, I will post about my new job soon. Be warned, I will be working nights again, so it will be much the same... Drunken idiots, sleep deprivation, creatures of the night, etc.

See you soon!

Oh, that reminds me, I need to pick up my stuff from the hotel. I think I left some garlic and stakes in the office...

My Face

Another hard week at the hotel. Weddings everywhere, and not a bag of change in sight. Silly reception manager...

There's a saying going round the hotel that you can tell how long someone has worked there by looking at their face. The more bags under the eyes, crows feet, and stress lines on the forehead, the longer the term of service.

One of the bar staff informed me that I look like a zombie. I scare him when I appear in the hallways or behind the bar - It helps that I wear mostly black and walk VERY quietly.

Go figure.

My Misunderstanding

Wow! It's been a long time since I've posted, but I have returned from my holiday!

The most useful phrase I learnt whilst being away, was the Hungarian for "I don't understand". Strangely appropriate therefore, that when I return to work I witness the funniest misunderstanding I've seen in quite some time.


2 receptionists are due on duty as we have a lot of check-outs, but one of them has called in sick. As a result, I am staying on for a couple of hours just to cover the peak departure time and relieve some of the pressure from the remaining receptionist.

I have just finished up on reception, and am in the lobby telling a guest who has just checked out that her taxi has arrived. The morning duty manager, who has only just arrived on shift and has not been informed of our sick receptionist or my continued presence, walks over and says, jokingly I might add;-

"What are you still doing here? Go home!"


The guest I am speaking with turns and looks at her appalled, till I address the guest with;-

"Oh, don't worry, she's speaking to me, not you!"


I don't think I will ever forget the look of embarrassment on our duty manager's face as she realised what she had just done. Priceless.


P.S. Hungary was lovely, people all very nice, but bloody freezing!