There's a hotel in Hyderabad where several people always recognise me. Their customer service levels are outstanding, and I often wonder if they have some kind of procedure to look at guests arriving and try and remember some faces.

I do think this is partly down to the remarkably sociable nature of the people they employ, but perhaps also down to being one of very few non-Indians who stayed there just after the place opened. Perhaps I just look odd, or perhaps it's my overenthusiasm for local food, or the long chats about food, travel and everything...

I did also spend a couple of years travelling to Amsterdam maybe 2 weeks out of 3, always staying at the same place, where they knew me well - and were incredibly welcoming. At one point, I was quite ill and couldn't travel, so they got quite concerned and asked colleagues about me - sent over a 'get well soon' card, which was rather touching.

Every time I fly into DCA I stay at the same location. I've always gotten the "Welcome back Mr. f0xx"

I guess it all depends on how much you interact with the front desk and if you're that kind of person that has the personality that stands out to people.

I to have had the welcome back at the JW Marriott in BKK. I also have gotten the welcome back at the Park Hyatt at FRU. I got it at a Marriott in PHL, but I was staying every week there for a few months.

I've found that desk agents at many Marriott family hotels are trained to say, "Welcome back, Mr. Bimmer" without regard to whether I've ever stayed at that particular hotel before. I interrupted the first time or two that happened and asked why they thought I was a repeat guest when in fact it was my first time ever at the property. They explained it was their training and meant only that I was welcome back to the Marriott family of hotels.

I think the only time I have ever been genuinely recognized as a repeat hotel customer was at the JW Marriott Shenzhen. I stayed there for a week during their first month or two of operation and then returned several more times during the following 18 months. Even so, it was never a front desk employee who recognized and greeted me; it would be someone like the baggage porter whose assistance I very politely declined to accept.

We have had staff (specifically restaurant staff) recognize us, which is sort of interesting since the woman that mans the egg station at Caneel Bay likely wouldn't see our guest profile in the reservation system. She always remembered my husband and the specific way he wanted his eggs cooked.

At our most recent stay in Philadelphia (at the Sofitel) the waiter greeted our son with a "Nice to see you again. Do you still like hot chocolate with extra whipped cream?" It blew his mind that the man remembered him and what he liked at breakfast.

Certainly the technology exists. I've had FD clerks at Hamptons welcome me back after a single visit a couple of years prior.

While the front desk clerks never did, the bartender at the Sheraton in Milpitas, CA always recognized me immediately and would always give me a rundown of the newest beers. Granted, I stayed there a few days every month for 5 or 6 years, but it's still impressive that the most important person in the hotel would call me by name and remember my drinking proclivities.

There really doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason as to who remembers you and who does not.

Some places where the front desk remember me every time I arrive to check in include the Shangri-La in the Beijing Kerry Centre and the Hyatt in Santa Clara.

Other places that I use almost monthly who seemingly refuse to recognize me include places like the Singapore Hyatt and the Austin Hyatt.

I don't know why, but it is always nicer to be treated like a real human once in a while rather than a burden (cough, Singapore).

The old timers at the Double Tree San Antonio (Loop 410) remember me, greet me by name as I walk up to the counter.

I used to run 6 week long conferences a year there.

When I worked in Las Vegas, this was a regular occurrence.

We had one guest in for the weekend with his mistress. The next weekend, in with his wife. Rinse and Repeat, a few times each year.

It was, "Mr. & Mrs. ____! So good to see you again. It's been sooooo looong!"

lol.

The Hilton Garden Inn south Dayton certainly remembers me. A few other hotels have too. The Hyatt near MCI also remembered me well.

My dad stayed at the same hotel every week for about a year (Courtyard). They always welcomed him by name and gave him the same room. As for me, there is a concierge at a hotel in Chicago (Park Hyatt) that always welcomes me back. I see things like this happen a lot more at restaurants than hotels, though.

See, that's the thing-- The technology certainly exists but few if any hotels seem to employ it!

I would expect that, among other information displayed on the FD clerk's screen when I check in, would be a list of my past stays at that hotel. Then I'd get greetings like, "Welcome back, Mr. Bimmer. We appreciate your return business. Would you like a room on the 11th floor overlooking the lake like last time?"

But instead I get lame, perfunctory "Welcome back" greetings even at hotels I'm visiting for the first time ever.