if this is what the govt is hiring...

[HotelMinion]

Usually govt workers are very professional....recently it hasn't been the case..

Me: Hello front desk?
Weird Guest: Hi, do you...ummmm....know.....um.....of any....people that are trying to.....um get to this room?
Me: (thinking: wtf?) No I don't know of any people that are trying to get to your room. Is there a problem?
WG: Well...ummm....I mean I saw... um...people in the....um....but I looked....and um....there was nothing there....
Me: I'm sorry but you are making no sense, where did you look?
WG: Well...ummm....I mean I saw... um...people in the....um....but I looked....and um....there was nothing there.... ( I swear he said the exact same thing again! Wtf, is he high?)
Me: ...okaaaay. Well the only thing I can do is send someone up to the floor to check things out.
WG: Ummm...well....I don't think that's necessary but um.....You sure you don't know of any people trying to get to this room?
Me: No. I don't.
WG: Well o...k.
Me: Bye. (hangs up)

I don't know whether he was paranoid or pranking calling, either is equally plausible. Checked the computer, was a govt worker.

Me: Hello can I help you?
Cheapo: Yes How much are your rooms?
Me: It is (rate).
Cheapo: (waves govt ID in my face) Govt discount?
Me: Govt discount is (rate).
Cheapo: That's all?!!?!?!????????????!!!!
Me: Yep.
Cheapo: Rrrgghh...ugggg....I'll take it! (throws money at me)
Me: (thinking: Damn, I should've lied!) Will you be parking with us?
Cheapo: Yes.
Me: Parking is (parking fee).
Cheapo: WTF! Can you (penetrating stare) waive it for me?
Me: No. I cannot.
Cheapo: O_O WHY NOT!!!!!!
Me: Because....
Cheapo:
Me: ...it wouldn't be fair to others to have paid?
Cheapo: Whateverrr!!! Hmph!

A few hours later...

Me: Hello can I help you?
Cheapo: .......(shakes both hands in some sort of gesture, I think it's trying to communicate lol)
Me: Checking out?
Cheapo: Obviously! Tch!
Me: Here's your receipt, have a nice day!!!!
Cheapo: Hmph! What is your manager's name & phone number!
Me: Here is his business card, his name is this. Have a nice day!!!
Cheapo: Thanks!!! (takes card and leaves with wide eyes)

What a dumbass.

[SailorMan]

Ughhhh! Being a 'government worker' myself, and someone who spent about 3 of his last 12 months in hotel rooms up and down the Eastern Seaboard, I feel compelled to apologize for the behavior of my 'fellow' GWs.

Yikes! 'GW' sure looks pretty darned close to 'EW' now, doesn't it?

[Sapphire Silk]

What's he bitching about? If he's on government business, he'll get reimbursed . . . and what's not reimbursed is tax deductible.

[SailorMan]

If he gets per diem, a certain set amount of 'expense money' per day, then if he spends as little of it as he can, he would be able to pocket the rest.

I stayed last year in hotels in Charleston, in New Jersey, and in Virginia. But they were all Navy contracted hotels, so there was no out-of-pocket expense for me there. But, I was given something like $35 per diem for meals, and if I ate cheaply, I came out ahead.

[Sapphire Silk]

If he gets per diem, a certain set amount of 'expense money' per day, then if he spends as little of it as he can, he would be able to pocket the rest.

I stayed last year in hotels in Charleston, in New Jersey, and in Virginia. But they were all Navy contracted hotels, so there was no out-of-pocket expense for me there. But, I was given something like $35 per diem for meals, and if I ate cheaply, I came out ahead.

True.

When I travel on state business I have to submit a request form ahead of time, and include an estimate of hotel costs. I then have to submit the actual bill for reimbursement (unless the state pays ahead of time). I don't get to pocket any money on the hotel bill.

I also have to submit receipts for food, so I'm not sure I could it there either. I guess it may vary from state to state, and I'm not sure about Federal rules.