Hotel Employees don't get enough credit
Hotel employees work long hours for very little pay and even less credit. Talk to ten people and you will probably find at least five who have a negative hotel story. The problem with people is we tend to remember the negative and forget the good things. In fact, there are even websites devoted to painting the picture of hotel horrors.
A majority of these complaints are very valid and should be taken seriously. Honestly though, sometimes people complain for the wrong reason and blame employees for something they have absolutely no control over. A good example of this is construction on the streets outside the hotel ruining a vacation. Yes that would be bad, but you cannot necessarily blame the hotel and its staff because they do not control when a city decides to fix a street.
We should also take into account that the hotel staff tends to get it bad from both ends a lot of the time. Guests complain that they don't get the service they should, bosses complain that their staff is not working hard and fast enough. Long hours and low pay do not make for happy people, especially when many hotel staff members are looking to get in, out, and pay the bills.
Most people know to complain when they see something they don't like, but why don't we offer kind words of encouragement when you see something you appreciate or really enjoy? I think as hotel guests we should take the time to say thank you to hotel employees who go that extra step or do something with a smile on their face. If the bellhop is polite, friendly, or just helpful, try sliding him a couple of bucks. If the server in the hotel restaurant gives you the best service of your life don't forget a nice tip - and I'm not talking 10% - go the extra mile, try 15% or 20%.
This idea of rewarding good work is a foreign concept to a lot of people. When I served at a restaurant I loved it when people told me I was the best server they'd ever had. It made me feel good about what I was doing and that in turn made me work a little harder. Of course I loved it even more when the guest told me I was the best server they’d ever had and then gave me a 35% tip. This sort of tip is rare or can be seen as excessive, but trust me, it can turn a bad night into an amazing night.
