40+ Hotel Employees Spill the Beans on Secrets Managers Don't Want You to Know

This article appeared in pensandpatron.com and has been published here with permission.

You know, there's nothing quite as soothing as a luxurious holiday, especially when you're lodged in a posh, high-end hotel. You might have a picture in your head of these spots being spick and span, but that's not really the truth. The reality is pretty far from this common belief. Folks who have worked in swanky hotels have turned to Reddit to spill the beans about the things that go on behind closed doors - the kind of stuff that hotel bosses would rather keep hushed. You might think bed bugs are the worst thing about hotels, but get ready for some even more startling secrets.

Valet, Vroom, Trust

As a valet at a high-end hotel in SF, I was often surprised by the frequency with which I'd encounter valuable items left carelessly in luxury cars. Those guests seemed to quickly find out who they could rely on. As a result, they usually gave generous tips. Trust was a big factor, particularly for guests of such caliber.

Valet, Vroom, Trust
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

It always amused me, those fellas who'd show up at the eatery for a daily meal with a different lady on their arm nearly each time. It was like they were showcasing their roster of girls. Yet, all of us recognized that these women weren't with him due to love or charm, but because he was footing the bill.

Sketchy Funding

U/Hornet_Critical talked about an intriguing point. It's known that crime groups have backed casinos before. He used to work at [a casino] in Atlantic City, both before it opened its doors and after. He pointed out that during his introductory period there, it was frequently mentioned that the triads were the ones providing funding for the casino.

Sketchy Funding
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels

I found it really weird that these big bosses were just plainly speaking to absolutely new employees."

We'll Remember You

"A famous high-end hotel and resort chain holds a collection of information about you. By gathering pictures from online sources and virtually following you, they build a complete picture of who you are. This includes all the details like what you typically order when dining, how many towels you use throughout your stay, your preference in beverages, and even personal details such as your children's names and their birthdays. They also have your home address and phone number.

We'll Remember You
Photo by Tim Photoguy on Unsplash

Every employee at the hotel can take a look at this database and your details are no secret. We're all aware that Jen didn't particularly enjoy your company during your stay in London. In the establishment I worked in, we even had to take down cameras in the main entrance because influential fellows were often seen with their love affairs, and no form of proof was permissible to be taped.

Phantom Pooper

"A relative used to be an employee at a very posh hotel named [a hotel] in Nashville. Indeed, it was extremely luxurious. Over the course of one year, they experienced an intriguing issue - an elusive pooper. This mystery person would leave piles in random, unexpected places. The catch was that these spots were out of the surveillance camera's view, always tucked away in corners where they couldn't be caught on tape."

Phantom Pooper
Photo by Alan J. Hendry on Unsplash

The suspicion was that it was one of the staff members, and while they had a few guesses, they never had confirmation. That is, not until one individual left and the incidents ceased. This all happened around two decades ago.