Theoretically all hotels are independent in that they are owned and managed by someone other than the company they pay for the right to have a sign on the building.
It’s not brand, it’s the people that make a hotel worth experiencing.
Paul, I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!!!! You basically wrote what I felt for my entire career in hospitality! I worked for Hilton for 5 years and the way you described the canned loyalty programs is so spot on.
Aside from my fine dining career you linked to, I also was a travel writer and reviewer for 10 years (independently) and I have experience INCREDIBLE hospitality. Let me invite you to read this older post I wrote and you'll understand:
Thank you for your kind comment, Kristi, and for sharing the amazing story of the luxurious, from-the-heart hospitality experience you had! Great hotels and resorts don’t follow the script. That’s what elevates them and that’s what the big brands have lost sight of. Everyone told me I was stupid to take a pay cut from my job as a ticket taker in a movie theatre to become a hotel security guard. Thirty years later, I’d experienced more than I ever dreamed possible! I was extremely fortunate to work for a company led by legendary hoteliers who truly cared.
In addition to hotels, restaurants, grocery stores and almost every retail business needs to ditch the scripts. If one more cashier/server asks my wife if she’s got any plans for the rest of the day, I fear she will punch their lights out! 🙄
So you're saying it's better to stay at an independent local hotel than a chain outlet?
Theoretically all hotels are independent in that they are owned and managed by someone other than the company they pay for the right to have a sign on the building.
It’s not brand, it’s the people that make a hotel worth experiencing.
Paul, I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!!!! You basically wrote what I felt for my entire career in hospitality! I worked for Hilton for 5 years and the way you described the canned loyalty programs is so spot on.
Aside from my fine dining career you linked to, I also was a travel writer and reviewer for 10 years (independently) and I have experience INCREDIBLE hospitality. Let me invite you to read this older post I wrote and you'll understand:
https://open.substack.com/pub/wildhoodwanted/p/the-money-sucks-but-the-payoff-is-outstanding?r=2qffbg&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Thank you for your kind comment, Kristi, and for sharing the amazing story of the luxurious, from-the-heart hospitality experience you had! Great hotels and resorts don’t follow the script. That’s what elevates them and that’s what the big brands have lost sight of. Everyone told me I was stupid to take a pay cut from my job as a ticket taker in a movie theatre to become a hotel security guard. Thirty years later, I’d experienced more than I ever dreamed possible! I was extremely fortunate to work for a company led by legendary hoteliers who truly cared.
I'll be following you for more in your series of hospitality stories.
"Release employees from the shackles of scripted service."
Amen!
In addition to hotels, restaurants, grocery stores and almost every retail business needs to ditch the scripts. If one more cashier/server asks my wife if she’s got any plans for the rest of the day, I fear she will punch their lights out! 🙄
Thank you! 🙏