Our small luxurious 3 suites hotel is the Siamese twin of our own terraced townhouse. It’s front door is always closed and I always receive our guests personally. Sometimes I receive several just married couples after their wedding party in the middle of the night (early in the morning). Also this time…
Couple 1 had the key already, because they had stayed the night before their wedding.
Couple 2 had not arrived yet.
It was approx 02.15 AM
I had fallen asleep in my chair…watching some night movie.
My wife was in bed already and woke me up: “Darling, I believe they’ve arrived. I believe I hear something next door”
I listened and said “No, I don’t hear anything… not possible…they didn’t ring the doorbell…I would have known”
A few moments later:
“Ring Ring” the telephone. “Yes we are Couple 2 and, err, I’m now taking a bath, but we thought this is kind of strange, because we believed we would be welcomed personally and we didn’t see anybody”
Me: “I’m glad you called! Yes you are right it is our intention to always welcome everybody personally!..I have several things here ready for you” (champagne and sandwiches that I subsequently served to the room)…
Turned out Couple 1 had checked themselves in and left the front door ajar without them or me noticing and Couple 2 had thought there was an electric door opener. Luckily they had taken the correct suite ….
Guido, its good to hear of a hotelier with fantastic customer service skills. Well done you. Wish more hotels were as welcoming.
what a hoot, guido! you’ve gone and set the bar even higher…
Good story and yes it is very refreshing to hear that you are so intent on personally greeting guests, it must make your guests feel like VIPs.
Cheers Conor.
So glad a found another bed and breakfast owner on the net. I am the owner of The Flying Chef / De Vliegende Kok in Amsterdam http://www.devliegendekok.nl. The garden of our b&b is a lot smaller, but we share the same interest in making people feel at home.