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Giving those little extras....
I know why one does this........I do it.
However......people take them in many ways......some don't notice......some might notice.......not to many think it's something extra, most take the impression it is standard....few, would even identify it as a nice gesture
How people view these nice extras depends on how it is given...
If you do give.................tell them.........I know it may seem petty of you to be telling them....or you maybe seen in the light of pushing for a tip........who cares what they think in their own mind...........always make a point to tell them that you are giving them this or that....which is above and beyond of what the business arrangement is.
Also.........remember the bottom line is what you are working for........not to give it away........bills have to paid.........repairs and upkeep has to be maintained......profit for the future has to be established.
We all have those gut feelings as to who you want to do something nice for.....and for those that would appreciate it.
I am in no way saying not to do nice things.........just avoid the problem of it being expected all the time.
I remember the PO here telling me...they were eating dinner and a couple was practically drooling over them. ...so they invited them to join in...MISTAKE!!!
Then every time after that the first thing they asked when they arrived "what's for dinner?" WHAT THE?????? She is such a lovely sweet southern belle that of course she couldn't say "you aren't invited" so for 5 years they were stuck serving them dinner.
She told me she got caught in a similar trap with other...because she did something out of the ordinary the first time and had to keep doing it. Warned me...Don't do what I did.
SO yes, it is a gut feeling when we want to go out of the way for someone..but just don't let it come back to bite you.
 
Giving those little extras....
I know why one does this........I do it.
However......people take them in many ways......some don't notice......some might notice.......not to many think it's something extra, most take the impression it is standard....few, would even identify it as a nice gesture
How people view these nice extras depends on how it is given...
If you do give.................tell them.........I know it may seem petty of you to be telling them....or you maybe seen in the light of pushing for a tip........who cares what they think in their own mind...........always make a point to tell them that you are giving them this or that....which is above and beyond of what the business arrangement is.
Also.........remember the bottom line is what you are working for........not to give it away........bills have to paid.........repairs and upkeep has to be maintained......profit for the future has to be established.
We all have those gut feelings as to who you want to do something nice for.....and for those that would appreciate it.
I am in no way saying not to do nice things.........just avoid the problem of it being expected all the time.
I agree with what you've said. If I came back from being out and found a cheese tray in my room I would not think it was something done just for me, but SOP at that inn. Someone would have to tell me they did that just for me.
So, if you're going to do it for all guests tout it. If not, a little note with the cheese tray to 'Enjoy this with our compliments,' is in order.
Tipsy does the special music in your room when you come back from dinner, little bedtime surprise treats, etc for everyone. It's what she does and I know it's appreciated. But it's nowhere near the expense of a cheese tray or strawberries. It's a fun little amuse bouche.
 
Whatever floats your boat. This same discussion goes both ways for turn down service.
You know my history, of staying at Inns and letting them know IN ADVANCE it is a special occasion and arriving with no fanfare, not even a happy birthday or anniversary, but a "And who are you?" Of course these are not innmate inns, just regular ol' inns.
"One Day" I wanted to tell you that I really appreciate your input here on the forum. Seeing the broader picture sometimes is needed, you know that whole forest through the trees perspective. Whether we agree or disagree I always do appreciate and listen to what you say, in case I had not mentioned that before. CHEERS!
 
Whatever floats your boat. This same discussion goes both ways for turn down service.
You know my history, of staying at Inns and letting them know IN ADVANCE it is a special occasion and arriving with no fanfare, not even a happy birthday or anniversary, but a "And who are you?" Of course these are not innmate inns, just regular ol' inns.
"One Day" I wanted to tell you that I really appreciate your input here on the forum. Seeing the broader picture sometimes is needed, you know that whole forest through the trees perspective. Whether we agree or disagree I always do appreciate and listen to what you say, in case I had not mentioned that before. CHEERS!.
Absolutely! We all do what we're comfortable with, what we LIKE to do for our guests, and what we think makes our business either fun or rewarding!
I have to say that one of the things that I absolutely enjoyed the most was leaving the little surprises in the rooms for guests either before their arrival or at turndown. It just made me HAPPY! :)
 
Thanks Joey
No matter what lodging I stayed at........Always enjoyed the turn down service and a chocolate on the pillow......or on a tray on the night stand.
Regardless of the turn down.......no chocolate.....was disapointing
Think about this for a second........You provide cookies or brownies at check in.....basicaly that is an afternoon / evening snack........inclusive with the room...................some provide a desert for when you return for the evening.......this to is inclusive
Banana..........what you did for the pregnant couple is awesome........I hope that when I do make the career change I can be as intuitive
 
Thanks Joey
No matter what lodging I stayed at........Always enjoyed the turn down service and a chocolate on the pillow......or on a tray on the night stand.
Regardless of the turn down.......no chocolate.....was disapointing
Think about this for a second........You provide cookies or brownies at check in.....basicaly that is an afternoon / evening snack........inclusive with the room...................some provide a desert for when you return for the evening.......this to is inclusive
Banana..........what you did for the pregnant couple is awesome........I hope that when I do make the career change I can be as intuitive.
I enjoy your perspective too, One Day. It's always good to hear from folks in another business and/or who are thinking about taking the leap.
The oatmeal story about your Mom was pretty funny, too......
 
"What we LIKE to do" wiser words were never spoken Samster. :)
That is the gist of my existence, period. What we LIKE to do is what we do. We all have time for what we like to do. We all MAKE time for what we like to do. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Some of us multitask more than others. Some of us complete projects more than others.
As we say, we didn't get into this biz to scrub bogs! (at least I always say that). The guest PORTION of this business is the BEST PART. If we miss that, we miss it entirely.
Some guests take and take and are never receptive to any extras, are not thankful, and expect anything you give to be given.
Some guests are beautiful is spirit and countenance, they have an aura of thankfulness...it is these guests for which we ENJOY going that extra mile. Agreed, sometimes we do not know who is who, but at least 75% of the time WE DO KNOW.
 
and...ps stepfords just checked in. Meanwhile as I may have mentioned my other room called from a hospital ER! So the stepfords should just get in and shut up! (I mean, "Welcome to the inn, have a nice cold soda...here is your lovely room!"
 
Yes, contrary to what you might read here, we all really DO enjoy what we do! I like to spoil people, and if I couldn't cook them breakfast or tidy their room with little surprises placed in the room...I'd feel worthless. I do this job to make others feel good - which makes me feel good. Let me do it!
Oh, but hey...don't expect it. I don't like that so much. Hahaha....
You've intrigued me. What kind of little surprises?
.
For that couple, I made them some chocolate covered strawberries one day and a fruit/cheese tray the next. I also bought them a small baby picture frame (Big Lots - $3) since she is pregnant, and it's their first. If I really like the guests, and especially if it's a longer stay or they are repeats, I'll buy a $10 gift card to a local favorite restaurant for lunch, or for our famous confectionary in the historic shopping area downtown. Just little things to let them know I appreciate their business, because I truly do. Times are tough right now, and the fact that people are still vacationing and spending their money is a very good thing.
.
Wow that is very nice of you. Fruit and cheese trays and choc covered strawberries are not cheap and do take your time as well. Does your room rate at least help reimburse you for those things? OR do you write them off as "marketing" for guests? Got to find someway to make it a WIN WIN situation for all.
.
In this situation, the other couple here ordered chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. So I already had the strawberries. No big deal to dip a couple more. No extra $$ out of my pocket, and it took 10 minutes. The fruit/cheese tray was also no extra $$$ because I already had grapes that needed to be eaten and the cheese was leftover from an ordered package from last weekend - it would have also gone bad. I didn't go out and buy these things. I did buy the picture frame, but I figure the $3 I spent on that was worth the four day stay that they paid in cash. None of these things were a big deal to me, but it makes the guest feel special.
 
Yes, contrary to what you might read here, we all really DO enjoy what we do! I like to spoil people, and if I couldn't cook them breakfast or tidy their room with little surprises placed in the room...I'd feel worthless. I do this job to make others feel good - which makes me feel good. Let me do it!
Oh, but hey...don't expect it. I don't like that so much. Hahaha....
You've intrigued me. What kind of little surprises?
.
For that couple, I made them some chocolate covered strawberries one day and a fruit/cheese tray the next. I also bought them a small baby picture frame (Big Lots - $3) since she is pregnant, and it's their first. If I really like the guests, and especially if it's a longer stay or they are repeats, I'll buy a $10 gift card to a local favorite restaurant for lunch, or for our famous confectionary in the historic shopping area downtown. Just little things to let them know I appreciate their business, because I truly do. Times are tough right now, and the fact that people are still vacationing and spending their money is a very good thing.
.
Wow that is very nice of you. Fruit and cheese trays and choc covered strawberries are not cheap and do take your time as well. Does your room rate at least help reimburse you for those things? OR do you write them off as "marketing" for guests? Got to find someway to make it a WIN WIN situation for all.
.
In this situation, the other couple here ordered chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. So I already had the strawberries. No big deal to dip a couple more. No extra $$ out of my pocket, and it took 10 minutes. The fruit/cheese tray was also no extra $$$ because I already had grapes that needed to be eaten and the cheese was leftover from an ordered package from last weekend - it would have also gone bad. I didn't go out and buy these things. I did buy the picture frame, but I figure the $3 I spent on that was worth the four day stay that they paid in cash. None of these things were a big deal to me, but it makes the guest feel special.
.
I say "KUDOS" to you!
regular_smile.gif

 
and...ps stepfords just checked in. Meanwhile as I may have mentioned my other room called from a hospital ER! So the stepfords should just get in and shut up! (I mean, "Welcome to the inn, have a nice cold soda...here is your lovely room!".
"Beautiful in spirit and countenance..." Wow, I really like that. I have such good memories of those guests! Thanks for the reminder! :)
May the Stepford Guests be better in the morning. ;-)
 
Giving those little extras....
I know why one does this........I do it.
However......people take them in many ways......some don't notice......some might notice.......not to many think it's something extra, most take the impression it is standard....few, would even identify it as a nice gesture
How people view these nice extras depends on how it is given...
If you do give.................tell them.........I know it may seem petty of you to be telling them....or you maybe seen in the light of pushing for a tip........who cares what they think in their own mind...........always make a point to tell them that you are giving them this or that....which is above and beyond of what the business arrangement is.
Also.........remember the bottom line is what you are working for........not to give it away........bills have to paid.........repairs and upkeep has to be maintained......profit for the future has to be established.
We all have those gut feelings as to who you want to do something nice for.....and for those that would appreciate it.
I am in no way saying not to do nice things.........just avoid the problem of it being expected all the time.
I agree with what you've said. If I came back from being out and found a cheese tray in my room I would not think it was something done just for me, but SOP at that inn. Someone would have to tell me they did that just for me.
So, if you're going to do it for all guests tout it. If not, a little note with the cheese tray to 'Enjoy this with our compliments,' is in order.
Tipsy does the special music in your room when you come back from dinner, little bedtime surprise treats, etc for everyone. It's what she does and I know it's appreciated. But it's nowhere near the expense of a cheese tray or strawberries. It's a fun little amuse bouche.
.
There is no expense to these items if you already have them on hand because another guest ordered packages. I don't have a husband or children to feed these extra items to, and there's no sense in letting food go bad if someone will get some enjoyment out of them.
 
Thanks Sam
Our industries are not all that different.........we both provide a service......both deal with the public.........
I want to take this opportunity to thank the forum members for accepting my presence........and those tolerating my presence :)
I wouldn't be here if I wasn't serious about the career change.....When this will happen?.........I'd do it today if I could, but I can't.
 
We had an elderly mom and her daughter for the last five nights. That sweet old lady wouldn't let me do anything for her. She wouldn't let me change their sheets mid-stay, and the last couple mornings they were the only guests, and she wouldn't let us cook breafkast for them either. She said "That's just silly to cook a full breakfast for only two people". I did finally talk them into fruit bowls and sticky buns each morning, but Jeeezzz....way to get my OCD jumping!.
All the water in our house is pumped as the mains pressure isn't very good. A couple of winters ago we had a group of elderly Australians staying and the pump blew up. No showers, no flushing toilets, no drinking water.
This happened on their first morning, but we struggled by with breakfast and they went out for the day. By their return in the evening the repair man has decided a new pump was necessary and it wouldn't be available until at least the next day. When the Australians returned in the evening I had made arrangements with another B&B for them to stay there but they said "No, we don't want to move, we want to stay here". I explained about no showers etc, but they insisted on staying with us. So we gave them bottled water, and we filled buckets from the pond for flushing the toilets.
And to my relief whilst we struggled with breakfast a 2nd morning the pump repair mans van pulled into the drive and before they went out for the day the water supply was back.
I felt so guilty about it and of course discounted their bill but they refused that too insisting on paying the full price saying it was "all part of the adventure of our holiday". When I think of how difficult some people would have been over this, but these people were so tollerant and delightful.
.
Highlands John said:
insisting on paying the full price saying it was "all part of the adventure of our holiday".
That would be my attitude, too, especially in a different country. Talk about a once in a lifetime trip!! :)
 
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