15 Things Hotel Workers Notice About You at Check-In

When checking into a hotel, there are subtle hints that tell the employees what kind of traveler you are. According to MSN.com, here are 15 things hotel workers notice about you at check-in.

Also, you might see me put my two cents in because I have either done those things or witnessed those things

1. Attitude and demeanor

-If you come in hot, with a bad attitude and wanting things to be done ASAP, that is going to set a bad mood for both you and the hotel worker. The old saying "you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression" applies here. Your attitude and demeanor is the first thing hotel staff notices about you. If you come in with a warm smile and friendly attitude, along with politeness and kindness, that will lead to excellent service. Hotel staff will be far more likely to go the extra mile for those who treat them with kindness and respect

-My personal belief is that you should treat them the same way you would expect to be treated. If you come in with a raging temper and start treating the staff like yesterday's garbage, don't expect kindness in return

2. Luggage / personal belongings

-Your luggage can tell a lot about you. One single backpack might state that the person is either a minimalist traveler or not planning on staying long. Multiple suitcases can suggest a long stay or a family vacation, especially if you have kids with you. Expensive, designer-name luggage suggests that they should be handled with care. Well-worn, well-traveled looking bags indicates someone who might look like they are being budget-friendly, but this won't affect the type of services offered

-Anytime I've ever stayed in a hotel nearby, it's usually not long, so I'll take my backpack and put multiple days of clothing in it. For example, me and my sister stayed in the Hyatt Regency Columbus in October 2022 for two days because we were in town to see Iron Maiden at the Nationwide Arena, where the Columbus Blue Jackets NHL team plays. We only stayed two days, so we both had one backpack a piece. And the staff at the hotel pretty much figured why it was so crowded in the lobby-they seen Iron Maiden shirts everywhere and figured that band was in town

3. Dress and appearance

-How you dress tells the staff what you're there for. If you come in wearing a t-shirt for a musician, that tells staff you are in town for a concert by said musician. Casual beachwear suggests some time to relax at a local beach or pool. Sharp looking business suits suggest a business trip who places high premiums on efficiency

-True story. When I was in Columbus in October 2022, I wore all of my Iron Maiden gear because I was in town to see them on their Senjutsu tour. When and if I go to Orlando, Florida, when I check in, I'll probably be wearing jeans, a t-shirt and gymshoes because I just got out of the airport and am looking to check in. Then I change into shorts because of the warmer weather

4. Being prepared

-Hotel staff do enjoy when guests arriving have everything they need right there, such as ID, form of payment, whether it be payment card / cash and reservation details. It's why it's important to print off your reservation details and bring it with you. It makes the process of checking in far more efficient and far smoother, thus allowing them to complete your check-in process and move on to the next guest. More patience and assistance are given to the guests who have to root around in their bags or luggage for important documents and items, such as ID, cash / payment card, reservation details

-Being prepared makes everything easier and faster. The staff will appreciate it. If you have everything you need right there with you, this makes the process of checking in faster and more efficient, for both you and the staff member. They appreciate when people are prepared with everything they need. Don't be the person that fiddles around with looking for their itinerary, reservation details, or worse, form of payment for the room

5. Traveling alone or with people

-Hotel staff notice if you are traveling alone or with multiple people. Solo travelers will often prefer privacy and less interaction, while couples may appreciate things like upgraded amenities and romantic additions, such as champagne. Families arriving with kids in tow may need extra towels, cribs, kid-friendly activities to keep them occupied. Groups of friends may be gathering together to celebrate something, reminding the staff to give gentle reminders to that group about noise policies

6. When you arrive

-When you arrive can tell the staff a lot about you. People who check-in early may have taken an early redeye flight or a long flight or their flight just happened to get in early. This will have staff ensuring that the room is ready to be used. Guests coming in late at night might appreciate a quick, smooth check-in with no fuss. Those checking in at close to midnight might be offered snacks or extra amenities to help them settle in after a long day of trying to get to their destination

-Anytime I've ever checked into a hotel, it's never been at a specific time. I've checked into hotels at 11am, 5:00 pm, all sorts of crazy times

7. Requests / special accommodations

-Guests can come with all sorts of requests / accommodations. This can give insight to the hotel staff as to what that guest might need. From dietary restrictions to room preferences to specific types of bedding helps the staff member personalize the experience for the guest. People who travel on a regular basis might have more particular requests, such as extra pillows or blackout curtains. First time travelers would need more information about the amenities offered by the hotel, since they are curious and unfamiliar with traveling

8. Body language / eye contact

-These two can tell a lot about you to hotel staff. Nonverbal cues can speak loudly. I know it sounds strange, but it's true. Hotel staff are trained to read subtle nuances in body language and eye contact. This tells them the level of comfort and emotions. Avoiding direct eye contact and being fidgety indicates a nervous nature or frustration. A relaxed posture and smiles reveal ease and satisfaction, even curiosity at being in a new place.

-Sometimes, guests who come in might be visually / hearing impaired and would need extra assistance in getting checked in. Some hotel staff are trained in sign language and will assist the hearing impaired while those checking in who are visually impaired are able to check in and also be provided documents and signs for things in braille. Or if a guest checking in speaks a different language, hotel staff will get an iPad or tablet with a translator service on it to translate for that guest, to make things easier

-Anytime I check in, I make sure to have a relaxed demeanor and maintain eye contact, because it shows you are giving that person your full attention. But, unfortunately, sometimes hotel staff will treat you a certain way only because of your gender, race or something else. In those times, maintain a professional, respectful demeanor and get through the process of checking in. I've had hotel staff treat me with contempt only because I am a woman. In those times, I maintain a professional demeanor and do not treat them the same way they are treating me- I treat them with kindness and move on. The less you say, the better

9. How you pay

-How you pay says a lot about you. Using a corporate credit card indicates to hotel staff that this is a business trip. A personal credit card suggests leisurely travel. Some guests prefer the option of pre-paying for a trip, signaling to them a strong avoidance of surprise charges while others might want to split the costs amongst multiple payment cards

-I almost always pay with a payment card. I only carry cash if needed

10. Style of communication / accent

-This tells hotel staff a lot as well. The way a guest communicates or if they have an accent tells of their reason for travel and even their background. This helps hotel staff adjust how they communicate to ensure the maximum amount of excellent service offered. International guests might appreciate tips and hints about local interests and customs, local attractions, even local places to eat. Guests from different parts of the country may also have unique requirements. They may even ask the hotel staff where are some good restaurants or attractions

11. Membership / loyalty status

-Hotel staff are trained to pay attention to those using membership / loyalty points for traveling. Frequent guests will have specific requirements. Members of elite loyalty programs may receive upgrades, such as late check-outs, welcome amenities and other perks. When longtime guests are recognized, staff personalize their experience and ensure that the guest remain a long-term guest and maintain that long-term relationship

12. Reason for travel

-Everyone who travels has a reason behind it. Whether it be a business trip, trip to see family / friends, a concert out of town, sporting event, vacation to go relax / sightseeing, the list of reasons are endless. Each traveler has a specific reason why they are traveling. Hotel staff will pick up on the possible reason why the guest is checking in. Those in business suits might appreciate a quick and efficient check-in, with a reliable spot for Wi-Fi. Those on leisurely vacations might appreciate local spa services. Those attending an out of town wedding, conference for work or a family reunion might need amenities specific to their needs

-If hotel staff ask the reason I am checking in, I will gladly volunteer the information. I'm the kind of person who turns into an excited little kid saying they can't wait to do this or that and I tell them the reason I am checking in

13. First impression of the hotel

-Like the old saying goes "you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression." First impression is the most important thing when it comes to hotels. If the hotel looks dirty, rundown, with bad smells and an overall sense of unease or low safety, it's highly likely no one will want to stay there. But if a hotel is clean, tidy, smells nice, that sets a good mood of ease for both the staff and guests. When guests arrive, and they look around at the decor, this can tell you if the guest appreciates the hotel or not.

-When I was in Columbus in 2015 for the annual Rock on the Range music festival, the only hotel me and my sister could find a room in was a Comfort Inn right off of the highway. The lobby was okay, but the hallways smelled strongly of mold and the rooms, unknown to us at the time, had bedbugs. We didn't find out about the insect problem until about a week later when we found these little parasites crawling all over our furniture and had to have our house heat treated. The hallways had carpeting coming up at the ends and the staff held a wedding there, and as such, guests took up all of the parking. There was even an attendant in the lot asking those pulling in were they there for the wedding or something else. My sister told him "we're here for a concert at MAPFRE Stadium."

14. Tone of voice / choice of words

-It's always important to treat the hotel staff the same exact way you would want to be treated. Unfortunately, not all hotel staff do this. Some hotels have staff members who will treat people certain ways because of one factor another. The way the guest speaks, in both their tone of voice and choice of words, tells of their mood and expectations. A friendly, upbeat vibe tells the staff to provide warm, friendly service while a reserved or formal approach tells the staff to maintain a professional demeanor

15. Level of experience

-Depending on how often you travel, this will tell hotel staff if you're a seasoned traveler or a first timer. Seasoned travelers know how the check-in process works. They will move through the process with flying colors, knowing what to expect, knowing what the hotels offer and even requesting particular amenities. First time travelers may be unsure about what the hotel offers. This is where the hotel staff can show they know their job by providing guidance on hotel facilities, local attractions, options for dining and more. When staff can recognize what a traveler's needs are, this will help them tailor their service provided and ensure a good stay for the guest. And ensure that the guest feels well informed, making them more likely to return in the future

-Most of the time, when I travel, it's with my mom, stepdad and sister. It's usually out of the country, to either Mexico or the Dominican Republic, where they have "all inclusives." The only thing required at check in / check out is passport. Me and my family make things a breeze for the hotel staff because we have what they need to make checking in easy!

Sonny Boy by Al Pacino

This book is written by himself. It's an autobiography about Al Pacino. I thought it was a very good book. He's always been one of my favorite actors. Because he can be funny one moment, intense the next

-Born Alfredo James Pacino on 4/25/1940, he was raised in the South Bronx by his mother Rose and father Sal. His father worked as a military police officer, but disappeared when Al was two, leaving his mother and her relatives and his father's relatives to raise him. He was given his Sicilian grandfather's first name. His mother would often take him to see plays and even films in the theatres, and this would interest the boy. As he got older, he found his mother started suffering from mental health issues and one day, one of his relatives told him to come to her apartment.  There, he found his mother deceased. She had ingested a large amount of pills and choked on her own vomit. He found school to be boring, so he left at 16 and found a calling in the theatre. As time went on, he got better and better at acting. Of course, having no job meant no money. He worked a series of odd jobs to keep the money coming in while he went to auditions

-Some of his earliest films would today be considered independent films or "indie" films. Such as The Panic in Needle Park, where he plays a drug addict looking for a fix. The film that really put his name on the map was the 1972 film The Godfather, where he played the youngest Corleone son Michael. Of course, Francis Ford Coppola, the director, wanted Pacino over the other actors auditioning for the role, which included Robert Redford, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty and Ryan O'Neal. Despite his success, Al was constantly worrying about being fired

The Panic in Needle Park

The Godfather

-When he was not filming, he suffered with a bout of alcoholism, and would occasionally pop Valium pills to try and calm himself, since he made a habit of showing explosive bouts of energy. When it came time to film The Godfather Pt. II, he surprised Francis Ford Coppola by showing that he didn't know how to drive (because he grew up in New York, where you could hop in a cab or on a bus), didn't know how to dance the waltz and couldn't speak Italian (despite being of both Sicilian and Italian descent), three things required for the Italian wedding scene where he marries the woman Appollonia during Michael's exile to Sicily. During filming, he became good friends with Diane Keaton, who played Kay

The Godfather Pt. II

Italian wedding scene from The Godfather Pt. II

Al Pacino as Michael Corleone and Diane Keaton as Kay Adams

-After the filming of The Godfather films, he wanted to try something different. The "something different" became the film Serpico, a film based on the true story of an NYPD officer named Frank Serpico, who investigated and even tried to stop corruption in the NYPD. After that, he did more movies, such as Dog Day Afternoon, where he plays a bank robber looking to get money for his partner's gender reassignment surgery. He decided to do the play Richard III in the theaters, and it was around that time he had the realization that he needed help for his alcoholism. He asked for help and it was around the time he filmed the movie Bobby Deerfield that he started going to AA meetings and undergoing therapy to wean himself off of the alcohol, thus getting himself clean and sober

Serpico

Dog Day Afternoon

Bobby Deerfield

-In the early 1980s, came the film that would immediately connect his name to the film world: Scarface. The violent, 1983 film depicting a Cuban refugee turned drug lord directed by Brian DePalma and produced by Oliver Stone. He had to learn how to talk with a proper Cuban accent from both a dialect coach and his co-star, Cuban-born actor Steven Bauer. As a side note, people thought for the longest time that Al was a cocaine addict, because of his manic bouts of energy. He firmly states he has never touched that narcotic. He's never done drugs. He's just always had those manic fits of energy. Unfortunately, after Scarface, he decided to quit acting. He took some time off to simply relax from the stress of filming. Instead, he took to the theater, doing plays because that was what he started out doing and it was something he loved

Scarface

-It was not until he came out of his self-imposed break from acting that he starred in 1989's Sea of Love, where he played a police officer with a hard drinking habit investigating a series of murders. And the woman he's falling for might just be the prime suspect. It was here that he started developing the slightly gravelly voice he now has. This film has a long, drawn out lovemaking scene where Ellen Barkin's character initially gives Al Pacino's character a pat down, and then the two go straight into making love. He said he's normally not one to do love scenes, because he is uncomfortable doing them, especially if he is required to show certain parts of his body. After Sea of Love, he went into making The Godfather Pt. III, which is certainly not as popular with people as the first two installments. He firmly stated the only reason he did the third installment of the film was because he was in financial dire straits. He maintained his friendship with Diane Keaton, and it was actually her that helped him get a good agent to help him get back into good financial standing

Sea of Love

The Godfather Pt. III

-One of the movies he did that he enjoyed was the comic book-turned-movie for Dick Tracy. In the film, he played Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice. His character got the name "Big Boy" from the fact that he had elephantiasis in random parts of his body. He jokingly said he got to feel up Madonna in the film, but he said it was just "love taps" and nothing more. In October 1989, he became a first time father, to a daughter he named Julie Marie Pacino, with an acting teacher named Jan Tarrant that he was seeing. The 1990s proved to be a successful time for him. He starred in movies that proved to be successful, such as Scent of a Woman, Carlito's Way, Heat, The Devil's Advocate, Donnie Brasco, The Insider and Any Given Sunday.

Al Pacino and Jan Tarrant

"Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy

Scent of a Woman

Carlito's Way

Heat

The Devil's Advocate

The Insider

Any Given Sunday

-As the 1990s gave birth to the 2000s, the new decade would bring Al three new kids, two with wife Beverly D'Angelo, an actress. With her he had two children, a son he named Anton and a daughter they both named Olivia. They divorced in 2001. They simply couldn't make their marriage work only because they were both actors and based on opposite coasts. She was mostly based in Los Angeles, where she lived. And he was from New York, which he considered home. They still remain on good terms and remain good friends. Later on in life, he would have another child, a son he named Roman, with an actress from Argentina he was seeing named Lucila Sola.

Al Pacino and Beverly D'Angelo

Al Pacino and Lucila Sola

-He mentioned that he had strong financial troubles and was suffering from them, trying to get a good agent to help him out. As for films, he would continue to make films in the new decade. They would include 2002's Insomnia, 2003's The Recruit, 2005's Two for the Money, 2007's 88 Minutes, 2007's Ocean's Thirteen, 2008's Righteous Kill and more. As a side note, he still, to this day, maintains a good friendship with former The Godfather actress Diane Keaton. As time went on, he mentioned that he had started noticing his vision was not quite what it once was. He stated this issue started happening when he was 19 and it seemed to happen off and on over the years. He would wake up and his vision would be blurry, but would clear eventually. He said he was diagnosed with Fuch's dystrophy, which gets progressively worse as you age. When the COVID-19 crisis effectively shut down the world down for a time, he ended up getting stricken with the condition. Luckily, he was able to get through it

His family. Son Anton, daughters Olivia and Julie

Insomnia

The Recruit

Two for the Money

88 Minutes

Ocean's Thirteen

Righteous Kill

Filmography

April Birthdays

Since it's April, time to say Happy Birthday

Jet Li

-Birth name: Li Lian-jie

-DOB: 4/26/1963

-Where: Beijing, China

-While filming the fight scenes with Anthony Anderson in the 2000 film Romeo Must Die, he sustained bruising on his ribs

Ritchie Blackmore

-Birth name: Richard Hugh Blackmore

-DOB: 4/14/1945

-Where: Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England

-He is often known to be moody, erratic and headstrong

Jeremy Clarkson

-Birth name: Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson

-DOB: 4/11/1960

-Where: Doncaster, United Kingdom

-He's known for his frequent outspoken nature

Eddie Murphy

-Birth name: Edward Regan Murphy

-DOB: 4/3/1961

-Where: Brooklyn, New York

-He paid for the funeral for comedian Redd Foxx, who inspired him to pursue stand up comedy

Roddy Piper

-Birth name: Roderick George Toombs

-DOB: 4/17/1954

-Where: Saskatoon, Canada

-DOD: 7/31/2015

-Where: Los Angeles, California

-He passed away in his sleep from a heart attack. His wife, Kitty, says that she was thankful he was at home with her when he passed away

Sebastian Bach

-Birth name: Sebastian Philip Bierk

-DOB: 4/3/1968

-Where: Freeport, The Bahamas

-He left Skid Row after a disagreement with his bandmates over whether they should open for Kiss on their 1996 reunion tour

Federico Castellucio

-DOB: 4/29/1964

-Where: Naples, Italy

-He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and media arts

Al Pacino

-Birth name: Alfredo James Pacino

-DOB: 4/25/1940

-Where: Manhattan, New York

-His first film was an independent film called The Panic in Needle Park

Even More Fun Facts About England

This country is certainly far older in history than other countries. There are many historic castles here, interesting history, unique landmarks and more. It's quirky to some, unique to some and even fascinating to some, all depending on your view. Here are some quirky, interesting and even fun facts about the land known as "across the pond"

If I ever get the chance to go "across the pond", I'll need to make sure I dress like the locals. Just to show respect. I'll have to do some research about what locals typically wear

Above each section is the link that produced the information under it

https://bigrocktravel.com/five-fun-facts-about-england/

The guards at Buckingham Palace

-These iconic red-coated soldiers are one of the things that make England unique. It's considered a must see for travelers to witness the Changing of the Guard. These guards' shifts can last from 24-48 hours. Their shift also includes 4 hours off but 2 hours sentry duty

Red double-decker buses

-These are the lifeline of travel for most Londoners. More than half of all journeys throughout London are made using one of these iconic double-decker buses. Buses have been part of the London streets since the 1800s. The first bus service was created by a man named George Shillibeer, who started the bus service by using a horse-drawn omnibus. The route ran between Paddington and The City. He thought ahead and his innovative way of thinking caught on fast

English gardens

-When you hear England, you might think of "English gardens", which revolve around beautiful flowers, quaint cottages and overall natural beauty at it's best. It's said that the earliest English garden was created in the 1st century AD. It became a staple of British life in the Middle Ages. When castles went to fortified manor houses instead, the gardens became green spaces surrounded by fences or hedges. Outdoor games such as bowls or tennis took place regularly. Each garden reflects a part of the personality of the person caring for them

British flag

-Also known as the Union Jack, the unique colors and design of the flag represent the flags of England, Scotland and Ireland, with Wales seemingly left out in the cold. It consists of the crosses of each country's patron saint: Cross of St. George for England, the Cross of St. Andrew for Scotland and the Cross of St. Patrick for Ireland

Cream tea

-This might not sound appetizing, but this is part of afternoon tea, which is a large part of British culture. There is a great debate as to whether it's cream first or jam first. Cream tea has been part of UK culture since the 11th century and ever since then, arguments have been up and running about what goes first-cream or jam. Depending on where you're at, the answers are different. Devon residents state it's clotted cream first and then jam while Cornwall residents firmly state it's jam first, then clotted cream

https://www.studyin-uk.com/study-guide/30-facts-about-uk/

-To put a postage stamp with the Queen's head upside down on an envelope is considered an act of treason

-Buckingham Palace has it's own police station

-1860 seen the first fish and chip shop being opened by a Jewish resident

-Edward VIII, who was the King in the UK in 1932, abdicated the throne by marrying an American divorcee named Wallis Simpson. He was a firm Nazi supporter and strongly believed that England being bombed could bring peace and end WWII

-The 2012 Olympic games in London was the first time that every country being represented had at least one female athlete competing

https://leverageedu.com/blog/interesting-facts-about-uk/

-The famous Jack the Ripper terrorized the East End of London in 1888. His stalking ground was the East End neighborhood of Whitechapel. It's said he was never caught and remains one of the best known cold cases to this day. In fact, the spirit of one of his victims, Polly Nichols, is said to haunt the Whitechapel district

-Despite the Great Fire of London destroying much of the city, the number of deaths that resulted from it was only six people

-Advertisements are not broadcast on the BBC due to funding by TV viewers who are required to pay annual TV license fees

-There are more Indian restaurants in London alone than in New Delhi and Mumbai combined

-Despite the law stating those under the age of 18 cannot buy alcohol in the UK, it is, however, legal for those under the age of 18 to drink alcohol in their own home or other private premises

-There are very few trash bins in Victoria Station. This comes as a result of the 1991 bombing at Victoria Station, where a bomb was placed in a trash bin

-The only venomous snake in all of the UK is the adder, also known as the Common European Viper or Common European Adder

-The tallest building in the UK is The Shard, often jokingly called "The Eye of Sauron" by some

-Out of all of the airports in the UK, London Heathrow is the busiest, seeing 48.2 million passengers from January 2013 to August 2013

-You will see the Royal Stamp on some food items because it has been bought by the Royal Family for at least five years

-There are more than 130 universities in the UK. The most prestigious and well known are Cambridge and Oxford

-It takes almost thirty minutes to do a complete circle on the London Eye

-You can receive a personalised greeting card from the Queen if you turn 100 in the UK

-There is a strategically built "fake town" in Gravesend that was built for the sole purpose of training police officers and for police officers to practice ways of combatting dangerous situations

-There is a famous garden called Alnwick Garden in the UK. This garden is also known as the Poison Garden due to it containing over 100 varieties of poisonous or intoxicating plants

-It's considered illegal and thus a banned act to feed pigeons in Trafalgar Square in London