Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2008-06-14 12:56:57 - Graham Ellis
As a hotel, we're here to provide a service to our customers ... and that service includes making them feel at "home away from home", perhaps on their first visit to the UK. There are - literally - millions of visitors to the UK from the USA alone. With two senior members of our team originating from the USA, but now living in the UK, we're better placed than most to provide that warm welcome.
Just this morning, I chatted over breakfast with a guest from the USA who's been with us for the week - a working trip for him, from Southern Georgia to visit a business in Wiltshire. Breakfast was served earlier than normal as he had leave in time to catch his return flight from Heathrow, and conversation ranged from the lovely old villages such as Lacock [pictured, left] where he was taken last night by the business he was visiting, through to whether he should bring his wife next time (he would like to now that he's seen teh country!) and to Pennsylvania - where he originated from, and my wife Lisa went to High School.
So it's not only about making visitors feel at home - it's about all those little extras too. Mayo for a sandwich. Talk of Condiments rather that sauces. Having adaptors to hand for electrical equipment. TVs that deliver not only the UK channels but also a wide range of others that include news of the USA. Rooms that have minifridges, internet access and superking beds even when let as singles. And accepting payment by American Express as well as Visa and Mastercard.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in "virtually every location you can think of" but American Express is "not as widely accepted in the UK" - source Stick it on the card and personal experience too. However, Amercian Express is a very popular business card - especially for visitors from the USA, and that's our business ... so, yes, we accept Amex alongside the other cards.
As a hotel, we're here to provide a service to our customers ... and that service includes making them feel at "home away from home", perhaps on their first visit to the UK. There are - literally - millions of visitors to the UK from the USA alone. With two senior members of our team originating from the USA, but now living in the UK, we're better placed than most to provide that warm welcome.
Just this morning, I chatted over breakfast with a guest from the USA who's been with us for the week - a working trip for him, from Southern Georgia to visit a business in Wiltshire. Breakfast was served earlier than normal as he had leave in time to catch his return flight from Heathrow, and conversation ranged from the lovely old villages such as Lacock [pictured, left] where he was taken last night by the business he was visiting, through to whether he should bring his wife next time (he would like to now that he's seen teh country!) and to Pennsylvania - where he originated from, and my wife Lisa went to High School.