https://visitkythera.com/ Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

And a variation on a winning theme here with the lesson today. Hotelidos and don’ts at your service.

With a tale to illustrate good service of a loved-up septuagenarian couple, a distracted receptionist and a Basil Fawlty hotelier.

Now swipe keys ought to have made our lives easier but the inventor obviously didn’t factor in amorous pensioners.

On this occasion at the Intercontinental Athenaeum it happened not to be my fault that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And no neither me nor the Scary One were the amorous pensioners (how very dare you).

Knock three times

Spoiled and ruined at the Acropolis in Athens

I was in a rush, it’s true, to see the Acropolis in the two hours’ window I had in our group itinerary.

Although how long my new hotel friends had wasn’t clear… ‘Demetrius’ did look well relaxed in his gown and easy chair.

When his partner opened the door on a Bandanaman Scotsman.

This is the point when in true journalist traditions I should have made my excuses and left.

But ‘Maria’ invited me in!

We’ll skip over what happened next, but seriously, I politely turned down the request and headed for reception.

The hotel manager

Where the hotel manager was waiting to give out to the stressed young woman whom I really should have taken a bullet for.

His attention to my embarrassment didn’t stop there, of course, and when I got to my room the phone rang and he apologised profusely again for his receptionist.

And he asked me if I would take a basket of goodies as recompense.

And a porter turned up minutes later with two bottles of wine and fruit and figs and haloumi (well, it is Greece).

All of which, of course, as you can see left its mark and I’m recommending the hotel to this day.

I didn’t dare to ask what happened to the receptionist, just in case he told me.

While the wine I had to give up at customs when we flew to Kythera, off Greece.

And now the survey

Olympic James: Olympic Airlines to Kythera

A new study revealed that guest satisfaction has declined in virtually all hotel segments, from
economy to luxury compared to 2021.

According to the J.D. Power’s 2022 Guest Satisfaction Study, the single biggest factor driving a decline in overall satisfaction is hotel cost and fees.

And that that indicates that hotel guests are feeling like they are paying more, but not getting more in return.

Cloudbeds, the hospitality management platform powering more reservations and happier guests for lodging businesses
around the globe, recently released a new book.

Titled, More Reservations, Happier Guests: The Ultimate Guide for the Modern Hotelier, it could as easily be called… Hotelidos and don’ts at your service.

The bullet points

1. Start with the essentials: Every guest wants an efficient check-in, a clean, comfortable room, and a pleasant, frictionless stay.

One study found that if there is more than a five minute wait at check-in, guests’ satisfaction score can drop by 50%.

2. Set expectations: It is always useful to send a pre-arrival email or text to invite guests to start planning their stay.

And include important information such as safety protocols or changes to services.

3. Wow the guests: Turn a good stay into an unforgettable one. This can be done by offering a complimentary upgrade, a welcome amenity, or other thoughtful,
personalised touches.

4. Offer digital service: Enable communications on digital channels such as text messaging, webchat, messaging apps, social media, or a chatbot.

5. Monitor guest feedback: Hoteliers can benefit by investing in a reputation management tool to track online reviews,

6. Ask for feedback: It is always a good idea to send a post-stay survey to guests a few days after their check-out which could include an invitation to share feedback on Tripadvisor or Google.

7. Master the art of service recovery: A survey in 2019 found that 42% of guests will actually return to a hotel if they are able to turn their experience positive by solving any issue immediately. And in my experience, it’s welcome, even when in dramatic Greek fashion.

8. Check in with guests during their stay: Hoteliers should send a quick text or short email survey to guests just after arrival or halfway through the stay to see how things are going.

9. Benchmark performance: It is useful to set survey and review objectives by department, along with timelines for achieving them.

10. Respond: It is important to mention that responding promptly to reviews and surveys – positive, negative, and mixed can benefit businesses.

At your service

And so maybe one more for our hoteliers than our guests.

But it does provide an insight into what we are looking for.

Hotelidos and don’ts at your service. If you will.

Even for the most experienced traveller these past two years have compounded our Holidanxieties and Don’ts.

But fear not help is at hand.

Both here in your series at Holidos and Don’ts and through the experts at ParkSleepFly.

And they have only enlisted the help of psychologist Lee Chambers to help relieve your stress with these five tips.

All of which I’ll put my own spin on and lessons, all at my own expense.

Prepare a distraction

Lee recommends mindfulness and breathing exercises.

And he adds: ‘It can be useful to utilise healthy distractions.

‘Especially things that help you get into the flow, whether it be games, music or creative activities.’

And, of course, your mobile phone playlist can be your friend.

Although you’ll need to ensure that you’re plugged in so as not to wear out your charge which may have your ticket on.

Seek out too chill rooms, sleep pods and chapels.

And if you’re in Kythera airport, off the coast of Athens, then read the poetry from the books on the hooks by the seats.

Fly safe

Now everyone’s flight experiences are different.

And there’s no doubt a difficult trip can make anyone become a nervous flier.

Lee again: ‘Positive, realistic thoughts can also help, perhaps think of the hundreds of safe flights that take off and land every minute, and believe in the fact that you can handle your nerves with techniques and support.’

Sometimes even airplane fans can be brought down by nervous flyers.

And the Californian who was sick in, and passed me her sick bag, and bug was a case in point.

Not that that put me off my own flight as the queasiness didn’t kick in until later.

And that was in large part because of the services of the…

Flight attendants

The steward on that Aer Lingus flight to Los Angeles mopped up that particular messy moment.

A true angel in the clouds generously relocated me to another seat on my suggestion to give the lady more room.

And attending to her throughout the flight and giving her a wheelchair and first aid on arrival in LA.

‘Sharing your feelings with those you are sitting near or staff can feel a little scary, but it ensures you have support on hand.’ says Lee.

Go with the flow

Expect the unexpected and be prepared to respond and you will surprise yourself.

And allay your Holidanxieties and Don’ts.

Over to Lee: ‘We all know the feeling of the stress when going on holiday, before finally arriving and just letting it flow away.

‘It is often a disruption to our routine, and knowing this can help us to feel less stressed about the unknown.’

And remember worse things happen at sea!

Keep your eye on the goal

Be guided by those who have an adventure in them.

Like Bilbo Baggins… ‘Not all those who wander are lost’.

And our friends at ParkSleepFly advise that we keep our eye on the goal.

Not everything works out the way we envisage but often it does in the end.

And if you have missed your through flight in Munich for Athens.

And you fear you’ve lost the opportunity to see the Acropolis take counsel.

Chances are you’ll find time on your way back from Kythera to see Acropolis Later.

So the last words to Lee: ‘If you do start to get anxious about your holiday going ahead, seek calming activities, and visualise yourself enjoying your break.

‘And finally, have some compassion for yourself, it’s been a very challenging two years and the reward of travelling is something we should cherish.’

Hope then that allays your Holidanxieties and Don’ts.