FAQ
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Making the Reservation
1. Let your host prompt you.
I can't stress this enough. Don't spit out a bunch of information all at once, especially over the phone. Chances are we can't type at 1000 wpm or read minds, and since we have to ask you all this stuff before we enter it anyways, you're likely to just waste your time and (in extreme cases) complain that we "weren't attentive" and that you had to "repeat information".
2. If you're calling over the phone, don't give us your life story.
One of the best things about working in hospitality is meeting people and hearing some interesting stories. Working with people can be a rewarding experience. But please, don't do this to us over the phone. When you come into the hotel, you can see if we're busy or not and you'll usually bow out of your story out of courtesy. Over the phone you have no way of knowing and we're not allowed to tell you to shut up so we can get our work done.
3. Don't quote me rates.
I work at a Best Western. We have HSIA, pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness room, excercise room, guest laundry, vending on each floor, cable television and all the rooms have a fridge, microwave, two sinks, iron, hairdryer and your choice of two full beds or king-size and your choice of Smoking or Non-Smoking rooms. So when I offer you our lowest rate of $59 plus tax, don't quote me the Motel 6's rate. They may be $20 cheaper, but they can't meet our quality. I literally had some guy call me a liar because we didn't have "the best rates in town" as we advertise.
At Check-In
1. Ask Questions
If you're not sure about something, or want to know, check-in is the time to ask me. It's much more annoying to have to deal with a room service call than solve these problems at check-in when you're at the lobby. Especially during the night audit, when the poor guy has to lock everything up before he can leave on a call.
2. Have your payment method, ID and coupons ready.
This just saves us so much hassle, and your host will be thrilled that you've made his/her life easier. It also helps to have your license plate number memorized or written down, because we usually ask for that too.
3. Don't make suggestive comments to the host/hostess.
Don't flirt or hit on me or my co-workers. As charming as you no doubt are, there are some true creepers out there, and it just freaks us out. (You all know the story I'm talking about)
During Your Stay
1. Respect Quiet Hours
Which-in a hotel- is all the time. I have truckers who come in the mid-afternoon and sleep during the day because they have to be up all night. Don't think just because the sun is shining you can be screaming and yelling, and especially don't do it at night.
2. Don't Get Drunk
This is just a common sense thing. I've had drunk girls knocking on every door in the hotel at 3 in the morning trying to find their room. I can't deal with that, and our guests shouldn't have to.
3. Don't Go Outside to Make a Phone Call
People think that by going outside to make their calls, they are being considerate to their neighbors. It is actually much easier to hear somebody outside your door than in an adjoining room.
4. Don't smoke in nonsmoking rooms.
Even if no smoking rooms were available, please don't smoke in a nonsmoking rooms. First off, if we catch you, you're likely to pay a fine, and secondly other guests have to use those rooms who don't have that habit. Some guests even have handicaps or lung disorders like COPD which cigarette smoke, even lingering scents, can trigger. Go outside to smoke if you must.
5. Complain
I know this seems counter-intuitive, but it's better business. If you have a problem, bring it to my attention. That way I can make your stay more enjoyable and you don't end up complaining about your lousy stay at Best Western. According to a study that was performed 87% of guests who didn't enjoy their stay never brought their problems to the attention of the staff.
6. Fill out those guest surveys.
We have a quota we have to fill every month on those little cards. It really helps us! Even if you think we did a lousy job, fill one out and say that!
7. If you can, leave a tip for your housekeeper.
It really makes their day.
At Check-Out
1. Have your payment method ready.
This way we can get you out of here faster, as you're probably in a rush.
2. Don't hand me your keys and then go off to get breakfast.
I hate it when guests do this. Please wait the five minutes it takes to check you out, because I have to have you sign something anyways. Plus odds are if i have other guests who stop in, I won't remember your face when you come back to get a reciept, and then you'll get upset with me.
3. Check out when you are leaving.
Don't check out at breakfast and then qualify it by saying "we're gonna be here until noon though". When I check you out, I assume that our housekeeping staff can get to work cleaning your room.
Some General Tips
1. Wait your turn.
If you see me dealing with somebody, don't butt in when I've stopped talking to write something down with a request, even a small one like needing an internet cable or a card fixed. It's rude and it stumbles me up.
2. Join the Rewards Program
Assuming there's no cost to join, just get signed up for those reward programs. They help your host by allowing him/her to earn incentive points and they may come in handy.
3. Compliment
If you host did a great job, be sure to compliment them via comment card or in person, BY THEIR NAME! Don't just say "the staff was wonderful" if one particular person stood out. Get their name and compliment them because it makes them feel great and it is something that their bosses take note of.
4. [Edit] Keycards are generic.
Hotels that use keycards (i.e 97% of all hotels in the world nowadays) use about the same type. They are programmed by the hosts and do not have any personal information on them. That's why we have the sleeves where we write the number down. So please don't hand me your card and say "checking out" and assume I'll know the number based on that.
Now I don't want you to think I'm just complaining. Here are some things you guys should know too.
1. Unless we specifically say we can't, we can usually give you a lower rate.
The way I operate is I quote you our "standard" rate, something like $80. But then i'll say something like "but i'll tell you what i'll do. I'll give you the triple-A discount" (this is assuming you don't already have triple-A, in which case I go to the next lowest). This is to make you think you're getting a great deal.
But here's a little secret. Most hotels have a "walk rate". It's the rate we quote you if it looks like you're about to leave. It's usually even lower than the military discount which is traditionally the lowest rate.
It goes something like this:
Standard Rate: $84.99
AAA/ CAA: $74.91
AARP: $72.24
Government/ Military: $69.96
Walk Rate: $65.49
(these rates include state and lodging tax).
So that fictional guest could have saved almost $10 by not buying my bullshit.
Also, if you want to go to hell, you could pretend that a family member has just died, and get our "bereavement rate" which is usually a couple bucks cheaper.
2. House Blend is our fancy word for "regular coffee".
Self-explanatory.
3. We have to smile.
But that doesn't mean we don't hate you. We make fun of you when you leave.
4. You'll have a much better stay if you don't think about the fact that statistically speaking at least 6 other couples have had sex in the bed you're sleeping in over the past year.
Based on a report I heard that said that 76% of couples who stay at hotels have sex during their stay.
Anyways, if I think of more, I'll post them here.
We always make sure that we've completely removed all our stuff from our rooms BEFORE we go to check-out, so we don't get in the cleaning staff's way when they go to work. 
