I believe the hotel employee rotation programs is one of the best innovations in personnel management in the hospitality industry. The Fairmont, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and many other chains have nailed it. Beyond the obvious motivational components for the employee, the other reason is simple. Every hotel location has regional attributes to the work culture. That's cute to observe for the vacationer, but not in the service levels of your hotel staff. Case in point, our recent visit to Hawaii. This was a work related trip for my wife, so we stayed at a conference-style hotel. I though was on vacation, and expected to be relaxed, served and waited. Alas, instead I found the service staff to be relaxed, forgetful and unhurried. Delays in food service, missing gaps in room service, and generally average menus were, as if, expected to be consumed along with a sleepy Aloha smile. Not so, for this writer, who has experienced otherwise on previous trips to Hawaii. My view is pay more per day, stay less number of days - and look for a hotel that makes the stay experience independent of local cultural nuances - and come back with an experience worth remembering for the rest of your life instead.
