Apparently, being a hotel VIP means you are legally immune to using a pen.
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Before my night shift started, my manager told me a VIP guest was coming in late. I was just like, "OK, no problem!"
I started my shift, did my usual tasks, and pre-printed his paperwork so I could get him checked in and out of my face quickly.
About an hour and a half later, the guy rolls in with two people and a personal driver. He comes up to the desk, I greet him, and he says he wants to check in. I knew right away he was the VIP because he was the only check-in left for the night.
I asked, "Mr. John Doe?"
"Yes," he says.
"I already have everything ready for you," I told him.
Out of nowhere, he snaps, "I know."
I put the printed papers on the counter and told him I just needed his signature on three pages for the rooms he booked. He immediately gives me this death stare and says he’s not signing anything.
I told him it’s hotel policy to get a signature before checking anyone in.
He goes, "Never in my life have I signed a single piece of paper at this establishment."
I told him he was free to look over the papers, but he wasn't having it.
"No. Do you want to check me in or not? Just say it. I'm a partner here and you don't know who I am."
I just said, "Sir, we follow protocol for everybody."
Then he starts insulting me, asking how they even let me work the front desk, saying I shouldn't be here, and threatening me: "First thing in the morning I’m talking to the owner to have you fired, just wait."
At that point, I told him to hold on while I called my manager. I reminded my manager about the VIP and told him, "Look, he's making a massive scene in the lobby, raising his voice, refusing to sign anything, and won't even give me his ID."
My manager instantly said: "Just let him in, check him in, and say yes to whatever he says!"
So I apologized to the guest and tried to de-escalate. The guy just sneers at me and says, "No, this one won't slide. I'm going to show you hell."
He goes and sits in the lobby while I’m coding his room keys. His driver is standing right in front of me waiting for them. The driver can clearly see I am panicking and stressed out, so he keeps quietly telling me, "Relax, relax."
When the cards are done, I walk over to hand them to the guest. The second I get close, he points aggressively at his driver, basically telling me 'don't even come near me.'
After they finally went up, my manager called me back to see if it was done. I said yes and told him the whole story. By the end of it, my manager completely changed his tune and told me, "Look, you didn't do anything wrong, you just followed protocol. He has zero say over your job here. He’s all bark and no bite, and even if he tries to bite, you're fine."
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What are your thoughts. Have you ever encountered these kinds of people?