It feels good to make someone’s day, especially after they’ve made yours. The receptionist at a hotel I stayed in was pleasant from the moment my family and I stepped into the hotel. He welcomed us with a smile and checked us into our room.
I’ve checked into hotels many times, so I understand the usual routine. A receptionist watching their watch to see if their shift is almost over. “Name? ID? Card for the room?” But, this receptionist was different. It actually appeared to me that he truly enjoyed his job, and he was clearly good at it.
He told me the typical things, the hours of the hotel’s gym, the pool rules, breakfast and coffee times, etc. But, when I asked about parking, instead of just giving me instructions, like the typical receptionist would have, he actually stepped away from the desk and walked outside with me to point exactly where I needed to go.
He gave us local restaurant recommendations and went so far as to hand write the star ratings of each recommended restaurant.
At dinner, me, my wife, and my family could not get over how great he was. So, the kids wrote him a handwritten note with a picture that said “thank you for your hospitality.”
When we returned to the hotel the kids gave him the handwritten note. He was so happy to receive it.
I saw him again later that evening, still working at the front desk, and he was glowing with pleasure. “You guys made my day,” he said. “I even called my sister to tell her about the note the kids wrote me!”
The thought crossed my mind … as great as he was, he probably needed to hear it from someone. We made his day by doing that. And, he made ours.