Firm, but not crazy-firm

October 2, 2016 10:32 PM

Like a detective analyzing a crime scene for potential clues, Ann travels the world at the behest of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (S.L.H.), poking and prodding her way around hotel rooms, spas, restaurants, and lobbies, and reporting back on everything from how many times a staff member smiles and makes eye contact during an interaction to optimum bed bounciness.
posted by Chrysostom (8 comments total)

A piece to read along with the one about the NYT restaurant reviewer. I think it's interesting that Ann is a part-time inspector, just checking out hotels while on vacation from her real job. I wonder how I can get a gig like that?

SLH is a fantastic brand, btw, it's one I seek out when traveling. It's a strange sort of marketing association, independent small hotels banded together mostly out of a shared level of quality and service. But I've yet to be disappointed in an SLH and most have been excellent. Leading Hotels of the World is another brand in the same category we've done well by. Relais & Chateaux has been a bit more hit-or-miss for us.
posted by Nelson at 1:09 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

Oh my god. Please don't let that woman ever come to my house!
posted by HuronBob at 3:09 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

OMG how do I get this gig?

SLH, please see my TripAdvisor review of the Omni Bedford Springs and note my extreme ire over their choice of piped-in music! Call me!
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:18 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

My dad used to be a general manager at a few different hotels, and occasionally he'd have "manager on duty" weekends where he'd have to check in under an assumed name at a different hotel for the same chain, and basically just make sure that the whole machine was running as it was supposed to.

Sometimes the rest of the family got brought along, too, which could be either boring or fun for us kids, depending on the amenities available.
posted by DoctorFedora at 6:19 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

Note #42 - Waterslide segment joints in need of caulking. Innertubes flaccid.
posted by benzenedream at 9:54 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

"Ice Machine plays mournful, unearthly dirge at 03:00: possibly cursèd/in need of maintenance. Needs improvement/exorcism."
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 10:31 AM on October 3, 2016 [5 favorites]

A friend of mine had this gig for a while in Las Vegas; it was nit-picky work (he had elaborate checklists of stuff to record) but with the nice perk of staying and eating at all the fancy places. He had firm opinions on which were the best places in town for all manner of criteria.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:00 PM on October 3, 2016

I want this job too. I'm retiring in a couple of years and would like to do some traveling.
posted by mareli at 7:21 AM on October 4, 2016