How Long Until I Am Jaded?

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Arks

Arks

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2010
Messages
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So far my new business has hosted 4 reservations (2 couples, 2 individuals) but all had some local connection for staying. Two were booked by locals who had friends coming to town and wanted to put them in my place, one was booked by the local tourism assn. (speaker at the annual tourism banquet), and of course Innkeep.
Tomorrow night a couple arrives for two nights from 750 miles away. On the reservation they wrote "found you on the web". So they're my first "real" guests who are total strangers who have no connection to my town, as far as I know.
My questions, for you old timers (sorry, not referring to age, but experience).
  • How long before I stop looking up their address on Google Maps, and wandering their neighborhood on street view, just because I'm so happy they are coming?
  • How long before I stop running down to the guesthouse before they arrive just to make sure the keypad code I set for them will really work for them. When will I trust my equipment (which has worked flawlessly so far)?
  • When will I quit wishing I could be a fly on the wall to hear what they say when they enter their apartment?
  • When will I stop worrying that I've forgotten something they will need? People have stayed in both apartments now, and survived, but I keep thinking I must have forgotten to supply something!
  • And of course, I've already asked how long before I forget to disarm the burglar alarm when guests are arriving that day!
 
After 19 years, I still do most of these things. If they are new guests, I always wonder how they like their cottage. Are they comfortable? Did I leave enough coffee in there for them? What did they say to Mike? What does Mike think they think?
If we didn't care, we would not be in the business. If we didn't care we would be rich like Hiltons. Hope that you don't ever lose this concern. If you do, it's time to find a new way to live
 
You might want to think about a questionare ie what did you like/ what didn't you like? anything you would like added? quite a lot of it will be rubbish but just now and again there might be something you hadn't thought of!
 
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
After 19 years, I still do most of these things. If they are new guests, I always wonder how they like their cottage. Are they comfortable? Did I leave enough coffee in there for them? What did they say to Mike? What does Mike think they think?
If we didn't care, we would not be in the business. If we didn't care we would be rich like Hiltons. Hope that you don't ever lose this concern. If you do, it's time to find a new way to live.
Click to expand...
For the first few years we would drop off a questionnaire. The last night of their stay. Most filled it out and in the morning we would pick it up and give it a read. It truly helped us see if we had everything in the suites that meet the needs Plus. Now every few years or so we do the same, just to see if perhaps we have over looked some thing they might need. Or that they would like to see. Then we would sit down Hubby and I , decide if that was some thing we would or could do.
We have a check list for us every time a guest leaves to make sure we have every thing in the suites slippers, house coats, coffee, teas,waters,and so on. That way we are not likely to miss the main ingredients to make their stay a good one.
 
It's been 24 years for us and we still do all those things! Just yesterday a couple who stays every year in the cottage arrived for their annual 4-night stay. So yesterday I spent the day fussing to make sure they had coffee, 1/2+1/2, homemade brownies, plenty of fresh air, AC, gas stove (we are in one of those in-between season periods where either it's too hot or too cold!), and nice variety of DVDs. When you get busy enough you won't have time to research them and will learn to fret over only the things you can control. Otherwise you will be "spent' after 6-7 years.
Congratulations on a job well done! Now that you have created lovely apartments you can wind down and let them do their magic on your guests!
 
You're still obsessing? Stop it! In reality? About 2 years before you stop worrying. But you can stop goggling their addresses today.
 
Under this topic, let me ask (because I am getting jaded) - early morning phone call, didn't answer I was asleep. Email from a large GDS I do not list on referring to phone call asking me to cancel a guest rez and refund the deposit. Guest name correct. Arrival today. Weather is bad where they live. What would you do?
 
Madeleine said:
Under this topic, let me ask (because I am getting jaded) - early morning phone call, didn't answer I was asleep. Email from a large GDS I do not list on referring to phone call asking me to cancel a guest rez and refund the deposit. Guest name correct. Arrival today. Weather is bad where they live. What would you do?.
Click to expand...
Call guest directly, since you don't deal with GDS.
 
[email protected] said:
You might want to think about a questionare ie what did you like/ what didn't you like? anything you would like added? quite a lot of it will be rubbish but just now and again there might be something you hadn't thought of!.
Click to expand...
[email protected] said:
You might want to think about a questionare ie what did you like/ what didn't you like? anything you would like added? quite a lot of it will be rubbish but just now and again there might be something you hadn't thought of!
Click to expand...
Have that already. Thanks!
 
Yes, hope I keep the enthusiasm and desire to make for a perfect stay. I can't imagine I will ever stop wanting the place to look its best when they arrive.
I checked an apartment yesterday after the cleaning lady left, making sure it was ready for an arrival today. She left the toilet seat up! And a bottle of Windex was sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor! This won't do. Must create a checklist and insist she really check certain things in each room before leaving.
But I'll still want to check it myself, even if she starts doing it all right!
 
Flower said:
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
After 19 years, I still do most of these things. If they are new guests, I always wonder how they like their cottage. Are they comfortable? Did I leave enough coffee in there for them? What did they say to Mike? What does Mike think they think?
If we didn't care, we would not be in the business. If we didn't care we would be rich like Hiltons. Hope that you don't ever lose this concern. If you do, it's time to find a new way to live.
Click to expand...
For the first few years we would drop off a questionnaire. The last night of their stay. Most filled it out and in the morning we would pick it up and give it a read. It truly helped us see if we had everything in the suites that meet the needs Plus. Now every few years or so we do the same, just to see if perhaps we have over looked some thing they might need. Or that they would like to see. Then we would sit down Hubby and I , decide if that was some thing we would or could do.
We have a check list for us every time a guest leaves to make sure we have every thing in the suites slippers, house coats, coffee, teas,waters,and so on. That way we are not likely to miss the main ingredients to make their stay a good one.
.
Click to expand...
Flower said:
For the first few years we would drop off a questionnaire. The last night of their stay. Most filled it out and in the morning we would pick it up and give it a read. It truly helped us see if we had everything in the suites that meet the needs Plus. Now every few years or so we do the same, just to see if perhaps we have over looked some thing they might need. Or that they would like to see. Then we would sit down Hubby and I , decide if that was some thing we would or could do.
We have a check list for us every time a guest leaves to make sure we have every thing in the suites slippers, house coats, coffee, teas,waters,and so on. That way we are not likely to miss the main ingredients to make their stay a good one.
Click to expand...
Long story short, you do care for as long as you are an innkeeper
wink_smile.gif

 
Arks you don't want to know the answer.
sad_smile.gif

But I will tell you...
It happens to all of us, when they disrespect your hard work, and then you have this monumental let down. When they don't love everything like you had hoped they would. Acting as if what you have for them is crap! That is one that gets most of our goats, as you can see from the forum and those who don't run an inn don't understand how much skin is in the game, blood sweat and tears. For some, it is never enough...no matter what.
Treating your place like a sleazy motel on the side of the road is the one that also beckons this, but you can just call them ingrates and be done with them. We will all give you a "poor baby" forum hug, and say "It happens" not will it happen, but when.
Meanwhile enjoy this high you are on, there is nothing better than enthusiasm, and we are sharing in it right here and loving it!
thumbs_up.gif
 
Joey Bloggs said:
Arks you don't want to know the answer.
sad_smile.gif

But I will tell you...
It happens to all of us, when they disrespect your hard work, and then you have this monumental let down. When they don't love everything like you had hoped they would. Acting as if what you have for them is crap! That is one that gets most of our goats, as you can see from the forum and those who don't run an inn don't understand how much skin is in the game, blood sweat and tears. For some, it is never enough...no matter what.
Treating your place like a sleazy motel on the side of the road is the one that also beckons this, but you can just call them ingrates and be done with them. We will all give you a "poor baby" forum hug, and say "It happens" not will it happen, but when.
Meanwhile enjoy this high you are on, there is nothing better than enthusiasm, and we are sharing in it right here and loving it!
thumbs_up.gif
.
Click to expand...
True. It IS exciting to see the enthusiasm. Another reason I love coming here to chat. Someone is always doing something they're proud of and excited to share.
 
Arkansawyer said:
Yes, hope I keep the enthusiasm and desire to make for a perfect stay. I can't imagine I will ever stop wanting the place to look its best when they arrive.
I checked an apartment yesterday after the cleaning lady left, making sure it was ready for an arrival today. She left the toilet seat up! And a bottle of Windex was sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor! This won't do. Must create a checklist and insist she really check certain things in each room before leaving.
But I'll still want to check it myself, even if she starts doing it all right!.
Click to expand...
Arkansawyer said:
Yes, hope I keep the enthusiasm and desire to make for a perfect stay. I can't imagine I will ever stop wanting the place to look its best when they arrive.
I checked an apartment yesterday after the cleaning lady left, making sure it was ready for an arrival today. She left the toilet seat up! And a bottle of Windex was sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor! This won't do. Must create a checklist and insist she really check certain things in each room before leaving.
But I'll still want to check it myself, even if she starts doing it all right!
Click to expand...
Yes, for your peace of mind, you will want to check after the housekeeper is finished. I do that by doing the job of adding the towels and soaps, coffees, etc. That way I see the entire cottage and I know I am the last one in there before the guest arrives
 
Arkansawyer said:
Yes, hope I keep the enthusiasm and desire to make for a perfect stay. I can't imagine I will ever stop wanting the place to look its best when they arrive.
I checked an apartment yesterday after the cleaning lady left, making sure it was ready for an arrival today. She left the toilet seat up! And a bottle of Windex was sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor! This won't do. Must create a checklist and insist she really check certain things in each room before leaving.
But I'll still want to check it myself, even if she starts doing it all right!.
Click to expand...
Arkansawyer said:
Yes, hope I keep the enthusiasm and desire to make for a perfect stay. I can't imagine I will ever stop wanting the place to look its best when they arrive.
I checked an apartment yesterday after the cleaning lady left, making sure it was ready for an arrival today. She left the toilet seat up! And a bottle of Windex was sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor! This won't do. Must create a checklist and insist she really check certain things in each room before leaving.
But I'll still want to check it myself, even if she starts doing it all right!
Click to expand...
I hope you can get yours to follow the checklist. Mine insists she is so why I am finding unvacuumed floors, shades drawn and lights not working? Sigh. Another summer temp.
 
I promise I won't keep boring y'all with every little thing, but I was so happy tonight to meet my guests who arrived this afternoon. They were returning to their apartment about 8:15 from a stroll of our downtown, and I ran into them as I was coming out of "Innkeep's" apartment.
They said the photos on the website looked beautiful and that's why they booked, but now they know the photos don't do their apartment justice, it's much better than they expected. That's exactly what I want. Photos look great, but with an actual experience that's even better than expected.
I'm badly in need of a PITA to bring me back to reality.
 
Arkansawyer said:
I promise I won't keep boring y'all with every little thing, but I was so happy tonight to meet my guests who arrived this afternoon. They were returning to their apartment about 8:15 from a stroll of our downtown, and I ran into them as I was coming out of "Innkeep's" apartment.
They said the photos on the website looked beautiful and that's why they booked, but now they know the photos don't do their apartment justice, it's much better than they expected. That's exactly what I want. Photos look great, but with an actual experience that's even better than expected.
I'm badly in need of a PITA to bring me back to reality..
Click to expand...
Arkansawyer said:
I ran into them as I was coming out of "Innkeep's" apartment.
Click to expand...
Don't anybody get excited, I've been back home now for 4 days.
embaressed_smile.gif

 
Arkansawyer said:
Yes, hope I keep the enthusiasm and desire to make for a perfect stay. I can't imagine I will ever stop wanting the place to look its best when they arrive.
I checked an apartment yesterday after the cleaning lady left, making sure it was ready for an arrival today. She left the toilet seat up! And a bottle of Windex was sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor! This won't do. Must create a checklist and insist she really check certain things in each room before leaving.
But I'll still want to check it myself, even if she starts doing it all right!.
Click to expand...
I checked an apartment yesterday after the cleaning lady left, making sure it was ready for an arrival today. She left the toilet seat up! And a bottle of Windex was sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor!
I find myself in that same category. You think a bottle of Windex is bad? I've left a floor steamer in my all tile shower twice in the last 6 weeks. That's after I check and recheck the rooms. There is a saying "Why can't an old woman have a baby? - Because she'd forget where she put it!"
 
Innkeep said:
Arkansawyer said:
Yes, hope I keep the enthusiasm and desire to make for a perfect stay. I can't imagine I will ever stop wanting the place to look its best when they arrive.
I checked an apartment yesterday after the cleaning lady left, making sure it was ready for an arrival today. She left the toilet seat up! And a bottle of Windex was sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor! This won't do. Must create a checklist and insist she really check certain things in each room before leaving.
But I'll still want to check it myself, even if she starts doing it all right!.
Click to expand...
I checked an apartment yesterday after the cleaning lady left, making sure it was ready for an arrival today. She left the toilet seat up! And a bottle of Windex was sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor!
I find myself in that same category. You think a bottle of Windex is bad? I've left a floor steamer in my all tile shower twice in the last 6 weeks. That's after I check and recheck the rooms. There is a saying "Why can't an old woman have a baby? - Because she'd forget where she put it!"
.
Click to expand...
Innkeep said:
I find myself in that same category. You think a bottle of Windex is bad? I've left a floor steamer in my all tile shower twice in the last 6 weeks. That's after I check and recheck the rooms. There is a saying "Why can't an old woman have a baby? - Because she'd forget where she put it!"
Click to expand...
Hilarious! And I completely understand how it can happen...repeatedly!
 

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