If Only Hotels Could Rate Guests: Tales From the Front Desk Trenches
Picture this: you walk into a hotel lobby, anticipation in the air, suitcase wheels humming across polished floors. The front desk agent greets you with a practiced smile, ready to check you in. You hand over your ID, swipe your card, and soon you’re off to your room—only to march back moments later, face puckered, because the room isn’t exactly as you’d imagined. Maybe it’s not the view you wanted, or perhaps the “cozy” queen suite doesn’t feel presidential enough.
Now, imagine if the roles were reversed. What if hotels could rate guests? That’s the fantasy u/Sunshineshawty, a young front desk agent, muses about in a recent viral Reddit post from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk. And after reading their rant, you might just find yourself sympathizing with those unsung heroes behind the marble counter.
Booking Regrets and Blame Games
Let’s get real: booking a hotel room is a bit like online dating. You scroll through photos, compare amenities, and hope what you see is what you get. But sometimes, guests seem to treat reservations as a mere suggestion. As u/Sunshineshawty vents, “So you check into the room that you BOOKED, and you don’t like it? Well then why did you book it?” It’s a fair point. If you booked a standard double, don’t expect to be ushered into the penthouse just because your suitcase has those fancy four-way wheels.
It’s not just about mismatched expectations, though. Some guests—especially those with platinum, gold, or diamond status—seem to believe their loyalty card entitles them to VIP telepathy. The agent’s lament continues: “I don’t care what your status level is… book the room or suite that you actually want and don’t get upset at us front desk agents for not being mind readers.”
Entitlement Olympics: Who Wins the Gold?
There’s a not-so-secret sport in the hospitality world: Upgrade Fishing. The higher your loyalty status, the more skillfully you can cast your line for complimentary perks—at least, that’s the stereotype. Our front desk confidante wonders if some guests “learn to complain during every trip so they can get as many upgrades and free shit as possible.” That’s not to say all frequent travelers are entitled, but the few who are? They leave a memorable mark.
Imagine if the script flipped. After each stay, the hotel logs into a review portal: “Guest arrived at midnight, demanded a suite with a mountain view (in Kansas), left towels on the floor, and argued about the breakfast menu. Would not recommend.” Suddenly, those TripAdvisor scores might tell a whole new story.
The Hotel “Review Economy”
Thanks to platforms like Yelp and Google Reviews, guests wield tremendous power. One bad experience—real or perceived—can tank a property’s reputation. But what about holding guests accountable for their own behavior? “These guests are often twice my age and I feel like they act like children,” says Sunshineshawty. Whether it’s tantrums over pillow firmness or the great mini-bar debate of 2024, sometimes guests forget the golden rule: kindness goes both ways.
If only there were a guest review system—maybe a five-star scale for “Politeness,” “Reasonable Expectations,” and “Ability to Read Their Own Reservation.” We can dream, right?
A Little Empathy Goes a Long Way
Hospitality isn’t just about crisp sheets and speedy Wi-Fi. It’s a two-way street. Front desk agents juggle requests, complaints, and curveballs with grace—most of the time. So next time you check in, remember: the person behind the counter is doing their best to make your stay pleasant. If your room isn’t quite what you imagined, ask politely. Who knows? You might just find yourself on their mental “five-star guest” list.
Final Check-Out: Your Turn!
Do you have a hotel horror story—or maybe a tale of a guest gone wild? If you work in hospitality, what’s your biggest pet peeve? And for the travelers out there: have you ever gotten an unexpected upgrade just by being nice? Share your stories in the comments below, and let’s keep the conversation rolling. Who knows? Maybe one day, hotels really will rate their guests. Until then, let’s all strive to be the kind of guest worthy of a five-star review.
Bon voyage, and remember—be nice to your front desk agent. You never know who might be writing about you next!
Original Reddit Post: I wish I could leave reviews for guests. (rant)