Where have the in house guides gone?
Apr 19, 2019, 10:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 13
Where have the in house guides gone?
I have recently been staying at some hotels which are more up-market than the usual - a couple of Curios and I'm now at the Wynn. All of these have one thing in common: no in-room hotel guide. Apparently if I want to find out what facilities the hotel has I am supposed to ask someone. I am somewhat hard-of-hearing and I'm not very attuned to the American accent especially when spoken rapidly. So I end up wandering around for hours trying to find things. The result is a lot of stress. Is this common or have I just been unlucky?
Apr 19, 2019, 2:39 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
I've noticed that as well lately. Some do have similar info on their TV hotel info channel, but many do not. At some larger properties it's annoying not to have it. And comes of as penny-pinching by the hotel.
Apr 19, 2019, 3:08 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Concierge, front desk, other hotel staff, Device such as iPad, online, TV dedicated info channel.
Nicely printed brochures are simply disappearing because they are expensive and everytime something changes, need to be reprinted and swapped out.
Nicely printed brochures are simply disappearing because they are expensive and everytime something changes, need to be reprinted and swapped out.
Apr 19, 2019, 11:45 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 107
Most hotels have all that information on the TV screen now. If not, then there's usually an app to install as a mobile concierge. If not, then yes, it's incredibly annoying. There should be an easy way to somehow find out what's in the hotel, where it is and what time it opens/closes. A generic welcome letter would cover that and could be easily updated daily if needed.
Apr 20, 2019, 5:27 am
#9
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
The absence of in-house guides is something I appreciate. Too often work space is cluttered with them, magazines and useless promotional items. What is frustrating particularly on a long stay is moving the lot off the desk and out of the way only to find housekeeping has put the items back in their original place.
Apr 20, 2019, 8:00 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,476
Flick through the guide for what you want (eg what time does the airport shuttle start running) : 20 seconds.
Find it through the TV "guide", interlaced with ads : 10 minutes.
You also can't search through the TV version while in the bathroom
Find it through the TV "guide", interlaced with ads : 10 minutes.
You also can't search through the TV version while in the bathroom
Apr 20, 2019, 8:11 am
#11
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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When you skim through the guide, you sometimes find useful information that you wouldn't have found on the iPad etc. because you didn't know to look for it. For instance, there can be some surprise facility or feature that you like but weren't expecting. A few examples include a guided cactus garden walk, a boat ride on the lake, a tiny museum within the hotel, a viewing deck on the roof, a good restaurant that I hadn't realized was part of the hotel, free shoe shine service, free pressing service, afternoon tea with special music, a wine cellar tour, champagne saboring (StR), happy hour in the lobby,.....
Apr 20, 2019, 9:20 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
I have recently been staying at some hotels which are more up-market than the usual - a couple of Curios and I'm now at the Wynn. All of these have one thing in common: no in-room hotel guide. Apparently if I want to find out what facilities the hotel has I am supposed to ask someone. I am somewhat hard-of-hearing and I'm not very attuned to the American accent especially when spoken rapidly. So I end up wandering around for hours trying to find things. The result is a lot of stress. Is this common or have I just been unlucky?
So if you are Wynn, they do not want you to see daylight...stay indoors with them.
Apr 21, 2019, 10:23 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 107
And don't get me started on the 'luxury' housekeeping who remove the hand soap and plastic shower cap that I've used only once but don't replace them.
Apr 22, 2019, 12:03 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
Am I the only geek who loves reading the in room guide. I love seeing how they make boring stuff sound so exciting.
Just stayed somewhere where it was $8 to have room service delivered. Highway robbery!! It wasn't even a mega fancy hotel.
Just stayed somewhere where it was $8 to have room service delivered. Highway robbery!! It wasn't even a mega fancy hotel.
Apr 22, 2019, 3:40 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883