One of the most rewarding things that I experience everyday while I am out inspecting is the people that I meet. I love working with people, being able to assist them and receiving the reward that follows from just a smile and a thank you.
Whether I see someone carrying a AAA TourBook or checking into a hotel and showing their membership card, I always smile and say hello. I love to hear their thoughts and travel. It helps me understand what they are looking for and what they would like to see.
Working with hotel owners and managers is especially rewarding for those who want their property to be the best in the area. They like to know about the new trends, what they can do to improve overall guest experiences or how to improve their Diamond Rating.
Taking the time one-on-one with them makes it rewarding for me, as I know they care and are striving to serve their guests they best way they can. Although we are not there to give “decorating” ideas, I do review our guidelines and explain by “correcting this or upgrading that” it will help the overall Diamond Rating.
Several years ago, I was inspecting a hotel and started to notice a few housekeeping issues. The manager informed me that she talked to her owner many times, but he wouldn’t spend a dime. I asked her to take me into the worst room.
She looked at me as if I was crazy but did what I asked. I wrote up a detailed report for the owner, indicating what I had observed and what a possible outcome would be if he didn’t correct these issues by the next evaluation.
The following year I arrived at the property, and the manager came running out almost knocking me over with a great big hug and thanked me, saying that she had new bed spreads, carpets and drapes!
Many of my friends and family ask me if it is lonely being out on the road and not being around them all the time. I tell them that I do miss them, but I have friends and family in every town I visit! These properties want to know what new things have happened with me over the past year, and they keep me updated on their lives as well.
I find that working with people on a personable level helps them to respect the job that we are doing by inspecting their hotels, and they listen and correct the items in question. It shows that they care about not only what I am telling them, but for the guests who visit their hotel each day.
I wish I could say that this always works, but it doesn’t. One of the most difficult things that I experience in this job is telling an owner or a manager that I cannot recommend their hotel.
For those who adhere to our guidelines, reapply and get approved, it gives me a sense of accomplishment that I was able to help them. Again, just the simple acknowledgement of a smile and a thank you (even a hug!) from them makes it worth it!
Not exactly what most people think of when they hear the word “inspector," is it?
