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.
At Work Without a release from each round of demands on your time the stress will continue to grow and you will need to take a break and step away from it all if you are to continue to function successfully. This is where a vacation comes in. Vacations offer the chance to break the stress cycle and escape the daily routine. By taking regular breaks or vacations you will actually perform better at work as you feel refreshed and capable at the end of a vacation. If you are hoping to get that promotion at work take a break so you can return ready to take on the workload and impress your boss.
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.
If you do not yet have kids the time can be spent with your spouse to develop said relationships and if you are single you can take the opportunity to pursue relationships with friends or immediate family members. While it is true that vacations can also bring on their own set of frustrations and stress the benefits of going outweigh any risks.
The next morning we woke the kids up and found a note on the front of our door instructing us to come down to the front desk. Great, I thought, now we have to move into another room. I dressed and headed down to the lobby to see what the issue was. I approached the nervous looking desk attendant (she could see I was annoyed), but to my surprise I didn't find more trouble. Instead the woman gave me impromptu waivers for the breakfast court. They were handwritten instructions that stated my family and I didn't have to pay for the breakfast (which we had not paid for in our stay package).
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.
At Work Without a release from each round of demands on your time the stress will continue to grow and you will need to take a break and step away from it all if you are to continue to function successfully. This is where a vacation comes in. Vacations offer the chance to break the stress cycle and escape the daily routine. By taking regular breaks or vacations you will actually perform better at work as you feel refreshed and capable at the end of a vacation. If you are hoping to get that promotion at work take a break so you can return ready to take on the workload and impress your boss.
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.
If you do not yet have kids the time can be spent with your spouse to develop said relationships and if you are single you can take the opportunity to pursue relationships with friends or immediate family members. While it is true that vacations can also bring on their own set of frustrations and stress the benefits of going outweigh any risks.
The next morning we woke the kids up and found a note on the front of our door instructing us to come down to the front desk. Great, I thought, now we have to move into another room. I dressed and headed down to the lobby to see what the issue was. I approached the nervous looking desk attendant (she could see I was annoyed), but to my surprise I didn't find more trouble. Instead the woman gave me impromptu waivers for the breakfast court. They were handwritten instructions that stated my family and I didn't have to pay for the breakfast (which we had not paid for in our stay package).
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 typical about the Hotel Zero Degrees Norwalk. From our ideal setting in the heart of Norwalk and breathtaking event spaces to the picturesque rooftop terrace, we've designed a hotel for travelers who want something different.
