Hotel Breakfast Woes

[figgyx]

Why do people insist on standing at the counter and fixing their plates? Take what you want back to the table and put the butter on your waffles there. Do you realize how unsanitary it is to do this while standing right there. Not to mention the fact that you are blocking other people from getting their breakfast?

Why do people insist on making messes and then walking away? Our cereal dispensers dispense the cereal rather quickly. If you are not prepared for it you end up making a big mess on the counter. What annoys me to no end are the countless number of guests who walk away from the mess without either informing me there is a mess or cleaning up after themselves.

I've already mentioned in a previous post about how people ignore the tongs and reach for the bagels, etc

There are also any number of people who feel that our free coffee is an excuse to fill their giant assed travel mugs before leaving. I understand it is free and comes with the room but geez it is there to drink with your breakfast. If you are gonna drain our entire coffee supply you might want to think about paying for it elsewhere. I had one guest who did this before I could even make more coffee.

[MelindaJoy77]

People are pigs. Especially when it comes to free stuff.

[Insomnia]

People should know better and have some common sense and I can sympathize with everything except the cereal dispenser. I don't know about anyone else, but I for one have rarely used a dispenser. With that said, perhaps the customers have no idea it's going to pour out faster than a normal dispenser. However, the mess they leave behind is uncalled for.

[bhskittykatt]

At the motel, I never had a problem with people filling their large mugs as long as they let me know. Because then I would know I needed to make a fresh pot. It always pissed me off to set out two fresh pots, and then less than 30 minutes later have a guest come up complaining they're both empty (even after nights where we were only at 75% occupancy or so).

[thatcrazyredhead]

At the motel, I never had a problem with people filling their large mugs as long as they let me know. Because then I would know I needed to make a fresh pot. It always pissed me off to set out two fresh pots, and then less than 30 minutes later have a guest come up complaining they're both empty (even after nights where we were only at 75% occupancy or so).

This is good to know. I probably wouldn't have thought anything of filling my travel mug if I needed to, but now I will make sure to ask first (and be gracious if the answer is no, of course).

[Setsunaela]

I stayed in a quality inn last year, and while I was having my breakfast a woman came into the breakfast room, grabbed a plate, took literally every bagel, half the muffins, and then hogged the waffle maker to make six waffles, piled it on a plate, took half the little butter pat things, and then put another plate on top to protect it all and went back to her room with it.. she then came back and filled three big travel mugs with the three pots of coffee, and another big travel cup with orange juice..

[dawnfire]

she sounds like she may have been feeding her family back up in the room or getting enough food to feed herself for the rest of the day. either way pretty inconsiderate.

[Grendus]

I stayed in a quality inn last year, and while I was having my breakfast a woman came into the breakfast room, grabbed a plate, took literally every bagel, half the muffins, and then hogged the waffle maker to make six waffles, piled it on a plate, took half the little butter pat things, and then put another plate on top to protect it all and went back to her room with it.. she then came back and filled three big travel mugs with the three pots of coffee, and another big travel cup with orange juice..

This is one of those "free=/=free" moments where a manager with a backbone should kindly remind her that the continental breakfast is offered per person, meaning one persons worth. Or else quietly charge the food to her room.

[Desk clerk knows all]

My pet peeve is people who leave their used waffle batter cups on the counter instead of throwing them in the trash can that is inches away. Same with creamer cups and sugar packets.

[hotelnpa]

One of my past co-workers was putting a few breakfast items out at 6:00. The breakfast started at 6:30, but he just a few things ready like the bagels, toast, fruit, cereal and coffee. The only things not set out were the cold items, such as the cream cheese and milk.

A guy came down at 6:05 and demanded milk for his cereal. Mind you he had to into a dark room (our breakfast was served in a room and the lights were shut off with a big sign near the door indicating breakfast hours from 6:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.) to find his cereal. The auditor informed that breakfast started at 6:30 and that the milk will be available then.

The guy seemed okay, but later on in the day he left NASTY message with the manager about the incident. Apparently he told the manager he was REFUSED milk and the auditor was not helpful.

The manager's response? He disciplines the auditor (writes him up) and changes the start time to 6:00.

[wolfie]

WTF? It sounds like the night guy was taking advantage of a bit of free time to get the NON-PERISHABLE breakfast stuff out early, in case some high-priority item popped up close to the start of breakfast (with the alternative being to twiddle his thumbs when he has free time, and risk breakfast being late if a high-priority item pops up).

SC comes in BEFORE the posted start of breakfast hours, it's obvious (lights not on yet) that things aren't ready yet, and complains because the FULL breakfast layout (including perishables) isn't out yet? Then the (mis)manager writes up the night guy and changes the start time? Sounds like that (mis)manager is going to starve some poor zombie.

[XCashier]

The manager's response? He disciplines the auditor (writes him up) and changes the start time to 6:00.

Meaning that the next time the SC stays over, he'll be in the breakfast area at 5:30 AM demanding milk.

[figgyx]

start times

I can certainly understand being upset about a guest who comes down early and demands breakfast items. However, we are here to make the guests happy. If a guest asks me nicely I will get them something early. We do have several construction crews and truck drivers who leave before breakfast starts. I have one regular driver who comes down between 430 and 5 am. I will put out milk for him because I know he likes to have a bowl of cereal before hitting the road. It is really about having a good attitude and being nice. Treat me like crap and I don't want to do anything for you. One of the first things I do when I come in at 11pm is stock the mini fridge with yogurts and waters - but then of course I get people asking me if they can take a yogurt at midnight. you just can't win.

[BroSCFischer]

This is good to know. I probably wouldn't have thought anything of filling my travel mug if ...

Generally speaking 12-16 oz travel mugs are NOT the problem. When I complain about people filling up their travel cups they are 64oz or more (mainly truckers and construction workers).

Actually haven't had anyone with one that size in a little while.

SC

[greensinestro]

At the motel, I never had a problem with people filling their large mugs as long as they let me know. Because then I would know I needed to make a fresh pot. It always pissed me off to set out two fresh pots, and then less than 30 minutes later have a guest come up complaining they're both empty (even after nights where we were only at 75% occupancy or so).

This happened at the Edgewater in Gatlinburg, TN a few weeks ago. We were there and the coffee vanished so fast thanks to people who were hitting the road, but needed to load up for a caffeine rush first. Took about ten minutes for more coffee to be made.