Usually I don't deal with a lot of stupid or angry people at the front desk, but so far today I've had two.
1...A little late to be trying to reserve a wedding/reception venue
A lady came up to the hotel doors today and knocked. No big deal there because right now everybody has to knock. But what she asked when I opened the doors sort of blew me away. She's apparently getting married at the end of the month and wants to book the reception hall and a bridal suite. Now, despite all the 'Rona crap going on, we've had fairly steady booking for weddings, and on the date she wants to book we're already booked right up. It's a small venue, and there's a wedding/reception already taking place there on the date the lady wanted. And she thought that by calling the other property is part of the hotel group that she'd get a different answer...guess what? I answer the phone for that site as well, and I've got all the information for our sites right in front of me.
I suppose I should be glad that she's not trying to book the hall and suite at some ungodly hour of the night...ugh.
2...Good luck finding a hotel that will accept cash right now
Another lady pulled up outside our doors and banged on them to be let in. Her first question was "Doesn't anybody answer the phones here?"
Uh, yeah, that would be me, and I haven't had a call from anybody about renting a room for a couple of hours. "I can take your reservation now, if you'd like, ma'am."
Guest: Yeah, I'd like one of your outside rooms for tonight. You take cash right?
Me: At the moment we are only set up for credit or debit, and we need a card on file in case there is any damage to the room so that we may recoup any losses.
Guest: Oh, I don't have my card with me. I can pay cash though.
Me: I'd love to be able to take a payment via cash, ma'am, but we literally are not set up for accepting cash. (Which is not a lie at all...we used to have a cash box that we could use, but it was removed completely due to pandemic regulations here).
Guest: Nobody is taking cash! I guess I'll have to go get my card then.
She walks out, has a very animated conversation with the people she's with, and they all leave. She was very determined to use cash, and didn't want to leave any sort of deposit even if we were able to accept it, nor did she want us to have her address despite us needing it for every reservation we take.
Right now, no hotel here is accepting cash due to the pandemic. And it is not like renting a hotel room is considered essential, so there isn't any room to budge on that policy right now as far as the owners go.
Prior to all the regulations, if somebody paid cash we'd ask for a credit card on file to bill any incidentals or damages to, or a cash deposit of $250 that we would deduct incidentals from, and we would not give any part of the deposit back until we had inspected the room for damages.
1...A little late to be trying to reserve a wedding/reception venue
A lady came up to the hotel doors today and knocked. No big deal there because right now everybody has to knock. But what she asked when I opened the doors sort of blew me away. She's apparently getting married at the end of the month and wants to book the reception hall and a bridal suite. Now, despite all the 'Rona crap going on, we've had fairly steady booking for weddings, and on the date she wants to book we're already booked right up. It's a small venue, and there's a wedding/reception already taking place there on the date the lady wanted. And she thought that by calling the other property is part of the hotel group that she'd get a different answer...guess what? I answer the phone for that site as well, and I've got all the information for our sites right in front of me.
I suppose I should be glad that she's not trying to book the hall and suite at some ungodly hour of the night...ugh.
2...Good luck finding a hotel that will accept cash right now
Another lady pulled up outside our doors and banged on them to be let in. Her first question was "Doesn't anybody answer the phones here?"
Uh, yeah, that would be me, and I haven't had a call from anybody about renting a room for a couple of hours. "I can take your reservation now, if you'd like, ma'am."
Guest: Yeah, I'd like one of your outside rooms for tonight. You take cash right?
Me: At the moment we are only set up for credit or debit, and we need a card on file in case there is any damage to the room so that we may recoup any losses.
Guest: Oh, I don't have my card with me. I can pay cash though.
Me: I'd love to be able to take a payment via cash, ma'am, but we literally are not set up for accepting cash. (Which is not a lie at all...we used to have a cash box that we could use, but it was removed completely due to pandemic regulations here).
Guest: Nobody is taking cash! I guess I'll have to go get my card then.
She walks out, has a very animated conversation with the people she's with, and they all leave. She was very determined to use cash, and didn't want to leave any sort of deposit even if we were able to accept it, nor did she want us to have her address despite us needing it for every reservation we take.
Right now, no hotel here is accepting cash due to the pandemic. And it is not like renting a hotel room is considered essential, so there isn't any room to budge on that policy right now as far as the owners go.
Prior to all the regulations, if somebody paid cash we'd ask for a credit card on file to bill any incidentals or damages to, or a cash deposit of $250 that we would deduct incidentals from, and we would not give any part of the deposit back until we had inspected the room for damages.
Comment