Being a great host means staying on top of the flow of service in the dining room, managing reservations, and keeping an eye on customer wait times—all while greeting each guest warmly as they arrive. After all, just one negative review online can be destructive for the entire hotel. Plus, they need to mask their reactions (even if it’s tough) to the ‘polite’ habits guests show that they secretly dislike.
Giving Unsolicited Tips on How to Do Their Job
While guests may think they’re being helpful by offering suggestions on how to improve service, these comments can come off as patronizing. Hotel workers are trained professionals who know how to do their jobs efficiently.
Unsolicited advice can undermine their expertise and be frustrating.
Do this Instead
Trust that the staff know what they’re doing. If you have a genuine concern or suggestion, it’s best to communicate it politely and through the appropriate channels, such as a feedback form or directly to management.
Getting Too Personal with Hotel Staff
Having a conversation with a friendly housekeeper or bellhop is great, but diving into personal topics? Not so much. Hotel workers generally appreciate being treated with kindness and respect, but they’re not keen on answering personal questions.
Asking about their relationships, social media, where they live, or their work schedule crosses the line.
Do this Instead
Keep the conversation light and professional. Ask about local attractions, dining recommendations, or amenities. This way, you’re friendly without prying into their personal lives.
Asking Staff to Watch Your Pet
At a pet-friendly hotel, it’s tempting to think the staff might enjoy watching your furry friend while you’re out. You might think you’re doing them a “favor,” offering some cuddle time with your adorable pet.
But in reality, this is far from a treat for them. They’re not paid to pet-sit, and it’s an added responsibility they didn’t sign up for.
Do this Instead
Hire a professional pet sitter if you need to leave your pet alone. There are services like Rover where trained individuals can take care of your pet.
Sneaking in a pet? That’s a big no-no. It could lead to unfortunate incidents, like harmful chemical exposure or a scared pet causing a commotion.
Praising Your Stay but Leaving a Negative Review Online
It’s easy to be polite in person and then vent your frustrations online. Telling the staff you had a great stay, only to leave a negative review later, can seriously harm a hotel’s reputation.
This doesn’t give them a fair chance to address and fix any issues during your stay.
Do this Instead
When staff ask if there’s anything they can do to improve your stay, take the opportunity to provide honest feedback.
This way, they can address any problems immediately, making your experience better and helping the hotel improve overall. Constructive feedback in real-time is far more valuable than a negative surprise online later.
Thinking Employees Live On-Site
Some guests assume hotel employees live on the property, which isn’t the case.
Asking staff if they enjoy living at the hotel can be awkward and uncomfortable. Most employees (like anyone else) live off-site and commute to work.
Do this Instead
Keep conversations professional and avoid personal questions about their living arrangements. It’s best to respect their privacy and focus on the service they provide.
Trusting Them to Get Your Bill Right
With the rise of automatic checkouts, many guests no longer review their bills at the front desk. They often wave it away, expressing trust in the staff and simply handing over their credit cards.
While this trust is appreciated, it’s not always wise—mistakes can happen, and it’s your money at stake.
Do this Instead
Always check your bill for accuracy and address any discrepancies immediately. Staff would much rather resolve issues on the spot than hear from you weeks later when your expense report shows a problem.
This is especially important at all-inclusive resorts—double-check your bill since not everything is included, and read the fine print before booking.
Asking for Extra Tasks in Exchange for Tips
Imagine asking a hotel worker to park your car or run errands, offering a nice tip in return. While it may seem generous, these requests can be inappropriate, especially if the staff member is young or not trained for such tasks.
Plus, offering to lie to their boss to cover for them just makes things worse!
Do this Instead
Use the services provided by the hotel, like valet parking. And respect the boundaries of the staff—don’t ask them to do things outside their job description, and certainly do not offer to cover for them.
Hoarding Complimentary Items
It’s common for guests to take advantage of complimentary items like toiletries, coffee, and tea provided in the room.
However, some guests go overboard, taking excessive amounts or requesting frequent restocks. This can strain the hotel’s resources and create extra work for the staff.
Do this Instead
Take only what you need during your stay.
If you genuinely need more supplies, ask the staff politely, but try to be mindful of the amount you’re requesting. This ensures that there are enough supplies for all guests and helps maintain a good relationship with the hotel staff.
Destroying the Key Card
Some guests believe their room key cards store personal information and destroy them to prevent identity theft.
Others think they’re helping by pre-destroying cards, or they worry about germs and dip them in cleaner. This causes unnecessary waste and confusion.
Do this Instead
Leave your key cards on the counter in your room or return them to the front desk. They’re reusable and don’t store personal information.
There’s no need to worry about identity theft from the key card itself.
Not Reporting Issues Immediately
Sometimes guests endure problems silently, thinking they’re being polite by not bothering the staff. They might suffer through a hot room, noisy neighbors, or incorrect charges, believing they’re sparing the staff extra work.
However, not reporting issues right away actually makes things harder for everyone.
Do this Instead
Report any problems to the concierge as soon as they arise.
Hotel staff are there to ensure your stay is comfortable and enjoyable. Addressing issues promptly allows them to fix problems quickly, making your stay better.
Monopolizing the Front Desk Staff’s Time
Traveling can be lonely, and the front-desk manager might look like they have time for a chat. However, long, personal conversations can be intrusive and distract them from their duties.
While short interactions are fine, hotel staff aren’t there to be your therapist.
Do this Instead
Ask for recommendations on places where you can meet people, like local bars, clubs, or community centers. This way, you get the social interaction you crave without monopolizing the staff’s time.
Interrupting the Housekeeper for Minor Issues
You’re out of toilet paper, spotting a housekeeper nearby, and you think the quickest fix is to ask them directly. While it seems efficient for you, for the housekeeping staff, this can be a major inconvenience. They have strict schedules and specific tasks, and diverting them can get them into trouble.
Do this Instead
Pick up the phone and call the front desk. They’ll dispatch the right person to handle your issue. Approaching the front desk ensures that your request is handled promptly and correctly, without disrupting the workflow of the housekeeping team.
Making the Bed Before Checkout
Think you’re helping by making the bed before you leave? While it seems considerate, it actually makes things harder for the housekeeping staff.
They have a specific routine and remaking the bed just adds unnecessary steps.
Do this Instead
If you really want to be helpful, strip the sheets and leave them in a pile on the floor. This small action makes the cleaning process quicker and more efficient for the staff. It’s like giving them a head start on their tasks, which they’ll surely appreciate!
Rearranging Furniture
Some guests think they’re making the room more comfortable by moving furniture around.
While this might make their stay more enjoyable, it can create extra work for the housekeeping staff, who have to return everything to its original position. It can also cause damage to the furniture or the room itself.
Do this Instead
Enjoy the room as it is set up.
If you have specific needs or preferences, such as requiring more space or a different arrangement, contact the front desk. They can often accommodate your request in a way that doesn’t create additional work or damage.
Suggesting Workers Remove Their Masks
During the pandemic, guests often urged workers to remove their masks, which was a significant issue. Employees had to follow health mandates to avoid risking their jobs or health. Even now, some prefer wearing masks and gloves.
Occasionally, guests insist it’s unnecessary and ask them to remove their masks, thinking they are being considerate, but workers face many unpleasant substances daily, and their masks and gloves are essential protection—they don’t want to remove them (regardless of your reassurance).
Do this Instead
Refrain from commenting on a worker’s attire or encouraging them to break hotel rules or health codes—it’s not your decision, and it could get them in trouble. (This respect also extends to other service roles, like those on cruises.)
Checking In Too Early or Asking to Check Out Late
Travel plans don’t always align with hotel check-in and check-out times. Arriving early and eager to get into your room, or wishing for a late checkout, can be frustrating when told it’s not possible. But there’s a whole cleaning schedule in place that ensures rooms are spotless and ready for the next guest.
Do this Instead
Instead of pushing for an early check-in, drop your luggage off and explore the city or grab a bite to eat until your room is ready.
This not only gives you a chance to see more of the area but also allows the staff to maintain their cleaning schedule without added stress.
Grabbing Items You Need from the Housekeeping Cart
It might seem harmless to grab an extra towel or shampoo from the housekeeping cart in the hallway, but this can actually create problems. Hotels keep track of all their supplies, and taking something without asking can mess up their inventory.
Imagine if a pillow goes missing—housekeeping staff might get blamed for it!
Do this Instead
Call the front desk and request what you need. They can deliver fresh extra towels, bedding, or any other amenities directly to your room without causing inventory issues.
Using the Website Instead of Calling for Services
While it might seem convenient to use the hotel’s website to order room service or make booking changes, it’s often easier and faster to call the front desk directly. Websites can’t handle special requests efficiently and might not convey your needs accurately.
Do this Instead
Pick up the phone and talk to the front desk. They can clarify your requests and ensure you get exactly what you need. Plus, it’s quicker than waiting for someone to notice your electronic form!
Top 3 U.S. States That Almost No One Leaves (And for Good Reason)
Top 3 U.S. States That Almost No One Leaves (And for Good Reason)
Kate Smith, a self-proclaimed word nerd who relishes the power of language to inform, entertain, and inspire. Kate's passion for sharing knowledge and sparking meaningful conversations fuels her every word.