I Have Syphilis - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
Those were the first words from a young flight attendant in a hotel room as soon as we had exchanged greetings.
Opinion Articles
A Model for Hotels to Hospitals (H2H ©) During an Unprecedented Era
During the early months of 2020, once it was apparent that the novel coronavirus (COVID19) was a global pandemic, people everywhere started to think of creative solutions to help ease the problems of the virus. One solution was to convert hotels into hospitals (H2H ©) and into housing for healthcare workers. With the virus halting travel, many hotels were left close to vacant. On top of that, many healthcare professionals were worried about traveling back and forth between work and home, at the risk of infecting their household.
By Fred DeMicco, Executive Director (2019-2024), Full Professor in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, the W.A. Franke College of Business, Northern Arizona University
I Prefer Vomiting and Diarrhea - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
Two women at the Holiday Inn were ill. The mother suffered low abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea. It seemed like the usual stomach flu. I assured her that it wouldn't last long and gave medication.
Long Time No See - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
"Hey, Doctor! It's been a while." I love it when parking valets recognize me. That was the good news. The 'it's been a while' was not so good.
The Reopening of Las Vegas Casinos During the COVID-10 Pandemic
On March 17, 2020, Nevada's Governor Steve Sisolak ordered the closure of Nevada's non-essential businesses and urged residents to implement social-distancing measures to reduce spreading COVID-19. Governor Sisolak authorized certain businesses, including restaurants, barbershops, hair salons, and most retail businesses, to reopen with limitations beginning May 9, 2020, and Nevada began its emergence from the pandemic shutdown. Nevada's casinos were allowed to reopen on June 4, 2020, with restrictions. While the pandemic is far from over, this article examines some of the differences observed in casinos in the Las Vegas market since reopening and what has been learned thus far.
By Shannon Okada, Managing Director of Gaming with HVS, HVS
Ever Hopeful - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
Years ago, I shared a Four Seasons elevator with Robert Duvall. He was reading a script, and I pretended not to notice.
Another Summer - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
A wave of heat poured out of the guest's room as he opened the door.
A Dog-Eat-Dog Business - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
Waiting at the local carwash, my eye ran over a sheet of ads along one wall. Among notices for personal injury lawyers, pest control, acupuncturists, and pizzas was a photo of a smiling young man in a white coat carrying a doctor's bag. According to the text, a phone call would bring him to your door at a fee less than an emergency room's. All ads for housecalls deliver this cheerful boast, never mentioning that the average ER visit, as of 2017, cost $1400.
Hotel Management Agreements - Creating a Win Win Relationship
As a wave of uncertainty overtakes consumer sentiment, investors are using this time to pause and reflect on their assets. Some hotel Owners have concluded that there are areas of improvement at their hotels that would help in maintaining the asset's value through these troublous times. One course of action is the review and revision of the contracts or agreements that impact their hotel's operations, and they are wise to do so. Most notably, the Hotel Management Agreement (HMA) is at the top of our clients' reading list.
Things Hotel Guests Ask That I Can’t - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
More than once I'm called when a guest suffers a tragic loss such as the death of a child or spouse. Distressed to witness the misery, family members want me to put her to sleep.
Another Stoic - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
"She thinks her drink was spiked," explained the caller whose friend was bent over the toilet, vomiting. I explained that alcohol is a toxic drug and occasionally provokes this reaction. Common stomach viruses cause most vomiting. Did her friend want me to come?
Survey Results: How Hotels Are Coping With COVID-19
The results are in from two Cendyn surveys polling hoteliers across the globe on how they are coping with the effects of COVID-19. Gauge the industry pulse and read first-hand accounts of how hoteliers are dealing with the coronavirus on both an individual level and as an operation.
A Special Service - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
"Someone needs to check my nephew. He's shaking and really upset. How quick can you be here?" The child was in good health before a fire alarm roused everyone from bed at midnight. He seemed frightened, perhaps more than usual. I had no doubt that he would recover, but that was hard to communicate.
Cheap Motels are Easy - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
Cheap motels have many advantages from a hotel doctor's point of view. Valets are absent, so I can park inside and safely ignore the threatening signs. Security is absent, so I don't have to explain myself to the front desk, and elevators respond when I push a button.
Lost in Translation Again - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
"Speak Spanish?" Two of my least favorite words. Ninety percent of Latin American guests speak enough English to get along, and Hispanic hotel staff are usually available. Unfortunately, this visit occurred at a small Super 8, and the single employee on duty was American.
Almost Stiffed - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
"The guest is a servant," reported the desk clerk as I passed to visit a luxury suite rented by guests from the Middle-East. "The hotel will not be able to cover the fee."
More Worry - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
A worried mother phoned, asking me to see her two-year-old with a fever.
The Curve Has Flattened; What Does the “Interim Normal” Mean for Hotel Operations?
Though the arc of people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 is going up as more individuals are tested, the curve of the average daily death toll appears to have flattened. This indicates that the act of social distancing will keep our ICU capacity from being overwhelmed as it was in Hunan and Italy. We can only hope.
By Karen Johnson, MAI, CRE, ISHC, President, Pinnacle Advisory Group
A Difficult Boy Friend - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
A young man stood blocking the door. "I want to see your license," he said. I showed him. He examined it suspiciously and didn't move.
Insect Bites - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
A caller had been suffering an itchy rash for a week. Three companions were also affected. That sounded good. When more than one person has a medical problem, it's the same problem and not serious.