The Art of the Discount: How One 'Travel Agent' Tried (and Failed) to Outsmart the Front Desk
If you’ve ever worked in hospitality, you know the front desk is where the magic happens. By “magic,” I mean the kind of real-life drama that would make even reality TV blush. Among the cast of characters who waltz (or stomp) through the lobby doors, there’s always that one guest who makes you wonder if you’re on a hidden camera show. Enter Broddy: self-proclaimed travel agent, discount demander, and connoisseur of late-night arguments.
Let’s set the scene—a tale from the early 1980s, when payphones were as common as smartphones are now, and a business card could make you anyone you wanted to be, at least for a night.
Broddy Checks In: A Masterclass in Discount Demanding
Broddy wasn’t your average weary traveler looking for a mint on his pillow. No, Broddy had a mission. Every time he checked in, he’d brandish a business card from an American Express travel agency in Tahiti (exotic, right?), declare his “travel agent” status, and demand a 15% discount. Not request—demand.
Now, hotel staff have seen their share of creative attempts to shave a few bucks off a bill, but Broddy’s act was Oscar-worthy. He’d argue for twenty minutes—outlasting even the most patient night auditor—insisting he was entitled to a cheaper rate. The fact that his registration card listed the address of a notorious local car dealership was just the cherry on top. The same dealership, by the way, that reportedly swindled Spanish-speaking customers out of their deposits, according to the local paper.
The Art of Wearing Down the Staff
Broddy’s negotiation strategy seemed simple: wear them down until they caved. When the front desk politely refused, he’d up the ante. “Let me speak to your general manager!” he’d demand—always, conveniently, after 10:30 PM when the GM was safely at home, likely in another county. Undeterred, Broddy would march over to the nearest payphone bank (remember those?) and attempt to hunt down the GM’s number, as if he were launching a late-night investigative report for 60 Minutes.
He never found the GM, but he left the staff frazzled and the line behind him frustrated. After all, a normal check-in took about two minutes. With Broddy, it felt like running a marathon—one with no finish line and lots of unnecessary hurdles.
A GM With a Philosophy (and a High Tolerance)
The next morning, the exhausted staff would relay the Broddy saga to their general manager, hoping for sweet vindication. Instead, the GM would shrug and offer wisdom worthy of a fortune cookie: “There is no law about being an a**hole.” (Truer words may never have been spoken behind a hotel desk.)
While the staff daydreamed about banning Broddy for life, the GM pondered giving him a complimentary room, proving that the true test of hospitality is often patience, not service.
Broddy’s World-Class Standards
Broddy wasn’t just a local legend—he was a self-appointed international critic. On one occasion, out of nowhere, he praised the “professionalism and great service” he received in Hong Kong, making sure the staff knew just how “stingy” they were by comparison. Because nothing motivates a team like being compared to a five-star hotel on the other side of the world by someone who may or may not actually be a travel agent.
The Broddy Effect: Why Stories Like This Matter
If you’ve ever wondered why your favorite front desk clerk looks a little tired—or why some hospitality pros eventually seek quieter careers—now you know. For every kind, grateful guest, there’s a Broddy: a relentless negotiator armed with questionable credentials and a stubborn streak a mile wide.
But here’s the thing: stories like these are the lifeblood of the hospitality industry. They’re the tales staff trade over coffee, the legends that get bigger (and funnier) every time they’re told. They remind us that behind every polite smile is a well of patience—and maybe a secret Reddit account for venting.
Conclusion: Your Turn at the Front Desk
So, next time you check into a hotel, spare a thought for the person behind the desk. They might be dealing with a Broddy, or better yet, they might have a Broddy story of their own. If you’ve got a tale from the trenches—whether you worked in hospitality or just witnessed a discount debacle—share it in the comments! After all, laughter is the best tip you can give.
Have you ever encountered a Broddy? Or maybe you’ve got your own front desk horror story? Let’s hear it!
Original Reddit Post: Guest says, “I’m a travel agent, give me a 15% discount.”