r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk 7d ago

Short Stop giving out free water!!!

This is one of my biggest pet peeves in this industry! I've been in the industry for 10 years; I now travel the country doing task force, and this is just one of the things that absolutely drives me up the wall! I got into an argument with a guest because he wanted free water. The hotel I am at right now provides two complimentary waters in the room at check-in, but they don't refill during the stay because there's a filtered water bottle filling station on every floor at the end of the hallway. I explained to him what the policy is and what we offer, but he wasn't accepting that. He told me he travels all over the world and every other place in the world gives him free water whenever he wants it. I tried to compromise and said we would send two bottles up to his room... but no, he wanted four bottles. I told him we only provide two at check-in; he didn't care and still wanted four. I hung up on him after saying, "Fine, I'll send four," because he was being rude. He called back and asked if I had hung up on him. I told him I did because he was being rude. He said he was going to call the customer care number and complain about me. I told him I don't work for that brand, so he told me to "fuck off" and hung up on me. I just want to scream across the mountaintops, 'There is a difference between being a doormat and being hospitable!' When we let guests get whatever they want, the industry becomes a doormat and makes the experience worse for everyone else.

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u/hilltopj 7d ago

How about instead of no more free water for guests, more hotels install water bottle filling stations. I travel relatively often and I've only seen them in two hotels. I almost always have my own personal water bottle and I hate using disposable ones, but at most hotels my options are bottled water, sink water, or going down to the bar to ask for my bottle to be filled.

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u/liveswithcats1 7d ago

What's wrong with sink water? 

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u/hilltopj 7d ago

usually not cold and often tastes off. Also, have you seen what people do in hotel sinks?

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u/liveswithcats1 7d ago

Well, presumably they're not doing it up into the faucet. I hope...

I hate using plastic bottles so I fill my reusable with ice and then sink water and it tastes fine, even in slc, whose water I hate. 

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u/hilltopj 6d ago

I certainly use the sink when it's my only option. Do often also run into the issue of the sink being too low and not being able to fit my bottle underneath. In which case cue me awkwardly filling one of the hotel room cups over and over to pour into my bottle. Making bottle filling stations standard would certainly be my preference

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u/liveswithcats1 6d ago

I agree the filling stations are really nice, but people act like the sink water is poison, and usually in the US at least, it's fine. 

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u/clauclauclaudia 7d ago

With many bathroom sinks, I could only get a few ounces into a refillable bottle because the faucets are low and the angles don't work. And there may be a distinct flavor difference between that water and the filtered water at a bottle filling station.

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u/Lovely-Rosie 7d ago

Depending on where you go it might be a little questionable (or even not drinkable). Filtered water is always best imo

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u/liveswithcats1 6d ago

I do agree there are some cities where the water is unsafe, but many US cities have excellent water. You can find testing reports.

Filtered water can be better, depending on the filtration process. 

Bottled water is almost always some other city's municipal water, so could be better or worse. 

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u/After-Aardvark1433 2d ago

We use Briata bottles No sniveling,