I am a business marketer and as I work with different companies the more I realize it is all about the customer. It doesn't matter what industry you are in the most important thing you can do is deliver a quality product or service to and create satisfied consumers. I learned this lesson not only from the perspective of a company but more importantly from the perspective of a customer.
One hotel stay that I had a few years back has been the story that I have used to explain what quality service is. A number of years ago I was taking a family trip across the country to visit some relatives. They were my in-laws, but I was still looking forward to the trip. Anyway, there was not too much room for my growing family to squeeze into the grandma's house so I booked a stay at one of the local hotels. It was a small hotel that wasn't part of a chain so I decided to give it a chance. We arrived in the evening and went to the front desk to get our room key.
Venue and Timing - The first big decision that you need to make is where to hold the party. This could be a more intimate setting like someone's home which involves more work with the preparation and food but a comfortable feel. You could also opt to meet at an event space in a hotel or a restaurant which costs a big more but is easier to plan. After you have picked the venue you need to choose the time. Bridal showers can range between 2 weeks to 2 months before the wedding. Choose a date when most of the people on the guest list will be free to attend. When it comes to the time of day most bridal showers are in the early morning but choose whatever is most comfortable for the bride to be (remember that the shower is in her honor).
Theme - You got to have one, well you really don't but it helps to make the party more cohesive. Try and be creative when it comes to choosing the theme. Some possible ideas you could use include the bride's favorite foods, her personal style or favorite colors, or where she likes to hangout. Also choose a theme based on her personality. If she is very chic pick a nice restaurant but if she is relaxed and like the outdoors think about going for a picnic. Select the colors and make plans for how the theme will work into the different elements of the party.
Now before you call her picky, the hotel did not provide washcloths in your room. Back down I went to talk with the desk attendant about the mystery of the filthy of washcloth. The desk attendant apologized profusely and arranged for my family to be moved over to a different room. We carried our stuff over to the new room (our kids our falling asleep by now). The room was the same style as the original minus the mess. I was peeved about the experience but not enough to keep me from falling asleep.
Life Decisions Vacations also provide you the opportunity to step back from your responsibilities and view the whole picture, reevaluating your life, and determining your future. By being busy for most of the time you may realize that you are unhappy but not have the time to recognize the issue.
I thanked her and headed back up to the room to show my wife. She laughed and got the kids dressed. We headed down for breakfast and after eating I went to tip the server. He refused, telling me not to take any money as tips from us. He then wished me a good stay and cleared our plates. I was pretty amazed by all of this. We stayed at the hotel for the three days we were in town. Every morning we had a free breakfast. The thing that capped it all off was as we check out midweek one of the employees gave us a small gift basket for our daughter. It wasn't expensive, mostly full of crayons and small coloring books, but I was very impressed by their effort.
The hotel had made a mistake in their service but they were determined to make my stay great. I left the hotel as a satisfied customer and you know what; my family and I stayed at that hotel whenever we came into town. My wife's parents moved a while back and our family has not been back to that hotel for a long time, but I will always remember that one stay. What to learn from this experience. For one, if you are looking for a hotel in Norwalk, CT or San Diego, CA think small sometimes. The local hotels really need to satisfy their guests to encourage them to return. Second lesson, and I am sorry this is the marketer in me, but it's all about the customer.
One hotel stay that I had a few years back has been the story that I have used to explain what quality service is. A number of years ago I was taking a family trip across the country to visit some relatives. They were my in-laws, but I was still looking forward to the trip. Anyway, there was not too much room for my growing family to squeeze into the grandma's house so I booked a stay at one of the local hotels. It was a small hotel that wasn't part of a chain so I decided to give it a chance. We arrived in the evening and went to the front desk to get our room key.
Venue and Timing - The first big decision that you need to make is where to hold the party. This could be a more intimate setting like someone's home which involves more work with the preparation and food but a comfortable feel. You could also opt to meet at an event space in a hotel or a restaurant which costs a big more but is easier to plan. After you have picked the venue you need to choose the time. Bridal showers can range between 2 weeks to 2 months before the wedding. Choose a date when most of the people on the guest list will be free to attend. When it comes to the time of day most bridal showers are in the early morning but choose whatever is most comfortable for the bride to be (remember that the shower is in her honor).
Theme - You got to have one, well you really don't but it helps to make the party more cohesive. Try and be creative when it comes to choosing the theme. Some possible ideas you could use include the bride's favorite foods, her personal style or favorite colors, or where she likes to hangout. Also choose a theme based on her personality. If she is very chic pick a nice restaurant but if she is relaxed and like the outdoors think about going for a picnic. Select the colors and make plans for how the theme will work into the different elements of the party.
Now before you call her picky, the hotel did not provide washcloths in your room. Back down I went to talk with the desk attendant about the mystery of the filthy of washcloth. The desk attendant apologized profusely and arranged for my family to be moved over to a different room. We carried our stuff over to the new room (our kids our falling asleep by now). The room was the same style as the original minus the mess. I was peeved about the experience but not enough to keep me from falling asleep.
Life Decisions Vacations also provide you the opportunity to step back from your responsibilities and view the whole picture, reevaluating your life, and determining your future. By being busy for most of the time you may realize that you are unhappy but not have the time to recognize the issue.
I thanked her and headed back up to the room to show my wife. She laughed and got the kids dressed. We headed down for breakfast and after eating I went to tip the server. He refused, telling me not to take any money as tips from us. He then wished me a good stay and cleared our plates. I was pretty amazed by all of this. We stayed at the hotel for the three days we were in town. Every morning we had a free breakfast. The thing that capped it all off was as we check out midweek one of the employees gave us a small gift basket for our daughter. It wasn't expensive, mostly full of crayons and small coloring books, but I was very impressed by their effort.
The hotel had made a mistake in their service but they were determined to make my stay great. I left the hotel as a satisfied customer and you know what; my family and I stayed at that hotel whenever we came into town. My wife's parents moved a while back and our family has not been back to that hotel for a long time, but I will always remember that one stay. What to learn from this experience. For one, if you are looking for a hotel in Norwalk, CT or San Diego, CA think small sometimes. The local hotels really need to satisfy their guests to encourage them to return. Second lesson, and I am sorry this is the marketer in me, but it's all about the customer.
About the Author:
There is nothing normal about the Hotel Zero Degrees Norwalk. From our ideal setting in the heart of Norwalk to the picturesque rooftop terrace, we've designed a hotel for travelers who want something different.
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