When “Regulars” Go Rogue: Tales of Entitlement From the Hotel Front Desk
If you’ve ever worked in hospitality, you know the job comes with a free side of drama—and not the kind you find on TV. The real action happens right behind the check-in desk, where every day brings a fresh episode starring demanding guests, impossible requests, and, sometimes, a dog in a leafless tree’s shadow. Today’s tale from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk asks: Why do some hotel guests treat staff like disposable background actors in their personal sitcom?
Let’s set the scene: You’re three weeks into your new front desk job, still learning the ropes, when an older couple parks smack-dab at the entrance to the car park. Their excuse? “We’ve been coming here for years.” Their attitude? “Silly girl, are you new?” Their car? Blocking the way and sheltering a dog beneath a tree that’s given up on foliage for the winter.
Welcome back to hotel life.
The Perks—and Perils—of Being “New”
Our protagonist, u/urban_mango, tried to handle things diplomatically: “Hello, I’m not sure if you’re aware but that spot isn’t a parking space. Would you mind maybe moving your car to the car park so no one damages your vehicle and for the convenience of other guests using it?” Polite, right? Not according to the couple, who went full “don’t you know who I am?”—and, for good measure, dropped the classic “silly girl” and “Are you new?” routine.
The Reddit community was quick to empathize. As u/antitarg put it, “guests are baffled when you don’t give them king or queen treatment. im sorry that happened to you, you are just trying to do your job!” And u/gopre5k made a good point: “They are regulars and yet they don't realize you are new? They can't be that good of a customer then.”
Even in the world of regulars, there’s a fine line between familiarity and, well, entitlement. It seems some guests confuse “I’ve always done it this way” with “I’m entitled to special rules.” (Spoiler: You’re not.)
Dogs, Parking Drama, and the Art of Excuses
Let’s talk about the dog. The couple’s reason for breaking the rules? Their furry companion couldn’t possibly be left at home—or, apparently, parked in a legitimate spot. Never mind that, as OP clarified in the comments, “it is dog-friendly and dogs are allowed in the restaurant.” As u/JustineDelarge dryly asked, “They leave their dog in the car when they’re staying in a hotel?” OP pointed out they were only in for lunch, but agreed: “It’s wrong to leave your dog in the car under any circumstance.”
The community was divided on this one. Some, like u/DoIKnowYouHuman and u/DepressedAnxiety73, pointed out that certain breeds love the cold and might be just fine in a wintery car. Others, like u/rickt2k, reminded everyone that leaving pets (or children!) unattended in a vehicle might be illegal in some places.
But, as with most hotel disputes, the real issue wasn’t the dog—it was the disregard for everyone else. As u/City_Girl_at_heart wryly imagined the perfect comeback: “Yes, the last person was fired because they didn't get the last vehicle that parked there towed.” Now, there’s an exit line for the ages.
Towing, Tickets, and the Trouble With Management
If you’re thinking, “Why not just tow the car and be done with it?” you’re not alone. The top comment, from u/drifterlady, simply said: “Should have had it towed.” Several others agreed—though OP quickly pointed out, “It’s the UK so we don’t really tow for stuff like this.”
Instead, OP was left feeling anxious—not just about the rude guests, but about the reaction from their own general manager. Apparently, the GM has a history of being “off,” especially since OP, coming from a management background, had the audacity to fix some accounting errors (that turned out to be the GM’s own). As OP put it, “She shouldn’t have hired someone with management experience if she didn’t want attention to detail.”
The real kicker? OP did get told off by the boss. Because nothing says “welcome to hospitality” like being blamed for doing your job correctly.
Why Do Guests Treat Staff This Way?
So what drives this kind of entitled behavior? Is it the myth of “the customer is always right”? Is it years of getting away with it? Or do some people just see staff as part of the scenery, rather than fellow humans?
The Redditors had thoughts. Some, like u/Heynowstopityou, took the “toughen up” approach: “Better start thickening up that skin reeeeeal quick!” But OP pushed back: “It’s not a case of needing thicker skin, I am not deeply bothered by what happened. More just frustrated that they feel entitled to behave that way, a trait of the public that had slipped my mind after years of working with animals.”
Others suggested turning the frustration into action, like escalating to management or finding ways to enforce the rules. As u/Neat-Ad-8987 put it: “Bump it up to the GM and let him or her worry about it.”
But perhaps the best advice comes from recognizing that, sometimes, you just can’t win. As u/DaneAlaskaCruz summed up, “Once they said no and name-calling, there’s nothing else to be done… Just too bad, oh well. I wouldn’t lose sleep over it later that night.”
The Final Bill
So, to all the hotel workers out there: You’re not alone. The next time a “regular” flexes their parking privileges or calls you a silly girl, remember—it’s not about you. It’s about them. And you’ve got a whole internet full of people who get it.
Have you ever dealt with a guest who thought the rules didn’t apply to them? Share your story in the comments—because the best tales from the front desk deserve to be told!
Original Reddit Post: Tired of rude clients after 3 weeks back in hotel work