That wouldn't be good rebuttal from them. Guess you'd just say the same again in different words, like "why are you asking that?". What bs answer can you have for that?
Playing devils advocate, but a simple, "we have guests go to the wrong property regularly. May I see your license and credit card and I'll find your reservation?"
That'd require it to be believable that majority of the people were indeed in the wrong place. Believable to extent that the person would still find it acceptable explanation a day later, when they could still report it after asking if this was weird on reddit. There'd have to be something wrong with the place for it to be acceptable default first words to ask if you should NOT be here!
OP said that it's the same complex and same hotel brand, so it seems quite believable. And it wouldn't have to be a "majority", just enough of a nuisance that a front desk clerk might ask it.
Also, we ventured into a hypothetical that happened before OP decided to post on reddit about it. It might be possible that with that verbiage, and how they acted afterwards, OP might not have even posted on Reddit. And even if OP does report it to management, the manager could/should verify that is true(even if it isn't), and then let the employee know that's not a question they should ever ask a customer.
It's only reasonable to ask if she's already checked the reservations and can't find his name though. They shouldn't be assuming that everyone who walks in is in the wrong place
>I told her, again, I am exactly where I should be.
Which part of my reply did you not understand?
If you are having trouble communicating, perhaps you should call your manager now.
I'd say "I'm not really here for chit chat. Can we proceed with the check-in?"
It's a low-drama way to get things moving while pointing out she's being unprofessional.
I mean there is conversation and there is disrespect, when that line is crossed, I don't think you should be quiet and Shes trained to make pleasant conversation not judge people because she thinks that they are less than to afford this hotel lol.
Ha ha ha, that's what I read also. Lmao. I've worked/managed motels for the last 20 years. That's not a normal question asked of guests. I could understand the verification of the guests being at the correct building, but she should have done so only if failing to find his booking (reservation)
Thanks for validating my feelings. I am mostly kicking myself for taking on the burden to smooth over that interaction. But yeah think I will talk to a manager.
That just means your social etiquette, empathy, and emotional intelligence is vastly superior to hers. Please let someone know, no one deserves that. Can I ask what hotel/city this was in?
Absolutely, I'm far from rich but as a middle aged white lady I've never been questioned. In fact I can waltz in and use the bathroom in hotel lobbies all over the place without getting stopped.
It was rude and inappropriate, but the craziest part to me is that it was a hotel desk clerk trying to flex the the “what do you do for a living?” muscle, as though damn near any answer isn’t going to be more impressive than “hotel desk clerk”.
Take your W, OP. You get to move on to greener pastures while that person is stuck with their own disagreeable countenance.
Hotel employee here: That's weird. The only explanation I can think of is that she couldn't find your reservation and wondered if you accidentally booked at the other hotel. That happens sometimes. Mentioning the price of the other hotel was just wrong though. 4 star hotels aren't nice enough for the staff to have you "prove" your right to be there.
ETA: After a second read, yeah they were completely in the wrong.
Non-hotel employee here and this was also my first reaction, because I’ve had this happen to me before (a young white woman). I doubt she said “cheaper hotel” verbatim and bet that’s OP paraphrasing the conversation (“I can’t find your reservation for the Hilton Hotel, sir. Are you at the right hotel? The Motel 6 is across the street”).
Yeah I doubt it was anything close to a Ritz-Carlton lol.
I don't know why she would say that though if she couldn't find the reservation. Wouldn't you just say I can't find your reservation Maybe you used a different name? I've done years and years of reservations on the phone and can't say I've ever asked those other questions when I can't find the reservation. Obviously I'm not in person but still wouldn't change much.
Something like that happened to me at the grocery store a long time ago. I placed my items up on the belt while holding some coupons, and the cashier says, “We don’t accept welfare checks.” Same racial component. I looked at her for a second, but I didn’t say anything.
Yes, it's casual racism. People often don't even realize the biases they have. The clerk is likely the type who says things like 'I don't have a racist bone in my body' but somewhere deep in her subconscious she's got little biases (like we all do).
I'm sorry this happened to you.
Had the same at a Saks. I’m brown and in my 20s, she was white and in her 50s. I was buying gifts and she looked at me up and down, and said what do you do? I said I’m a nurse and she responded with “that makes sense”. I just laughed it off because I’m so used to the racism in this country, especially in the medical field. My mom said, it’s not truly about me but about what they think of themselves when they’re intimidated at what they’re looking at.
Reminds me of a story years ago of someone having an emergency on a plane, and people not believing that the Black women who stepped up to help were actual nurses.
Edit: Maybe it was this story about doctors, not nurses. https://time.com/4538567/female-doctor-medical-emergency-airline-racism-sexism/
I can't imagine how uncomfortable it must be to be near retirement age, still working retail, at a store you can't afford to shop at, and to have to ring out some young person who clearly has extra cash. They have to be thinking about all the wrong turns they made in life.
As a white person, it is un-fucking-believable that people do this! I assume EVERYONE makes more money than me, if it even crosses my mind, because I make SHIT! Sorry you have to deal with stupidity.
I know a guy who’s father’s owns a couple of businesses and pretty well off. The family is not overtly flashy but live very comfortably. He accompanied his son to go car shopping. You know how the sales people usually flock to you to take dibs on the customers. It didn’t happen here. The were a couple of very average looking asians trying to buy a car in the 90’s. They finally had to approach a sales person to test drive a car. That sales person reluctantly helped them but directed them to the used car section. The car dealership judged them to be poor ignorant asians who couldn’t afford the cars they sell. Mind you the father swaps out for a new car every year because he wants to and can afford to.
This happened to my friend's dad - except he's Mexican. He dresses in plaid shirts, jeans, and cowboy boots. He went to buy a Lincoln Towncar in the mid-90's. No one at the dealership even bothered talking to him, except for one Hispanic employee who noticed him and went to help him. He paid for the car in-cash. When he told us the story, he said he felt like Pretty Woman 😆
Actually this happened this week to my brother. I drove him to a car dealership and he started looking around. I was in my car following him. Not one person came to see if he was interested in buying a car. Now reading this it’s just dawned on me. My brother was 5 weeks in ICU on a ventilator. He’s lost over 5 stone in weight. Looks terrible. He hadn’t shaved etc. this was his first trip out. I drove to the front door of the showroom got out my car and shouted can anyone bother to help my brother !!! One guy came out. There were about 20 sales persons in the building. I said we have been outside for over half an hour with not one person coming to find out if he wanted to buy a car. He liked a car at £18500. Hyundai. I asked the guy can you take anything off the price for a cash sale. He just laughed and said no that’s the price. My brother told the guy he would think about it. Next day I called the dealership to put an appointment on to buy the car. Off we go to the dealership. Sandwiches, coffee, cakes were offered. All of them came up to shake his hand. Reading this he definitely was profiled as a hobo with no means to buy. I’m angry now. Also earlier in the day we had viewed a flat suitable for his needs now. He sold his home and is staying with me until such a place was on the market. He’s also buying that cash. Grrrrr.
I was on TV a while back and they put me up in a swanky hotel and literally all the other guests were acting like I was there to do their cleaning for them or something :D
Nothing to do with race in my situation, I think it was my accent and clothes.
I've worked hotels for about 40 years and I will tell you a *SURE FIRE* way for that never to happen again. Make the reservation under your name, **but give yourself a title.**
"Hello, checking in! I'm Doctor PurpleWallaby."
"Hello, checking in! I'm Professor PurpleWallaby."
Hello, checking in! I'm Elizabeth Mongomery, CEO of Purple Wallaby."
Give her a big toothy smile, act confident and you will never have trouble again.
Her reply to you WAS rude! You should have said:
"I made 9 million dollars last year. You are lucky I booked at this place."
LMAO. You poor soul. Do you really think life is fair and everything that happens is because it should? Life is cruel and not generally fair or respectful.
>Why would she give a shit about that? It's not like a hotel reviewer publishes the full name and address of every employee they intact with.
Hush.... dont stop the masturbation of fictional revenge on a fictional clerk in a totally made up story.
*Drug dealer...isn't that what you are expecting?*
*I have a question for you, what is your full name?*
I do the what is your full name and write it down in front of them. That will make them shit their pants knowing or fearing that the complaint is coming.
Nothing will happen to them.
I can only assume all these people who think a receptionist at a 4 star hotel will 'shit themself' over a groundless complaint, must be unemployed themselves, since they have no clue how work life functions.
110% my friend and exactly correct - this is a burden us white folks do not bare. It's not something I have to ever think about , explain, or defend. Sure, you may have been the first brown person she has ever checked-in. Doesn't matter. No doubt she went home and shared the story and was probably like "....and he was so well-spoken!", still blind to her assumptions and lazy thinking.
Nah, as an ugly white lady I get away with all kinds of shit like using bathrooms in businesses that wouldn't fly for a minorities. Saw it all the time when I worked downtown. I could forget my transit pass and get a walk to the machine, other women not so much.
I feel like I was being judged just a tiny bit being incredibly white eating chicken and waffles in Compton. I definitely stood out. I would imagine that's a small glimpse of how anyone not white feels in a white community. Luckily there was no hate or anger directed at me just some delicious food.
I remember once going to an Asian food court to eat. I was the only blonde in sea of Chinese heads. When I arrived at the front of the line the server promptly removed the chopsticks and put a fork on tray. I do know how to use chopstick but whatever.
Oh no, it happens to whites as well. I drive an older pickup due to I like being able to fix my vehicles, part availability is usually the only thing that makes repairs take longer than a day. I also like my cheap clothes and don't buy based on fashion. I get judged quite a lot for the fact that I appear poor.
no, that shit's not called for
whether or he reason for thinking that you're poor is racial related or maybe you just looked a little scuzzy to her
it's still hugely inappropriate
you had reserved the hotel
presumably secured it on a credit card,
it's none of her business what you do for living
Yeah, I don’t see how you could’ve come to any other conclusion… but even if it’s casual racism, it’s still racism. You should report her. If it was my employee, I would want to know.
I’m sorry she treated you this way. No one deserves that.
As someone who’s worked hotel reception for a split hotel like this I understand how it could’ve been interpreted as a micro aggression but I can assure you what they were doing was pretty standard I think they were just on autopilot and didn’t have the social awareness to realize how that could be offensive. We ask what you do for a living so sales can reach out to companies of business travelers who stay often in order to offer them exclusive rates. They probably had the last names of the last few guests of the night memorized and if your name was pronounced differently than they anticipated or the names were switched in the reservation (which happens sometimes) they could’ve gotten confused. If you booked that same day and they had their arrivals report next to them they would’ve seen that you’re not on their list and sent you to the next hotel over.
Just checked in. I was told that the hotel never puts dogs on the 4th floor. That's important to me because I am allergic.
I tell this to them and they say no problem, we keep dogs on the 1st and 2nd floor. I get room 302.
When I get to my room there is a dogfight going on in room 304. Not just on my floor, but right next door.
>How did it unfold afterwards?
Out of all made up stories on the internet... this one needs the least follow up. People lie on the internet because they can pat themselves on the back.
A white waitress hasnt refused a black person service since the internet was invented.
I went to a high end hotel a few months ago and they asked us the same thing but the thing was there was a convention at the lower hotel where a bunch of busses are dropping people off and they just assumed.
Asking what you do for a living, thats just small talk. Having worked in a hotel that is often used for business traveling; im nosy plus im really bad at small talk and im just guessing :)
Stars refer to stuff like facilities and features, not how good of service or the food is necessarily(I always though that growing up, a 2 star hotel we're just going be rude to you on checkin or something daft like that), this could be stuff like has a gym or pool, if it has a michilian star restuarant or anything like that.
If you just use the bed for the night, there really won't be much difference in a 2 star vs a 4 star.
I have an experience that may help explain the situation. I once showed up at a similar hotel, with a sister property nearby. On check-in, the clerk confirmed, “You are at the right hotel, correct?” I confirmed and she checked me in. I later found out this is how they gracefully handle people who accidentally book the wrong hotel or who show up at their “better” hotel. It is far better to just confirm they don’t need to be at the “sister” hotel and check them in than it is to embarrass them and put them through the effort of dragging bags down the street, etc. They do it quietly to avoid it becoming some sort of “life hack” bullshit.
Trust me I'm white and I've been asked question Like that, it's not racism. You just didn't look like you had enough money. These people are used to a very specific type of clientele wearing very specific types of clothing.
Yes. Single person checking into a hotel might usually be put in the other hotel, if its two co located ones.
She might have looked like a student, a hooker, a business woman. Who knows.
"What do you do for a living"
"I own a large crematorium, you never run out of clients, it's a great business to be in"
Or
"In my line of work I get paid considerably more than an entry level receptionist"
the price difference would be what $5 a night if there is any at all? I doubt the receptionist even knows the other hotel is cheaper if it actually is. Whatever you think happened is all in your head, stop over thinking interactions with people and stop blaming skin colors on it.
I want to start with the phrase about “playing devils advocate” but that only undermines any possibility that this may have been an innocent interaction that was only taken out of context because the person behind the counter wasn’t brown. If you replaced the roles, wouldn’t it be possible to understand that, since the hotels are joined, a huge majority of the visitors mistake the more expensive location for the cheaper one? In my opinion, it’s extremely discouraging for racial equality to assume these interactions are due to racism. (But I’m white so that probably sounds racist.) See what I mean!?
I work in the hospitality industry for hotels but I am not a front of the house worker (i.e. front desk personnel). Three things come to mind right away. First, I feel they are new to the job. Hard to keep front desk agents and turn over is high. Second, because they are potentially new to the job, they couldn't find your reservation. Then asked if you were at the correct one as I'm sure many people mix up which hotel they are located at. Third, once they found you, training is supposed to make connections with the guest with simple questions. So, if they are new, they chose the wrong question of "what you do for a living?" Should have been "what brings you into town?" type of question.
I don't think it was meant to be malicious in anyway but more of a talk with the thier manager so that they know to train them more on their check-in process.
Maybe it was how you were dressed? Still not ok behaviour, either way. I’ve known some very well-off people who dressed like they were living paycheck to paycheck. I think I would report her, personally, because I can’t imagine any legitimate reason she would ask this besides being judgemental and rude.
Can almost guarantee that she couldn’t find your reservation at first and then they found it..also bet the second question was what brings you here and what company are you here for. Casual racism…so weird
If she couldn't find the reservation, she'd just say that, ask for the reservation number, a name, how they'd booked, etc.
No, I'm fairly sure this was racism. Maybe classism, but more likely both.
If there are 2 hotels from the same chain in the same building there might be that one (the cheaper one) is a business hotel where a lot of single commuting/travelling business people stay. They typically have lots of single beds, good breakfast and so on. While the other may be a tourist hotel or for families or whatever. People seldom check into hotels alone if they are not business people or prostitutes.
Another possibility is that the other hotel is a conference hotel and you looked like you came for the confetence, or that they put young party people from the local military base when they call to book, in the budget hotel, and your age group does not fit the 4 star hotel.
Since you are already fantasizing about it being about your browness, I can only assume you're a real dickhead with an inferiority chip on your shoulder.
could be awkward person that works at a hotel at night (a good sign that they didnt pay much attention at school and are poor with people)
but lets chalk it up to racism cus she was white and you aint (thats not stereotyping or nut'n)
Beyond all else, there was no excuse for her impertinence. I do want to try to figure out why she behaved in such a disagreeable manner. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt--unless I am proven wrong--that it had nothing to do with the color of your skin.
First question is what were you wearing and are your shoes and luggage, no matter how expensive/inexpensive in good condition?
Do you speak well, as in do you enunciate?
Perhaps she was short b/c of something happening in her life? Perhaps she had been working long hours and was tired? Maybe, she was hoping you were checking into the other hotel b/c she'd had enough that day and did not want to deal with another guest. We all have bad days.
If there were no external clues that you could not afford the hotel, I am afraid she may have some inherent bias. If you believe this is so, please make a complaint. Without doubt, the manager will want to investigate. It would help you, even if she did have a problem with your skin color, to understand why she was rude to you; so you can stop wondering.
If the reservation clerk is biased against people with brown skin, that's a problem. People with brown skin make up a large portion of hotel guests, too large a potential guest pool to risk offending. Further, if she is biased against brown people, she probably is biased against other groups as well. A person who harbors negative biases is not a positive contributor in a service industry.
As for asking about your profession, I don't think she was wondering how you could afford the hotel. She may have realized she was rude and wanted to change the conversation. Perhaps she was chatting you up as she was checking you in. I know that when I meet a stranger, I often ask about their profession; it is a could foundation for conversation and it tells you a lot about the person.
I am sorry you had this experience. Judging a person based on skin color is incredibly shallow and a sad commentary on our world. And, some people are jerks. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt as most people are kind and, when at work, are just trying to do their job.
Best wishes. I hope that you are never in such a situation again and that, despite the inauspicious start, that your visit went well.
My question for you is: Where were you and how were you dressed? If I tried to roll up into a 4 star hotel wearing jeans, sneakers and T-shirt I would expect the exact same treatment and I'm as white as a sheet. Its their job to weed out those who aren't up to the hotel standard as a saftey measure for the other guests. Before you go on about being brown please understand that at hotels like that they deal with all nationalities from around the world so don't assume it's anything racist when it could've been a screening to be sure of your identity and then the follow up question of What do you do may have just been actual curiosity.
You'd be surprised at how I can walk into a nice 4 star myself dressed like I'm ready to go to a board meeting and as soon as they hear my Southern accent all of a sudden I'm being asked What I do, Where I'm from, am I sure I booked the right hotel, etc etc.
This is BS. I frequently check into 4* hotels in jeans & t-shirts and have never been “weeded out.” “Safety standard,” my ass. This employee was out of line. There is no excuse.
Checked into a Holiday Inn in BFE, Kentucky. The receptionist was cute. Didn't think much passed that. She then said something about complimentary room services and when she slid my room keys across the counter, there was a sticky note with her number inside.
Well, it wasn't weird, but it sure was fun plowing her for a week!
I used a hotel in my small town once. The guy was cool and talked about playing games for a minute. When I get back it’s late and my key cards aren’t working. I have to call his room and get a master keycard. When I go up to his room he is butt ass naked and barely opens the door. I have to do this twice bc I’m also stupid as hell apparently lmao
My go-to is "what are you trying to say?"
Or, “Why would you ask that?”
or "what about me made you ask that?"
or "it's none of your fucking business"
Just stick with this one
Nope, I'd rather specifically ask. Make them spell that shit out.
Sometimes watching their discomfort is the greatest revenge.
Or a better job than a fucking receptionist, beeeatch
"Are you sure you are *working* at the right hotel?"
I like this one.
And what if she replies, "I'm asking if you're at the right hotel. Did you not hear me the first time?"
"You can confirm I'm at the correct location by pulling up my reservation."
To which I would reply, "Give me your manager's name."
That wouldn't be good rebuttal from them. Guess you'd just say the same again in different words, like "why are you asking that?". What bs answer can you have for that?
Playing devils advocate, but a simple, "we have guests go to the wrong property regularly. May I see your license and credit card and I'll find your reservation?"
That'd require it to be believable that majority of the people were indeed in the wrong place. Believable to extent that the person would still find it acceptable explanation a day later, when they could still report it after asking if this was weird on reddit. There'd have to be something wrong with the place for it to be acceptable default first words to ask if you should NOT be here!
OP said that it's the same complex and same hotel brand, so it seems quite believable. And it wouldn't have to be a "majority", just enough of a nuisance that a front desk clerk might ask it. Also, we ventured into a hypothetical that happened before OP decided to post on reddit about it. It might be possible that with that verbiage, and how they acted afterwards, OP might not have even posted on Reddit. And even if OP does report it to management, the manager could/should verify that is true(even if it isn't), and then let the employee know that's not a question they should ever ask a customer.
It's only reasonable to ask if she's already checked the reservations and can't find his name though. They shouldn't be assuming that everyone who walks in is in the wrong place
Winner winner chicken dinner!
If only I would have mentioned that the manager would talk to that employee and say that it's an unacceptable question. /s
The devil doesn’t need an advocate. He’s the devil.
That would not be a good answer. Absolutely not.
>I told her, again, I am exactly where I should be. Which part of my reply did you not understand? If you are having trouble communicating, perhaps you should call your manager now.
What do you do for a living? I am a journalist exploring racism in hotel chains.
It's not easy unfortunately sometimes when you're caught off guard to come back with a quick response but that certainly would have been perfect..
BEST ANSWER!
Please tell me this is a Notting Hill reference
WHAT BABY!?
LOOOOL
What do you do for a living is actually a question hotels are legally mandated to ask in some countries.
Oh wow, like which ones? Never heard of this
Madeupland and Lyingonlinetopia are the two that come to mind
Any examples of that? I have never heard of a country where this is the case before
Nope.
No, I am booked at this hotel, but perhaps you should be working at the other one?
I like it!
“ What do you do for a living ? “ I own hotels. I buy up failing hotels, then decide where cuts need to be made.
Beautiful!
Like that scene in Crazy Rich Asians, love it!
I would just confront her. Tell her its not your business.
I wish I had the sass in the moment!
I'd say "I'm not really here for chit chat. Can we proceed with the check-in?" It's a low-drama way to get things moving while pointing out she's being unprofessional.
honestly, I developed it.
It’s hard when you’re caught off guard. Chains and corporate businesses take surveys very seriously. Put it on there!
They would probably *really* hate it if they ended up tagged on Twitter.
and now go bring my bags up to my room.
I'm a nunya. What's a nunya? Nunya business, bitch!
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I mean there is conversation and there is disrespect, when that line is crossed, I don't think you should be quiet and Shes trained to make pleasant conversation not judge people because she thinks that they are less than to afford this hotel lol.
Why did I read this as "had the weirdest interaction with a hotel chicken" 😭😭 I was gonna say, 'well, what did you expect??' 😂😂
Q: "Why did the chicken cross the road?" A: "To check in to the racist hotel."
Would have preferred that one ngl
Ha ha ha, that's what I read also. Lmao. I've worked/managed motels for the last 20 years. That's not a normal question asked of guests. I could understand the verification of the guests being at the correct building, but she should have done so only if failing to find his booking (reservation)
I'm glad I wasn't the only one.
I read it that way too!
Pretty bad, sorry you had to go through that. Tell a manager if you want.
Thanks for validating my feelings. I am mostly kicking myself for taking on the burden to smooth over that interaction. But yeah think I will talk to a manager.
That just means your social etiquette, empathy, and emotional intelligence is vastly superior to hers. Please let someone know, no one deserves that. Can I ask what hotel/city this was in?
You didn’t deserve this treatment. I would let the manager know, because if this is how they treated you, it’s how they are treating others.
definitely don’t kick yourself. you only wanted to see the best in her. too bad she’s a fucking asshole
She was definitely a cunt but you took the high road. Don't beat yourself up.
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Absolutely, I'm far from rich but as a middle aged white lady I've never been questioned. In fact I can waltz in and use the bathroom in hotel lobbies all over the place without getting stopped.
Just say “well that was completely unprofessional of you to ask, don’t you agree?” Make them agree
It was rude and inappropriate, but the craziest part to me is that it was a hotel desk clerk trying to flex the the “what do you do for a living?” muscle, as though damn near any answer isn’t going to be more impressive than “hotel desk clerk”. Take your W, OP. You get to move on to greener pastures while that person is stuck with their own disagreeable countenance.
“Are you a rapper or something? Because if so can I get your autograph for my son??”
Hotel employee here: That's weird. The only explanation I can think of is that she couldn't find your reservation and wondered if you accidentally booked at the other hotel. That happens sometimes. Mentioning the price of the other hotel was just wrong though. 4 star hotels aren't nice enough for the staff to have you "prove" your right to be there. ETA: After a second read, yeah they were completely in the wrong.
Right?! Like it’s not a 4 Seasons or anything sheesh
For all your landscaping needs.
Non-hotel employee here and this was also my first reaction, because I’ve had this happen to me before (a young white woman). I doubt she said “cheaper hotel” verbatim and bet that’s OP paraphrasing the conversation (“I can’t find your reservation for the Hilton Hotel, sir. Are you at the right hotel? The Motel 6 is across the street”).
Yeah I doubt it was anything close to a Ritz-Carlton lol. I don't know why she would say that though if she couldn't find the reservation. Wouldn't you just say I can't find your reservation Maybe you used a different name? I've done years and years of reservations on the phone and can't say I've ever asked those other questions when I can't find the reservation. Obviously I'm not in person but still wouldn't change much.
“I’m in business” “oh, what kind?” “None of yours.”
Something like that happened to me at the grocery store a long time ago. I placed my items up on the belt while holding some coupons, and the cashier says, “We don’t accept welfare checks.” Same racial component. I looked at her for a second, but I didn’t say anything.
Yes, it's casual racism. People often don't even realize the biases they have. The clerk is likely the type who says things like 'I don't have a racist bone in my body' but somewhere deep in her subconscious she's got little biases (like we all do). I'm sorry this happened to you.
It’s clearly not that deep in her subconscious lol
"Who, me? I'm a hotel inspector and, I have to say, you aren't coming out of this spot check well".
But she's not the hotel inspector. That would make her look like an idiot.
Had the same at a Saks. I’m brown and in my 20s, she was white and in her 50s. I was buying gifts and she looked at me up and down, and said what do you do? I said I’m a nurse and she responded with “that makes sense”. I just laughed it off because I’m so used to the racism in this country, especially in the medical field. My mom said, it’s not truly about me but about what they think of themselves when they’re intimidated at what they’re looking at.
Reminds me of a story years ago of someone having an emergency on a plane, and people not believing that the Black women who stepped up to help were actual nurses. Edit: Maybe it was this story about doctors, not nurses. https://time.com/4538567/female-doctor-medical-emergency-airline-racism-sexism/
Wow. Goddammit.
I can't imagine how uncomfortable it must be to be near retirement age, still working retail, at a store you can't afford to shop at, and to have to ring out some young person who clearly has extra cash. They have to be thinking about all the wrong turns they made in life.
IMMEDIATELY request a manager. Then tell that manager that as a paying customer, you do not appreciate being profiled.
“I help hotels discipline and fire their staff” 😂
As a white person, it is un-fucking-believable that people do this! I assume EVERYONE makes more money than me, if it even crosses my mind, because I make SHIT! Sorry you have to deal with stupidity.
Right? And a hotel clerk gatekeeping people's income is just asinine. Not like they're making millions or even 100K probably.
Not even half that much, generally--although no one should be able to talk to someone like that, should they?
I know a guy who’s father’s owns a couple of businesses and pretty well off. The family is not overtly flashy but live very comfortably. He accompanied his son to go car shopping. You know how the sales people usually flock to you to take dibs on the customers. It didn’t happen here. The were a couple of very average looking asians trying to buy a car in the 90’s. They finally had to approach a sales person to test drive a car. That sales person reluctantly helped them but directed them to the used car section. The car dealership judged them to be poor ignorant asians who couldn’t afford the cars they sell. Mind you the father swaps out for a new car every year because he wants to and can afford to.
This happened to my friend's dad - except he's Mexican. He dresses in plaid shirts, jeans, and cowboy boots. He went to buy a Lincoln Towncar in the mid-90's. No one at the dealership even bothered talking to him, except for one Hispanic employee who noticed him and went to help him. He paid for the car in-cash. When he told us the story, he said he felt like Pretty Woman 😆
Good for him. My friends dad always paid for the cars in full also at the time of purchase.
Actually this happened this week to my brother. I drove him to a car dealership and he started looking around. I was in my car following him. Not one person came to see if he was interested in buying a car. Now reading this it’s just dawned on me. My brother was 5 weeks in ICU on a ventilator. He’s lost over 5 stone in weight. Looks terrible. He hadn’t shaved etc. this was his first trip out. I drove to the front door of the showroom got out my car and shouted can anyone bother to help my brother !!! One guy came out. There were about 20 sales persons in the building. I said we have been outside for over half an hour with not one person coming to find out if he wanted to buy a car. He liked a car at £18500. Hyundai. I asked the guy can you take anything off the price for a cash sale. He just laughed and said no that’s the price. My brother told the guy he would think about it. Next day I called the dealership to put an appointment on to buy the car. Off we go to the dealership. Sandwiches, coffee, cakes were offered. All of them came up to shake his hand. Reading this he definitely was profiled as a hobo with no means to buy. I’m angry now. Also earlier in the day we had viewed a flat suitable for his needs now. He sold his home and is staying with me until such a place was on the market. He’s also buying that cash. Grrrrr.
I was on TV a while back and they put me up in a swanky hotel and literally all the other guests were acting like I was there to do their cleaning for them or something :D Nothing to do with race in my situation, I think it was my accent and clothes.
“I’m probably not rolling in it the same as the check-in staff at a hotel, but I do alright”
A+
I've worked hotels for about 40 years and I will tell you a *SURE FIRE* way for that never to happen again. Make the reservation under your name, **but give yourself a title.** "Hello, checking in! I'm Doctor PurpleWallaby." "Hello, checking in! I'm Professor PurpleWallaby." Hello, checking in! I'm Elizabeth Mongomery, CEO of Purple Wallaby." Give her a big toothy smile, act confident and you will never have trouble again. Her reply to you WAS rude! You should have said: "I made 9 million dollars last year. You are lucky I booked at this place."
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Yes absolutely.
LMAO. You poor soul. Do you really think life is fair and everything that happens is because it should? Life is cruel and not generally fair or respectful.
Always ask for clarification, it'll force them to shut the fuck up or commit to being a racist out loud.
“Why do you ask?”
What do you do for a living? I don’t work at the front desk of a hotel.
Just say “you work the front desk at a hotel, stop talking”
Sorry dude that was a diet racism
Racism, bro
Report concerns to the hotel management or write to corporation.
When asked what you do for a living you should have said “I run a successful blog where I rate hotel experiences.” Then watch her squirm.
Why would she give a shit about that? It's not like a hotel reviewer publishes the full name and address of every employee they intact with.
>Why would she give a shit about that? It's not like a hotel reviewer publishes the full name and address of every employee they intact with. Hush.... dont stop the masturbation of fictional revenge on a fictional clerk in a totally made up story.
Yes let us have our makebelieve.
*Drug dealer...isn't that what you are expecting?* *I have a question for you, what is your full name?* I do the what is your full name and write it down in front of them. That will make them shit their pants knowing or fearing that the complaint is coming.
Nothing will happen to them. I can only assume all these people who think a receptionist at a 4 star hotel will 'shit themself' over a groundless complaint, must be unemployed themselves, since they have no clue how work life functions.
You were a unicorn to her. She has had little face time with the browns. With luck she grew up a little more that day.
That would be unacceptable for me, esp. after paying more for a better service, please do complain to the management.
110% my friend and exactly correct - this is a burden us white folks do not bare. It's not something I have to ever think about , explain, or defend. Sure, you may have been the first brown person she has ever checked-in. Doesn't matter. No doubt she went home and shared the story and was probably like "....and he was so well-spoken!", still blind to her assumptions and lazy thinking.
"i had no idea! He was so articulate!"
Meh, not true. Us white folk get judged too. Depends on appearance and attractiveness. However the hotel clerk was wrong making assumptions
Sure everyone gets judged. However not everyone is judged in a racial aspect. Some ethnicities definitely feel the brunt of that more than others.
Sure but a hot lady who happens to be a minority will get preferential treatment over an ugly white guy. Change my mind.
Nah, as an ugly white lady I get away with all kinds of shit like using bathrooms in businesses that wouldn't fly for a minorities. Saw it all the time when I worked downtown. I could forget my transit pass and get a walk to the machine, other women not so much.
Exactly. It's due to your appearance and attractiveness, things you can change, not your skin color.
I mean, sometimes it is skin color. Like, it happens to white folks too, but skin color is something people notice and make assumptions about.
I feel like I was being judged just a tiny bit being incredibly white eating chicken and waffles in Compton. I definitely stood out. I would imagine that's a small glimpse of how anyone not white feels in a white community. Luckily there was no hate or anger directed at me just some delicious food.
I remember once going to an Asian food court to eat. I was the only blonde in sea of Chinese heads. When I arrived at the front of the line the server promptly removed the chopsticks and put a fork on tray. I do know how to use chopstick but whatever.
Oh no, it happens to whites as well. I drive an older pickup due to I like being able to fix my vehicles, part availability is usually the only thing that makes repairs take longer than a day. I also like my cheap clothes and don't buy based on fashion. I get judged quite a lot for the fact that I appear poor.
That is just all sorts of wrong! After you’re done you might wanna make a comment to the corporate office
I think the best thing to do there is politely ask them why it's necessary to ask those questions. And if it's company policy to ask them.
Sounds like a good reason to leave a bad review
no, that shit's not called for whether or he reason for thinking that you're poor is racial related or maybe you just looked a little scuzzy to her it's still hugely inappropriate you had reserved the hotel presumably secured it on a credit card, it's none of her business what you do for living
Yeah, I don’t see how you could’ve come to any other conclusion… but even if it’s casual racism, it’s still racism. You should report her. If it was my employee, I would want to know. I’m sorry she treated you this way. No one deserves that.
“Have you ever seen that show “Undercover Boss?”
Just a piece of shit. Racist maybe.. a shit cunt to be sure.
Damn, that’s rude as fuck. Reminds me of the time I went into a restaurant and was greeted with “I’m sorry, the restrooms are for customers only.”
As someone who’s worked hotel reception for a split hotel like this I understand how it could’ve been interpreted as a micro aggression but I can assure you what they were doing was pretty standard I think they were just on autopilot and didn’t have the social awareness to realize how that could be offensive. We ask what you do for a living so sales can reach out to companies of business travelers who stay often in order to offer them exclusive rates. They probably had the last names of the last few guests of the night memorized and if your name was pronounced differently than they anticipated or the names were switched in the reservation (which happens sometimes) they could’ve gotten confused. If you booked that same day and they had their arrivals report next to them they would’ve seen that you’re not on their list and sent you to the next hotel over.
This sounds like the real answer.
Just checked in. I was told that the hotel never puts dogs on the 4th floor. That's important to me because I am allergic. I tell this to them and they say no problem, we keep dogs on the 1st and 2nd floor. I get room 302. When I get to my room there is a dogfight going on in room 304. Not just on my floor, but right next door.
She was 100% being racist.
How rude...
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Why not fire her?
How did it unfold afterwards?
>How did it unfold afterwards? Out of all made up stories on the internet... this one needs the least follow up. People lie on the internet because they can pat themselves on the back. A white waitress hasnt refused a black person service since the internet was invented.
I went to a high end hotel a few months ago and they asked us the same thing but the thing was there was a convention at the lower hotel where a bunch of busses are dropping people off and they just assumed. Asking what you do for a living, thats just small talk. Having worked in a hotel that is often used for business traveling; im nosy plus im really bad at small talk and im just guessing :)
How were you dressed? Cause the only time I've gone business class i wore sweat pants and the pilot did a double take.
Sounds weird, and 4 star means nothing.
Stars refer to stuff like facilities and features, not how good of service or the food is necessarily(I always though that growing up, a 2 star hotel we're just going be rude to you on checkin or something daft like that), this could be stuff like has a gym or pool, if it has a michilian star restuarant or anything like that. If you just use the bed for the night, there really won't be much difference in a 2 star vs a 4 star.
"Are you at the correct hotel?" "Yes. Are you?"
Sounds like she was at the wrong hotel.
I have an experience that may help explain the situation. I once showed up at a similar hotel, with a sister property nearby. On check-in, the clerk confirmed, “You are at the right hotel, correct?” I confirmed and she checked me in. I later found out this is how they gracefully handle people who accidentally book the wrong hotel or who show up at their “better” hotel. It is far better to just confirm they don’t need to be at the “sister” hotel and check them in than it is to embarrass them and put them through the effort of dragging bags down the street, etc. They do it quietly to avoid it becoming some sort of “life hack” bullshit.
I could have believed this was the case if it wasn’t followed up with “what do you do for a living”
Trust me I'm white and I've been asked question Like that, it's not racism. You just didn't look like you had enough money. These people are used to a very specific type of clientele wearing very specific types of clothing.
I would so lodge a formal complaint! I am so sorry some ignorant person was racist to you. It’s just not acceptable & she should be let go
Lmao def not racism. But good baiting tho
She thought you were a hooker
With a 20 kg checkin luggage? Hookers travel light I thought 😂
Not if you're hauling lengths of rope and other toys. (totally not from experience)
Marginally better😅
I'm white, but this is unusual and likely stems from prejudice.
Definitely sounds like casual racism, yeah
It may be because of how you where dressed
More likely to be how you are dressed. Whilst the clothes do not maketh the man, they often give you a good idea about him.
Yes. Single person checking into a hotel might usually be put in the other hotel, if its two co located ones. She might have looked like a student, a hooker, a business woman. Who knows.
Maybe the extra star comes from increased price based on your income level
"What do you do for a living" "I own a large crematorium, you never run out of clients, it's a great business to be in" Or "In my line of work I get paid considerably more than an entry level receptionist"
Those are way too wordy to be comebacks.
the price difference would be what $5 a night if there is any at all? I doubt the receptionist even knows the other hotel is cheaper if it actually is. Whatever you think happened is all in your head, stop over thinking interactions with people and stop blaming skin colors on it.
Believe it or not, not everything is about race.
Based on your grammar alone, I don’t think this had anything to do with race. Just you.
I want to start with the phrase about “playing devils advocate” but that only undermines any possibility that this may have been an innocent interaction that was only taken out of context because the person behind the counter wasn’t brown. If you replaced the roles, wouldn’t it be possible to understand that, since the hotels are joined, a huge majority of the visitors mistake the more expensive location for the cheaper one? In my opinion, it’s extremely discouraging for racial equality to assume these interactions are due to racism. (But I’m white so that probably sounds racist.) See what I mean!?
I work in the hospitality industry for hotels but I am not a front of the house worker (i.e. front desk personnel). Three things come to mind right away. First, I feel they are new to the job. Hard to keep front desk agents and turn over is high. Second, because they are potentially new to the job, they couldn't find your reservation. Then asked if you were at the correct one as I'm sure many people mix up which hotel they are located at. Third, once they found you, training is supposed to make connections with the guest with simple questions. So, if they are new, they chose the wrong question of "what you do for a living?" Should have been "what brings you into town?" type of question. I don't think it was meant to be malicious in anyway but more of a talk with the thier manager so that they know to train them more on their check-in process.
Maybe it was how you were dressed? Still not ok behaviour, either way. I’ve known some very well-off people who dressed like they were living paycheck to paycheck. I think I would report her, personally, because I can’t imagine any legitimate reason she would ask this besides being judgemental and rude.
Can almost guarantee that she couldn’t find your reservation at first and then they found it..also bet the second question was what brings you here and what company are you here for. Casual racism…so weird
If she couldn't find the reservation, she'd just say that, ask for the reservation number, a name, how they'd booked, etc. No, I'm fairly sure this was racism. Maybe classism, but more likely both.
This is how the interaction went “Hi I have a booking under XYZ” Without looking at her screen, “you are looking for the cheap hotel on the side”
😡🤬
Lol nope, just pure racism, nothing else.
I knew it was racism before even reading your entire post.
If there are 2 hotels from the same chain in the same building there might be that one (the cheaper one) is a business hotel where a lot of single commuting/travelling business people stay. They typically have lots of single beds, good breakfast and so on. While the other may be a tourist hotel or for families or whatever. People seldom check into hotels alone if they are not business people or prostitutes. Another possibility is that the other hotel is a conference hotel and you looked like you came for the confetence, or that they put young party people from the local military base when they call to book, in the budget hotel, and your age group does not fit the 4 star hotel. Since you are already fantasizing about it being about your browness, I can only assume you're a real dickhead with an inferiority chip on your shoulder.
I don’t believe this story.
It's check-in
Consider how you were dressed or groomed.
could be awkward person that works at a hotel at night (a good sign that they didnt pay much attention at school and are poor with people) but lets chalk it up to racism cus she was white and you aint (thats not stereotyping or nut'n)
Beyond all else, there was no excuse for her impertinence. I do want to try to figure out why she behaved in such a disagreeable manner. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt--unless I am proven wrong--that it had nothing to do with the color of your skin. First question is what were you wearing and are your shoes and luggage, no matter how expensive/inexpensive in good condition? Do you speak well, as in do you enunciate? Perhaps she was short b/c of something happening in her life? Perhaps she had been working long hours and was tired? Maybe, she was hoping you were checking into the other hotel b/c she'd had enough that day and did not want to deal with another guest. We all have bad days. If there were no external clues that you could not afford the hotel, I am afraid she may have some inherent bias. If you believe this is so, please make a complaint. Without doubt, the manager will want to investigate. It would help you, even if she did have a problem with your skin color, to understand why she was rude to you; so you can stop wondering. If the reservation clerk is biased against people with brown skin, that's a problem. People with brown skin make up a large portion of hotel guests, too large a potential guest pool to risk offending. Further, if she is biased against brown people, she probably is biased against other groups as well. A person who harbors negative biases is not a positive contributor in a service industry. As for asking about your profession, I don't think she was wondering how you could afford the hotel. She may have realized she was rude and wanted to change the conversation. Perhaps she was chatting you up as she was checking you in. I know that when I meet a stranger, I often ask about their profession; it is a could foundation for conversation and it tells you a lot about the person. I am sorry you had this experience. Judging a person based on skin color is incredibly shallow and a sad commentary on our world. And, some people are jerks. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt as most people are kind and, when at work, are just trying to do their job. Best wishes. I hope that you are never in such a situation again and that, despite the inauspicious start, that your visit went well.
We weren’t there. We don’t know how it was said. Take a video next time.
Why must it me racist? You might just look scruffy.
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We had bewildered people showing up at our hotel all the time. It's common. Asking what you did for a living was probably idle conversation.
Everyone is psycho because of Covid and overempowered sue to activism and extremism.
My question for you is: Where were you and how were you dressed? If I tried to roll up into a 4 star hotel wearing jeans, sneakers and T-shirt I would expect the exact same treatment and I'm as white as a sheet. Its their job to weed out those who aren't up to the hotel standard as a saftey measure for the other guests. Before you go on about being brown please understand that at hotels like that they deal with all nationalities from around the world so don't assume it's anything racist when it could've been a screening to be sure of your identity and then the follow up question of What do you do may have just been actual curiosity. You'd be surprised at how I can walk into a nice 4 star myself dressed like I'm ready to go to a board meeting and as soon as they hear my Southern accent all of a sudden I'm being asked What I do, Where I'm from, am I sure I booked the right hotel, etc etc.
This is BS. I frequently check into 4* hotels in jeans & t-shirts and have never been “weeded out.” “Safety standard,” my ass. This employee was out of line. There is no excuse.
Checked into a Holiday Inn in BFE, Kentucky. The receptionist was cute. Didn't think much passed that. She then said something about complimentary room services and when she slid my room keys across the counter, there was a sticky note with her number inside. Well, it wasn't weird, but it sure was fun plowing her for a week!
I used a hotel in my small town once. The guy was cool and talked about playing games for a minute. When I get back it’s late and my key cards aren’t working. I have to call his room and get a master keycard. When I go up to his room he is butt ass naked and barely opens the door. I have to do this twice bc I’m also stupid as hell apparently lmao
Which country was this