I don't know what people are expecting in the way of service. Is it that we are being too critical about the reviews?
Know this, what you and so many others offer cannot be achieved by any motel or hotel. The peace, quiet, the beautiful surroundings, the beautifully kept homes, you all offer, the food and thoughts you put into making your guests feel comfortable are unsurpassed by any of the above-mentioned lodgings.
I am slowly, slowly understanding what the reviews for my place really mean. I am not happy the way some of them are worded. I am no longer offended when it says "it's not luxury..." but that's not what they were sold either..
Iris said:
I don't know what people are expecting in the way of service. Is it that we are being too critical about the reviews?
I would say that is it. The paranoid response we had to anything that wasn't 100% spectacular has withered away. Over time, we began to see those off-hand remarks as actually helping us steer away guests who wanted something else. The guest who comments about their surprise that we do not have TV helps us share with others that we intentionally don't. The guest who mentions that our open design is best suited for couples that are more comfortable with an intimate arrangement- BINGO- that's our perfect guest. They still give us perfect marks and it's completely obvious that the stay was uncompromised. Then, at some point, there are enough great reviews that getting a mediocre one is something that is easier to handle.
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happykeeper said:
Iris said:
I don't know what people are expecting in the way of service. Is it that we are being too critical about the reviews?
I would say that is it. The paranoid response we had to anything that wasn't 100% spectacular has withered away. Over time, we began to see those off-hand remarks as actually helping us steer away guests who wanted something else. The guest who comments about their surprise that we do not have TV helps us share with others that we intentionally don't. The guest who mentions that our open design is best suited for couples that are more comfortable with an intimate arrangement- BINGO- that's our perfect guest. They still give us perfect marks and it's completely obvious that the stay was uncompromised. Then, at some point, there are enough great reviews that getting a mediocre one is something that is easier to handle.
Oh, I definitely use them to make improvements if that's warranted. However, some requests just seem to come out of la-la land. It seems the people watch home improvement shows as well as "travels of the rich and famous", well, I can produce what they want if they pay me $ 60.000 for a one week stay. for goodness sakes, they stay anywhere from 2 to 10 nights, for a price that is completely laughable.
Good example of me jumping the gun was a review from a first time guest who "loved it here" but he found the bed too firm. I knew it was on the very firm side. so I run around to find feather beds and memory foam to see if I can forgo purchasing a brand new mattress. The next regular guests that slept in that bed complained that "their" mattress had changed and they were a little put off. blah. I am not jumping the gun any more, but I do take to heart that some suggestions are legitimate. Most not so much.
I get marked to a 4 on cleanliness and sleep quality as well and I cannot get it any more sparkly, and I cannot change the size of the beds, the cottages are just not large enough. So, unless it's a queen size bed, the sleep quality is not to their liking. these cottages are furnished with mid-century stuff, it is not new. this is why they booked here, the up north experience and because it's just "adorable", "too cute", etc. Whatdayado?
I am taking a rarely used xanax today because I have a family with the most ill-mannered boys here. My husband told them that if they keep disturbing the other guests, they will be asked to leave.
and now another glass of bubbly for me.
sorry to throw up all over you guys. It had to come out, LOL
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