WOULD YOU GIVE ROOMS AND BREAKFAST TO A SHAGGY MUSICIAN AND HIS FRIENDS WHO PROMISES TO PAY YOU TOMORROW?
Summoned to the Front Desk to interview a small group of four potential guests with no credit cards or enough cash for the room, I sat down and went through the usual procedure and discovered they did not officially fit the criteria and did not warrant the risk. The simple answer would have been "Sorry Sir, our policy is clear and we can not give you and your group the rooms".He assured me that they had a 'gig' that night and we would be paid tomorrow.
Having always believed that one should treat others in a way that one would like to be treated, I changed the rule and gave the group two rooms and the hotel was paid as promised. The group returned under the same terms on several occasions and they never failed to drop in to see me and pay their respects.
In the very small world that we live, I was later charged with the responsibility of developing a series of destination complexes of hotels, theatres, spas for which Cirque du Soleil was reinventing hospitalty. Coincidentally the plan involved a partnership between Cirque du Soleil and my 'shaggy musician' friends, the Beatles. And while I never had the opportunity to remind Paul or Ringo of our past dealings, I feel comfortable that they were as good a bet in those days as they are today!
We never did manage to conclude the London project for Cirque du Soleil but the partnership lasted and today their show "Love" is playing to packed houses in Las Vegas.
The Hotel .......... The Mitre Hotel, Oxford
About................1961
The moral of the story.............
- Policy is there to be broken.
- Do as you would be done by.
- Go with your gut. People are good at heart.
Even if your guest's appearance does not fit the norm, take another look. You may be looking at history in the making!!
Recent Comments