Travel & Hotspots

HOTEL SECRETS YOU DIDN'T KNOW

One of my best friends has worked in the hotel industry for years and was responsible for the PR of large famous hotels where large famous people sleep. Recently, over a glass of wine, she told me all the ins and outs about hotels and my ears were buzzing on the table. After that, I continued to search online for fun facts and here you go, bet you didn't know this?

Tripadvisor

For large expensive hotels, this is the most important thing there is. Every morning, the reviews from the day before are read, answered (all of them), and if anything negative is mentioned, it is brought up in the morning meeting with the staff.

Book directly

I book almost everything through booking sites, but hotels often pay up to 30% commission to those sites, so they sometimes prefer to just book directly through them. And often there is also a discount to be squeezed out.

Check-in

If you can only check in at 2:00 PM and you arrive at 11:00 AM, you can't expect your room to just be ready a bit earlier. There is a huge system and planning, and since your room is not the only one in the hotel, you have to adhere to the agreed check-in times.

Upgrade

Anyone hoping for a free upgrade should ask for it at times when no other guests are listening in. This way, you have the best chance of being placed in a larger room for free.

Requests

Between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, it is the busiest at the reception because most people check in and out then. If you have a special request, it is wise to ask outside of those times, as there will be more time for you and the receptionists will be less likely to brush you off.

Breakfast

Breakfast costs a hotel almost nothing but is the most important, as it is often the last experience a guest has with the hotel before they leave. If the breakfast is great, it contributes to the appreciation you give the hotel.

Negotiate

Almost everything is negotiable. Ask for free breakfast, free internet, etc.

Be loyal

In large expensive hotels like the Waldorf, they know exactly who you are before you arrive. If you are an important person in one way or another (you don't even have to be famous), a star is added next to your name and thus the staff knows your name, addresses you by it, and remembers your preferences from previous visits. And that pays off. Come back to hotels and build a relationship, this way you get better service each time and who knows, maybe even a nice deal. One of my best friends has worked in the hotel industry for years and was responsible for the PR of large famous hotels where large famous people...