Millennials

[Inna22]

Now that Millennials are 22-40 years old, they make up the bulk of my guests and I am yet to master how adjust my hosting style to their needs.

Messaging style

You cannot just answer the question asked, no matter how simple. It cannot be “where do I park?” Answer “in the garage, instructions are in the welcome message, please look through”. That would be rude. I first must start by appreciating them, followed by appreciating them reaching out. I then must apologize for not making it clear enough that parking is in the garage. If it did not make sense to them, it must have been a very poor architectural decision or I did not do enough to make it clear. I also need to explain how I will make things better in the future so others do not have to go through the same ordeal. I should technically also offer to park the car for them but this is just a gesture and they would of course say no and I must remember how generous they were in doing that.

Reuse and recycle

They would take the time to rip out the plastic window from an envelope to properly recycle it but they would throw a towel in the trash after a smudge of makeup gets on it. It would not even cross their mind that I may try to salvage it.

Communication

It is all about them. If something is not how they expect it or to their liking, they will read every word of what I wrote, advocate for themselves and demand what they feel is right. Otherwise, it is my job to make sure they have what they need. They need a door code and it is my job to make sure they have it. They will not read a message I sent them, particularly if it is more than one paragraph.  If I did not make sure they got it, it is on me to be available when they do decide they are ready for it- by phone, in person or whatever other way is convenient for them

Technology

I now rarely have to deal with guests who cannot log on to Wi-Fi, cannot figure out the TV or automated door lock. Plunge the toilet? No can do. Manual labor. Hard no.

I hope I did not offend any millennials here with this post. If I did, please get in line behind my millennial guests for your apology. You can use the garage to park while you wait. If you need to use the bathroom, plunger is behind the toilet and please put all used towels on the floor even if you think they are trash.

[Robin4]

@Jessica-and-Henry0 

Jess, I still have a VHS player around here somewhere with a few tapes.

But delving into the past, have you seen one of these.......

It's a Harmon Kardon record turntable and it connects to a NAD amplifier and a pair of speakers as per....

The sound that comes out of this connected to those Bowers and Wilkins speakers is, to my way of thinking better than current digital equipment.

And I do still have a reasonable record collection. Quite often I will put on a record and it does take me back to the 60s-70s! 

I even have a small Casio hand held TV which was a novelty back in the 80s before mobile phones developed video technology after the start of the Millennial age!

My Man-cave is an Alladins cave of old technology that the kids are going to have to deal with one day!

Cheers.........Rob

[Ann72]

Why is Liz Lemon on the cover of that record?

[Robin4]

@Ann72 

I don't deal in the fictional here Ann, that is no Liz Lemon.....or Tina Fey?

I thought you would immediately pick that Ann.....it's Nana Mouskouri!

Cheers........Rob

[Ann72]

@Robin4  Just wanted to make you laugh at my initial reaction - saw the truth after the double-take 🙂

[Robin4]

@Ann72 

Make me laugh, well you did, and you didn't.....I had no idea who Liz Lemon was! But I have to admit now I know, you did pick particularly well....they do have a striking resemblance.

No doubt about it, you are a goldmine of trivia, aren't you Ann ;-)) 

Cheers.......Rob

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Robin4 

I remember seeing something similar at my maternal grandparents' home when I was in high school 😆

[Ann72]

@Fred13  When you tell us stories of your gruff and successful hosting, we're all singing "I Want You to Show Me the Way" in our heads.  😂😂😂

[Melodie-And-John0]

Fred's the tip of the arrowhead for sure @Ann72, Im pretty sure "he's shown the way" (maybe not as many as Frampton but close) successfully to many folks in his years.   

[Fred13]

Of course I like to kid.. Everyone does have a story and now I see people as on the same journey as I, and wanting foremost the same things - peace & happiness above anything else. 

[Ann72]

@Fred13  I was more intent on making a Peter Frampton reference...But I am 100% sure those young people fall for you like crazy during the tour.  They’re probably happy not to be coddled for the first time on their lives!

[Debra300]

Earlier today, I received a reservation on Booking for a month-long stay in one of the studios at the guesthouse from a Londoner.  This is the message that the person sent with the reservation,

"I will pay for accommodation while there l will be with u 16th January 2021 it says u don’t charge the card as l put my information to hold me room ONLY hold my place NOT charge u will get it whistle am there could block it if used a lot in the same week am fro
Over seas a woman traveler so l definitely need this space"

It has become much more common to receive messages that use informal and poor grammar that also reveal the guest didn't read.  We absolutely take a prepayment, and it's written on the listing website and stated in the guest's booking confirmation.  I am not even sure if I will keep the reservation, because I am still waiting for a response for her to provide verifiable proof that she doesn't have a quarantine requirement (Sigh, this is a highly publicized government requirement that all visitors must either stay at a government certified hotel/villa if they've not completed a 14-day quarantine or already been in the Caribbean Travel Bubble for at least 21 days prior to check-in).

@Inna22 @Ann72 @Sarah977 @Cathie19 @Robin4 @Melodie-And-John0 @Fred13 @J-Renato0 @Emilia42 @Ute42 @Jessica-and-Henry0 @Lawrene0 

[Fred13]

Hi @Debra300 . If I ever get a message like that, I know for a fact they wouldn't be staying at my place; especially asking for a long stay to boot, which we do not offer just not to be stuck with some fringe lunatic. Who talks that way in the real world and could function effectively?

[Mark116]

@Debra300  Wow.  I don't think I would want such a person at my listing, that message is nearly unintelligible, and I guess its nice they are up front that the card charge may not go through.....LOlL. 

[Debra300]

@Fred13, @Mark116 

I am not surprised or put off by the directness in the message, because many people write exactly what they're thinking without including any pleasantries.  However, it's unfortunate that due to the prevalence of communicating on social media that people are failing to properly identify their audiences, and know when it's appropriate to use casual social media vernacular vs. a grammatically proper business tone. 

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Debra300 

I sooo~ know what you mean about appropriateness of communication tone/style depending on one's audience.

I work as a Korean-English interpreter and you won't believe how often I have to pull people (who have spent time abroad and therefore pride themselves on their fluent English) aside to remind them about TPO and that it's NOT appropriate (and IMO extremely rude) to address people you have JUST been introduced to at a work meeting as "dude" or "yo~ man" (we are not at a bar or a frat party) and that the frequency of one sarcastically saying "whatever~" is not a reflection of one's English fluency. 😑 🙄 😤