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Las Vegas' hotel supervisor tells all in Reddit Q & A
An alleged Las Vegas' hotel supervisor, Front_Desk_LV, decided to host an "AMA" (Ask Me Anything) Q&A discussion on the online community site Reddit earlier yesterday afternoon. While some of the questions seem blunt, the answers are shockingly honest.The following questions were posed by members of the Reddit community and answered by the anonymous contributor. You can check the thread over on Reddit for more of the vivacious discussion.
Q: How big is the hotel? Number of rooms? Are your maintenance guys in-house or contracted out? What about the gambling machines? Does the hotel have techs to work on them, or is there an outside company that fixes the machines?
A: Our hotel has around 2,000 rooms. Our maintenance guys are in-house. And, I have no comment on the last question. I am not commenting on anything gaming related. It is just one of those issues you don't f*ck with.
Q: What's the best story you can remember [about] throwing either a person or party out?
A: One of the first few days I was working at my hotel there was a bachelor party in town. They ended up getting a midget stripper for entertainment, which is fine by us. As long as everything is confined to the room and nothing is illegal that we know about, it is okay. About three hours later I see the midget run by the front desk completely naked being chased by four guys. Naturally we threw them out, but I couldn't stop laughing during the eviction process. Sadly, most of the evictions are due to drunk people getting out of control and throwing things off their balconies and then lying to us when we have them on camera. If they just tell us the truth and say it won't happen again we generally let them stay.
Q: What kind of illegal activity do you get?
A: We know prostitution and drug use will happen in the hotel; however, as long as it doesn't disrupt our daily operations or you don't do it right in front of us we don't mind. We are not the moral police. I actually had a guest checking into the hotel and she just reeked of weed. During the check-in process she put her purse up on the counter and I see a bag of weed, around an ounce. I let her know I am unaware of what that flower is but tell her it smells nice. She discretely places her purse in a better spot. She invited me back to the room with her; however, I declined because I love my job, but also because she was gross. More because she was gross.
Q: What professional organization would you perceive as the least professional when conferencing?
A: I am still the low man on the totem pole, so I am not involved in conference calls. I mainly oversee the front desk, bell desk, and valet services. Since I work overnight I am technically the highest authority during overnights; however, I never actually reprimand anyone from a different department; I merely send a message to their boss. Generally, engineering is the least professional in my experience because they have limited engagement with the guests and seem to get away with the most.
Q: I imagine that once the party is over, the rooms can take a beating. What's the weirdest/grossest/best thing you have seen after the guests checked out?
A: When someone decides to trash a room all that happens is we charge them and we charge them a lot of money. Normally it's someone having a fun time in their tub and it overflows because they forget about it, causing damage to not only their room, but multiple.
Q: Have you heard of the "twenty dollar bill trick"? Does it really work?
A: I am assuming you are talking about putting a $20 in between your I.D. and your credit card. It really depends on the front desk agent. Some will take the money and will still give you a crappy room because they are bitter, some will give you a better room, and some would have given you the best room they could have, period. Our hotel doesn't have ANY complimentary upgrades to a better suite, so it's really only higher floors or views/balcony.
Q: Have you ever dealt with or met any celebrities?
A: I have. I have met numerous celebrities and have yet to meet a rude one. They normally have their managers check them in while they wait; however, they are extremely nice to the staff. I have heard horror stories; however, our guests have all been nice. We have a harder time with people who are just important enough to be on our radar; however, think they deserve the world. Like "special" casino guests or a relative of someone important in the company.
Q: Any recommendations for first time Las Vegas travelers?
A: Get here early. If we are oversold on rooms, it is normally the last people who show up who get sent somewhere else. I had someone arrive at 1 AM the other night after driving for ten hours with his wife and kids, only for me to tell him he "cannot stay here and we have made accommodations elsewhere for him". He was livid.
I recommend seeing some shows while you are here. Jersey Boys, Beatles Love Show, Mystère, and Ka, in that order. Hotwire apparently has the best rates; however, if you book directly through the hotel you have a better chance that the hotel can work with you.
Don't see the Michael Jackson show. It was terrible. Terrible.
Q: How fulfilling is living in Vegas socially? I imagine someone who likes variety and new things would find it engaging. Does it offer general recreation or hang outs?
A: Right now I am working overnights and I dislike it. I'm not someone who enjoys going to clubs, but overall I enjoy living in Vegas. The bars have amazing specials all day long to attract locals, it is cheap to live here, and there are no state income taxes. I plan on living here while I potentially earn my Master's Degree in Finance.
To read the unedited version of this interview, click here.
[flickr image via Pocheco ]
A: I am still the low man on the totem pole, so I am not involved in conference calls. I mainly oversee the front desk, bell desk, and valet services. Since I work overnight I am technically the highest authority during overnights; however, I never actually reprimand anyone from a different department; I merely send a message to their boss. Generally, engineering is the least professional in my experience because they have limited engagement with the guests and seem to get away with the most.
Q: I imagine that once the party is over, the rooms can take a beating. What's the weirdest/grossest/best thing you have seen after the guests checked out?
A: When someone decides to trash a room all that happens is we charge them and we charge them a lot of money. Normally it's someone having a fun time in their tub and it overflows because they forget about it, causing damage to not only their room, but multiple.
Q: Have you heard of the "twenty dollar bill trick"? Does it really work?
A: I am assuming you are talking about putting a $20 in between your I.D. and your credit card. It really depends on the front desk agent. Some will take the money and will still give you a crappy room because they are bitter, some will give you a better room, and some would have given you the best room they could have, period. Our hotel doesn't have ANY complimentary upgrades to a better suite, so it's really only higher floors or views/balcony.
Q: Have you ever dealt with or met any celebrities?
A: I have. I have met numerous celebrities and have yet to meet a rude one. They normally have their managers check them in while they wait; however, they are extremely nice to the staff. I have heard horror stories; however, our guests have all been nice. We have a harder time with people who are just important enough to be on our radar; however, think they deserve the world. Like "special" casino guests or a relative of someone important in the company.
Q: Any recommendations for first time Las Vegas travelers?
A: Get here early. If we are oversold on rooms, it is normally the last people who show up who get sent somewhere else. I had someone arrive at 1 AM the other night after driving for ten hours with his wife and kids, only for me to tell him he "cannot stay here and we have made accommodations elsewhere for him". He was livid.
I recommend seeing some shows while you are here. Jersey Boys, Beatles Love Show, Mystère, and Ka, in that order. Hotwire apparently has the best rates; however, if you book directly through the hotel you have a better chance that the hotel can work with you.
Don't see the Michael Jackson show. It was terrible. Terrible.
Q: How fulfilling is living in Vegas socially? I imagine someone who likes variety and new things would find it engaging. Does it offer general recreation or hang outs?
A: Right now I am working overnights and I dislike it. I'm not someone who enjoys going to clubs, but overall I enjoy living in Vegas. The bars have amazing specials all day long to attract locals, it is cheap to live here, and there are no state income taxes. I plan on living here while I potentially earn my Master's Degree in Finance.
To read the unedited version of this interview, click here.
[flickr image via Pocheco ]
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Nightlife
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Layla Feb 26th 2012 3:57PM
What the heck does this have to do with the articile, DUH
michael stinnett Feb 25th 2012 10:27PM
love vegas never had a problem with bad hotels are rude people in the 7 yrs.i've been vacationing there,sometimes stay on the strip,sometimes fremont street,also been known to stay in pahrump and drive to back and fourth to vegas.love the shows,buffets and the atmosphere.when i start planning vacation vegas is my first and only choice.
flib Feb 25th 2012 10:43PM
Sad to read about how the "midget," that is, a smaller than usual HUMAN BEING was used for amusement. Fun, if you can call such callous behavior fun, at the cost of kindness and dignity is, at best, a waste of time. Shame on all the participants.
Really, sometimes the human race does seem hopeless
blah Feb 26th 2012 1:12AM
You blame the men who ordered the midget stripper, but yet dont blame the stripper herself? She is the one who sells herself to the public for enjoyment. You have a twisted sense of right and wrong.
Logan Feb 26th 2012 1:50AM
You're right. Midgets shouldn't be allowed to work as strippers. It's okay for anyone else to choose to make a living like that, but not a midget. How dare they be allowed to make money doing something they may enjoy, as much as a full sized person could enjoy the job. Since they are not "normal" they shouldn't do the same things normal people can do. They shouldn't have sex either, no matter how much they may enjoy it, just because they are different.
Joe Papierz Feb 26th 2012 2:04AM
You are right BLAH. The lady midgett was a "willing" participant and from the short account seems she was invited to drink or whatever with the men in the bachelor party."Doing" parties might be her only source of income.
steve Feb 25th 2012 10:58PM
I was going to go to Vegas but Obama said not to go there and blow money, so I didn't go.
Gary Feb 25th 2012 11:17PM
I think the naked midget being chased by four horny men is hilarious. I would have been on the floor laughing!!!1
KC Feb 25th 2012 11:31PM
I believe question #4 was answered incorrectly in that it appears there were referring to conference attendees...
WHicks Feb 26th 2012 1:32AM
Thank you for catching that....
Tom Feb 26th 2012 1:45AM
In response to the question about repairing machines. Every property has their own in-house slot technicians to repair their games.
And no, they will not and cannot set them up to pay for the locals during the week and not pay for the tourists on the week-end.
Machine payouts can be changed but it is a lengthy process to go through each machine to do so. And if you don't keep track of your machine par's and present them when the GCB asks you are looking at some heavy duty fines and, as usual, the threat of being closed down.
Just isn't worth it to cheat the guests. Come hell or high water the casino is going to make its share of your gaming dollars.
John Feb 26th 2012 2:00AM
There was a time where going to Vegas meant enjoying oneself by not acting like an Idiot.....treating women with respect and dealing with hotel Staff and management who knew you by your name and play without having to ask for a damn card!
Now a days too many immature unsophisticated people ruin it for others by doing some of the most stupid things in and out of the hotel rooms and casinos.
Vegas.....its a fantasy land but that does not mean one has to become an idiot because they cannot handle their alcohol....indulge in drugs as well as treat women with such disrespect! There was a time if you acted like an idiot in Vegas....the desert would be become your hotel room for the night or longer simply because you asked for it!...maybe we should go back to what worked?
chuck Feb 26th 2012 2:10AM
Been to Vegas many times- think it would be cool if someone was to build a casino based on a a 1950's theme. Gangstas and all- have the impostors do their showns, wayne newton could still do his. There could be no end to this 1950's theme. Don't you know the baby boomers would like it and the modern day ganstas!
LDSmormonownlasvegas Feb 26th 2012 9:44AM
LDS mormon church is the owner business in las vegas,
why mormon church do that,
is mormon church love smelling green greediness so much
my4salebox Feb 26th 2012 12:13PM
He didn't answer the question about which professional organization is the least professional during a conference. He answered who on staff is least professional. He misunderstood the question and that is one I had particular interest in reading a good answer.
Oh well.
Victoria Feb 26th 2012 4:01AM
I want to know that if my husband stays at two hotels...paid with cash but the receipt came to our house stating there were 2 guest in the rooms and it was two different hotels...was that a simple mistake or did he have a guest? Husband said it was a mistake. I wanted to believe him but never really did.
Serene Feb 26th 2012 4:10AM
You know what I find funny? The fact you all take for granted the midget was a female..lol. It never said what sex they were , only that they were being chased naked by 4 drunken guys..lol.
PITA Feb 26th 2012 6:29AM
Logan you should not engage in sex either as you ARE different, in fact you should not be allowed out of your cage!!!
PITA Feb 26th 2012 6:35AM
I hope no one takes that article as gospel, as it is riddled with untruths and half truths. First, if this is a front desk supervisior, rest assured they ARE NOT in charge of the hotel during night shift or any other shift, there is ALWAYS a CASINO MGR> who is charge of the entire operation. Further they are all wrong to say the hotel does not care if you are doing drugs etc. You best believe they care, as they have a license to do business and the last thing they want is to have the gaming commission on there backs for such infractions. Their licenses are guarded like FORT KNOX and they are extremely protective of their licenses. That comment is just plain stupid. If one recalls Teddy Binion had to give up his interest in the HORSESHOE because of HIS drug issue so where the devil does this employee get off to make such a ststement. if they worked for me they would be looking for another job ,and I really do not know any key owner who would tolerate such an onus being cast on their hotel I have reside in Las Vegas since 1964 and am VERY familiar with just how our hotels operate. Anothercase that proves my theory that COMMON SENSE IS NOT VERY COMMON!! Come and enjoy our city but mind your behavior or you may find yourself sharing accommodations with O J Simpson!!!
Chrissy Feb 26th 2012 3:31PM
This fool should be fired...laughing during an eviction process? Declining to go to a woman's room with her, not so much because he loves his job or because it's unethical (not to mention disgusting behavior), but because she was "gross?" In other words, had she not been so gross, he'd have gone. Sounds like a wonderful employee.