Sunday, December 6, 2009

Mandatory smoking room

Monday and Tuesday nights are usually our busiest nights at the hotel. Last year we were consistently booked solid during the beginning of the week. If you weren't one of our regulars and you got a room, whatever room, you were happy about it.

The after-work rush had quieted down and I checked this guy in, normal routine, and he went up to his room. About five minutes later, he called me.

"Front desk, this is Sarah, how can I help you?"

"Uh, hello?"

Great. I can already tell you're going to be difficult. "Yes, how may I help you?"

"Yeah, uh, is this a smoking room?"

"Yes sir, it is."

"But I wanted a non-smoking room."

Whoops. You didn't mention that in your reservation or when you checked in, but I forgot I'm supposed to be psychic. My bad.

"I do apologize about that sir, there wasn't a note in the reservation and unfortunately that's the only room I have available tonight. Would you like me to bring up some air freshener?"

"Oh no, it doesn't really smell that bad, but do I have to smoke in here?"

And here is where my brain shorted out. See, I have a bad habit of hoping for the best in people, so sometimes I get caught off guard by their stupidity and my brain just kind of shuts down momentarily.

"Uhmm..." *brain reboots* Remember Sarah, little words. "No sir, you are not required to smoke in the smoking room, that's your choice."

"Oh ok, I just wanted to check and make sure."

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