Working in the customer service industry is no easy venture. Your job is to, essentially, give the client anything they could possibly need as long as it's in line with the hotel's rules. After all, a hotel is only as good as their next review so the staff needs to be on point with every customer.
RELATED: 10 Genius Hotel Hacks You Need To Know
As we know though, visitors aren't always the most generous of people. Sometimes the airline loses our luggage or maybe we forgot to even book a room at the hotel — the only thing we're looking for at that moment is a big, comfy bed. Regardless of the smiles provided by the front desk, there are some things customers do that send the hotel's staff over the edge. The only things they ask of guests is common courtesy, respect, and to ask for things politely. Is that too much to ask? Here are 10 things hotel staff cannot stand!
10 ORDERING SOMETHING NOT ON THE ROOM SERVICE MENU
Depending on where you are and what food package you bought at the hotel (if you did in the first place), many hotels have awesome food service menus. Whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there's no need to venture to the restaurant when you can stay in bed.
However, when visitors call the kitchen and order something that's not on the menu, that's when things get foggy. There's absolutely no promise that the food you ordered off the menu will be good because that's not what the kitchen staff are trained in making. If you're looking for a good meal, just stick to the menu or go out to eat.
9 PLEASE BE DRESSED WHEN ROOM SERVICE IS DELIVERED
In line with ordering room service, we understand that room service is a perk of the hotel. It's like going back in time when your mom or dad used to bring you your breakfast in the morning. It's one of those small pleasures in life.
However, when you do order room service, please be respectful of the staff whose job it is to bring the food into the room. The last thing they want to see are naked bodies, post-shower towels, or two people hiding under the covers. Private moments are just that: Private. Leave the staff out of it, please.
8 WHEN THE CARD ON FILE ISN'T THE CARD THEY WANT TO PAY WITH
Many of us are guilty of this one! Typically when you book a room at a hotel, you need to put a credit (or debit) card on file. This way, if there are any cancelation or room fees — your card is right there in their system. Some hotels won't charge the card on file until the guest arrives, but others will do it once the reservation takes place. It all depends.
RELATED: 10 Of The Tallest Hotels In The World
According to one front desk worker, when the hotel asks which card should be charged, they mean the one and only card. Being asked to switch cards after accidentally using the wrong one is a pain in the butt and an annoying process to swap.
Not to mention when a guest decides to flip the switch and use cash to pay for the hotel room...it can come off sketchy.
7 ACCUSING HOUSEKEEPING OF STEALING SOMETHING THEY MISPLACED
We've seen countless made-for-TV movies where the maid steals a guest's belongings or maybe wears their things while cleaning the room. It's a guest's worst nightmare, really. This topic gets serious, though, when a guest misplaces something and immediately blames the housekeeping for theft.
What's worse is when the front desk comes to help the guest search for the item and finds it themselves. Blaming someone for theft just because they cleaned your room is pretty low. As a guest, you better be sure and check every single corner before making that kind of accusation.
6 THE WIFI PASSWORD IS ON YOUR KEY SLEEVE, SIR...
We all love our WiFi and almost every hotel in the world has free WiFi at this point. Most hotels will have a free connection to join with a private password made specifically for the guest who checked in.
RELATED: 10 Things Only People Who Stay At 5-Star Hotels Know
The front desk will typically tell you where to find your WiFi information or they'll even write it down for you on your hotel key sleeve. For some hotel workers, it's the ultimate pet peeve when a guest gets to their room and calls the desk because they have NO idea where the password is. Um, sir, it's on the key sleeve.
5 CHECKING IN TOO EARLY OR WANTING TO CHECK OUT LATER
As a guest, it can be hard to hear that we can't check-in until 3 pm but we must check-out by 11 am. While traveling, we may land super early and have nowhere to go or do until then. In a dream world, the hotel staff would love if we dropped our luggage off at the hotel and wandered around the city or grabbed some food until the room is ready.
Instead, they get a bunch of people mad that they can't just take a room. There is an entire cleaning schedule in place that needs to be done before anyone can take their room.
4 TAKING POOL TOWELS UP TO THE HOTEL ROOM
When your hotel is lucky enough to have a pool, steam room, spa, or hot tub, it's important to follow the rules posted on the walls and doors. You're on vacation and don't want to memorize an entire sleeve of rules, but considering the hotel property is not your property, abide by the rules, please.
RELATED: The 10 Coolest Things Found In Hotel Fridges
After taking a dip, you may grab a towel to dry off with, but if the sign says "please don't take the pool towels with you," then don't take the pool towels with you. It's not that hard to understand.
3 NOT TIPPING HOUSEKEEPING (BUT YOU TIP EVERYONE ELSE)
It's customary for hotel guests to tip housekeepers who take hours out of their day turning down rooms. From washing sheets and towels, getting rid of stains, and even doing your laundry (if the service is needed) — it would be generous to be given a tip for all their hard work.
After all, we typically tip the bellman for bringing up our bags and the valet for bringing us our car, why not housekeepers?
2 GET OFF THE PHONE DURING CHECK-IN!
One front desk worker told Reddit how annoying it was when people checking-in were on their phone the entire time. It's hard to ask questions and get answers for a speedy check-in when a person is on the phone the entire time. Not only is it rude but it slows production down.
Check-in does not usually take an ordinate amount of time. For those couple of minutes, consider keeping the phone on silent.
1 SAYING YOU HAD A GREAT STAY BUT WRITING SOMETHING NEGATIVE ONLINE
Many of us are keyboard warriors. We tend to have problems with conflict when it involves being face-to-face with a person, so we'd rather write about our experience online instead. This can ultimately kill a hotel's reputation.
Most staff will ask if there was anything they could have done to make your stay a little better; use that time to give them your honest feedback. Don't startle them and write a negative review or experience only after the fact. How can a hotel become better if they aren't aware of the problem as it's happening?