Super Gracious Military Guy YOU ROCK! and I almost cried after our call

[Angry_Hippie]

Please keep this out of Fractching land!

As you probably know I book hotel reservations for a large chain of casinos player club. I got a call from a gentleman today and he had a fairly frantic tone of voice (no biggie). He explained he is a member of our players club and he was wondering what kind of rates we could give him for tomorrow and Tuesday night and what we could do to help him with a very early arrival. I do my usual drill ask for players club # and offer to find if not available (end up finding it), I already know the dates so I plug those in (I take a peek and see some pretty decent discounted casino rates to start with but keep them to myself cause I'm gonna try to beat them). I ask if the guest has an mailed out offer codes he'd like to use (lots of guests have them already to go so that's why I ask), he explains he has JUST gotten back from Afghanistan and hasn't seen his mail or a his email in almost a year. NO PROBLEM! I'm super glad to look through all the offers we mailed to him in the computer and see what I come up with.

Jackpot! I find both nights free and he is SHOCKED and keeps asking if there is some kind of catch or if it is really true (most of the people that call us qualify for free rooms so it always catches me by surprise when people are surprised, shocked, and grateful). I book the reservation as normal at our lowest end casino (his favorite and one of my favorites, it's just such a fun unpretentious place). I'm even chattier than normal (if that's possible) because we are having computer issues and I'm buying time to get the computer to bend to my will . Military gentleman gushes about how much he loved the time he spent if Vegas before he went, how he loves playing at low-end casino. Then he lets me know how important this trip is to him because he'd just gotten orders today (Mother's Day) that he had to go back to Afghanistan very soon and he'd love to play the games he enjoys, have a drink or two, and try his luck with the ladies. He keeps grilling me to make sure the room is really really free (it is). He even explains how he called one of our competitors where he has a host and they treated him like crap and quoted him outrageous rates. I apologize for that (even though it's not our fault) let him know how much I respect what he does (how many of us have been shot at or in an explosive attack at work?) and keep trying to reassure him this is the real deal. Due to the computer issues I get antsy and while waiting I check the rates at another one of casinos (right next to his favorite a step up in room niceness, our flag ship and a change of pace for him, also has a great outdoor bar/lady meeting place right en-route to the favorite). I let him know it's free too and I convince him to book that one and play at his fave. After all is done and I'm off the call I take a look at the reservation and realize I booked the wrong dates and at first Tuesday doesn't show up free, oh crap, I jiggle the reservation around a little and BAM! I notice if I pick our nicest room type it turns free (score). I also pulled strings to really try to have the room ready almost 12 hours before standard check in (fingers crossed), he was even packing while on the phone (awww).

It was so cool to be able to help this guy get his little bit of relaxation and fun he much deserves. Such a nice contrast to the entitlement whores who are only surprised when you can't get them what they want no matter how outrageous it is and aren't grateful for what they do get. I hope he has a blast! I guess even though I work in an industry that serves a want and not a need I still do something important for people.

[Astrokitty]

Thanks for doing so much to help this guy. It's so nice getting a customer who is a pleasure, and I'm sure he really appreciated it. Also, thank you for thanking him. Last time was in uniform and had someone thank me for my service I almost cried. Many military folks don't hear good things very often and it really makes their day.

[Trytobenice]

Hey Angry Hippie, I've been in military service for almost 25 years.

You are going straight to heaven when you leave this earth! God bless you!

[Whiskey]

I love gracious military men. theyre so awesome And it sounds like you just made his year!

[smileyeagle1021]

I'm always amazed at how greatful soldiers are for the smallest of things. I had one on a particularly busy night come in. I apologized that all I had was suites so I couldn't do the military rate, but I would give him half off the upgrade charge and he couldn't stop thanking me for going so far out of my way for him.

[infinitemonkies]

(how many of us have been shot at or in an explosive attack at work?)

Try working the night shift. (j/k, but not entirely, I'll post about it later if I haven't already)

There's a navy base in town, and my best friend and former roommate is a bosun. I may bitch from time to time about sailors, but I have a lot of respect for anyone in the armed forces. If for nothing else, even at their drunken worst they still tend to be a lot more polite and respectful than their drunken civilian counterparts.

[Marmalady]

I guess even though I work in an industry that serves a want and not a need I still do something important for people.

I would say that as far as service personnel are concerned, given what they go through while they are on their tour of duty, an enjoyable, relaxing stay in a nice place with plenty of good facilities is closer to a need than a want. I hope he had a blast too, and that when he has to go back he'll be rested and refreshed with some great memories to help keep him going.