No Room At The Inn
Forget the ridiculous airfares, the high cost of accommodation and lack of entertainment. Perhaps Bermuda's tourism industry is in trouble because some of the people working in it just don't give a shit.
On Friday evening a friend of mine and his girlfriend stayed at one of Bermuda's most popular hotels. On checking in at 7pm and proceeding to their room, they discovered a space in complete disarray and housekeeping engaged in a lackadaisical effort to fix it. When my friend returned to reception to explain the situation and ask if they had another room, he was told no, the hotel was full. Why didn't he have a drink in the bar while he was waiting? the concierge suggested.
But when he returned to his room to give his other half the glad tidings, the housekeeper, who was listening to the story, interrupted to tell them that she knew of plenty of empty rooms. After leading the couple back to reception, the housekeeper told this to the concierge, who grumpily conceded that perhaps he could find another room after all.
Irritated by the man's attitude and frustrated at being messed around, my friend's girlfriend calmly but firmly told the concierge she was unhappy with their treatement. His reponse?
He told he that he really didn't care whether she was happy or not: he had had a bad day.
While we all have stressful days at work, those in the tourism industry have a responsibility to keep their moods from Bermuda's visitors. One bad experience could be enough to put a tourist off from ever coming back here and persuade him to tell his friends not to bother too. Moreover, because Bermda prides itself on its friendliness, our visitors are likely to have higher expectations of the service here than they might in other destinations. We dash those expectations at our peril.
The next day my friend took the matter up with the hotel's assistant manager, who was much more apologetic, offering a free night's accommodation and a complimentary meal in compensation. Hopefully he'll be doing something about his concierge too.
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Maybe the Concierge had money on the outcome of the Eagles North Village game...and errr well lost a bundle because of the Bermuda rules game took place instead with assorted weapons and a revolver. Its not easy in Paradise but then maybe the deadly Bermuda Triangle has carried us all into the Twilight Zone --maybe its not a real hotel just a portal for a vacation in Hell! I think I'll avoid the anti matter and shift into light speed and journey back to the dimension I'm really from--Later Space Wolf --Am I really here? Does anything matter any more? Time for another session on the Mountain--Now where did I park my space ship--^..^ If I could only take my hummer kite with me!
Posted by Graeme Outerbridge on 06.04.04 at 22:50
This would never happen at Rosedon Hotel. The staff there are the best in Bermuda and the friendliest. They are like real old Bermudian friendly style. None of this, superficial "hey how are you doing?" aint got no time to stand around waiting for your reply. Oh sorry the hotel is full Sir bullsh**.
I did just plug the family hotel there, but serioulsy, I do know it is one of the best for customer service! It is also better value for money. The prices the Elow Beach Hotel and the Princess Hotels charge is outrageous.
Lisa
Posted by Lizardfish on 07.04.04 at 10:10
Will Tony Blair & family be staying at one of our fine hotels this week while they take their Easter hols in Bermuda? All very good to come here to compare us to Barbados, but hopefully the Blairs will see more of the real Bermuda. And will the Blairs be treated as fellow Labourites by the Bermuda Government? Or our British masters who are about to be ditched? Perhaps the Blairs will find there is no room at the Inn, and jet off to the south of us?
Posted by Ross Eldridge on 07.04.04 at 11:05
I think the Blairs are well taken care of, at Government House--I think Alex is trying to arrange a party but I'm not sure about the guest list. Meanwhile hope we can all enjoy are hot cross buns without any trouble and Ross bye the way Go Fly a kite! Ha! ^..^
Posted by Graeme Outerbridge on 07.04.04 at 12:04