Double-Booking Shenanigans: Why Hotel Guests Think Front Desk Staff Are Secretly Goldfish
If you’ve ever worked the night shift at a hotel, you know the job comes with a unique blend of late-night oddities, caffeine-fueled conversations, and the occasional guest who thinks they’ve cracked the code to hotel reservations. But perhaps nothing is as eyebrow-raising—or as entertaining—as the classic “double-call” move: when a guest, determined to snag a room, calls back seconds later pretending to be someone else.
It’s the hospitality world’s version of the old fake-mustache disguise, except the mustache is just a different voice (sometimes), and the front desk agent is, well… not buying it for a second.
The Night Audit Chronicles: When Guests Try to Outsmart the Desk
Let’s set the scene. It’s 2:00 AM. The hotel is fully booked. Our night auditor, u/AshamedTechnician3, is running through the usual checklist when the phone rings. A polite woman asks for a room for two. Sorry, no vacancies tonight, comes the apologetic reply. The woman hangs up—no muss, no fuss.
But wait! The phone rings again. Same line, mere seconds later. This time, it’s a man (the woman’s partner, perhaps). He tries his luck, maybe hoping a different voice might elicit a different answer. Spoiler alert: the answer is still “Sorry, we’re full.”
Our hero behind the desk can’t help but wonder: “Do they think we’re this dumb?”
The Universal Language of the Double-Call
If you work the front desk, you’ve seen it all—guests who try to haggle over rates, sneak in extra people, or, in this case, attempt the ol’ “let’s try again with a different person” trick. The double-call is a classic, and it’s not unique to one hotel or city. In fact, scroll through any r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk thread, and you’ll see this move pops up more often than the continental breakfast.
But why do people try this? Is it desperation? Hope? Or do they genuinely think hotel staff are running on three hours’ sleep and can’t remember the last caller? Maybe they imagine there’s a rotating cast of front desk agents sitting in a row, each fielding their own calls, like an old-school switchboard. Or—my personal favorite theory—they think the front desk staff are goldfish, with a 10-second memory span.
“Maybe They’ll Say Yes This Time!”
Here’s the unspoken logic of the double-call: “If I ask again, maybe I’ll get a different answer.” It’s the same thinking that has kids asking Mom after Dad says no, or pressing an elevator button harder when it’s already lit up.
But hotels don’t secretly keep a magic stash of last-minute rooms for people with persistence. If anything, night auditors are the unsung heroes of hotel operations—juggling paperwork, security rounds, and the occasional midnight crisis, all while keeping a mental Rolodex of every guest interaction. Trust me: if you called one minute ago, they remember.
And let’s not forget, most front desks have caller ID. Even if you do try to change your voice, it’s all coming up on the same screen. (Bonus points if you try it from the hotel lobby phone. You’d be surprised how many do!)
Tales from the Front Desk (and the Comedy of Hospitality)
It’s moments like these that provide both frustration and comic relief for the hospitality staff. Sure, the attempt is obvious, but the earnestness is almost endearing. You have to admire the creative spirit—if not the logic—behind these double-calls.
In the Reddit post, u/AshamedTechnician3 wonders if this is a universal phenomenon. Judging by the upvotes and comments, it’s safe to say: yes, yes it is. Hotel staff everywhere have shared a knowing chuckle over guests who assume they’ve outsmarted the system with a simple switcheroo.
The Takeaway: Hotel Staff Are Sharper Than You Think
So, next time you find yourself hoping a different voice will get you a different answer, remember: hotel staff are seasoned pros. They’ve seen every trick in the book, from creative reservation requests to the “my friend will call” gambit. And while they might have a good laugh about it later, your best bet is to just ask politely, accept the answer, and maybe try the hotel across the street.
After all, the real secret to getting a room isn’t calling twice—it’s catching the front desk on a slow night. And maybe bringing cookies.
Have you ever tried (or witnessed) the double-call trick? Share your funniest hotel desk stories in the comments below! Let’s hear your own Tales From The Front Desk.
Original Reddit Post: Do they think we're this dumb ?