The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-26
by #. I'll. LEBAUSff3.

Perhaps the greatest handicap that
the South has had 10 contend with In
the development of it's resources and
in interesting outside capital is the
Indifferent hotel service that prevails
in so many Southern towns and cities
While some of our cities boast hotels
that are the very last word in APP
pointments and efficient service, the
majority OF them will not compare
favorably with hotels In other Sec
tons of the country.
a Towns Best Advertisement.
A good hotel is the best advertise
ment that a town or city can have; a
poor hotel, with slouchy, indifferent
management poorly cooked meals
and dirty rooms is the greatest handi-
cap under which q progressive COM
munity can labor. l have known a
number of instances where travelling
men resigned their positions and
sought employment elsewhere rather
than accept Southern territory which
the house assigned them. | have suf-
fered with others at dozens of hotels
where indifferent attention. poorly
cooked Notwithstanding in grease,
sotled linen and dirty rooms left a
feeling Of disgust and resentment. not
only az the hotel but the community
in which it was located.
How They Do 1t.
There are ten rules that I have
compiled from suggestions from the
most successful hotel managers in
Chicago, New York. Boston, St Louis.
Philadelphia, Baltimore. Richmond
and Atlanta. and If these rules are
only fairly well adhered to by the
hotel manager. his house cannot fan
To increase in popularity and efficient
service.
The largest hotel proprietor in the
United States says that: In the hotel
business you must plan to make your
cooking suit the average guest. You
must cook according to principle and
follow an efficient system, This is
alSo true of the service in the dining
room and upstairs The hotel must
please the greatest number. The
science of hotel keeping is the science
of pleasing" This gentleman has
made q world wide reputation and
millions of dollars in the hotel bust
ness and has accomplished il by fol-
lowing the simple rules above and
the Ten Commandments that fol-
low:
The Ten Rules.
1l Meet your guest with smile a
handshake and friendly greeting,
calling him by name. Learn TO read
your register upside down ana QOH |
employ a clerk who cannot 90 it. Desk
service is even more important than
dining room or upstairs service be-
cause a gracious hospitable reception
puts your guest in a receptive mood
to appreciate the further advantages
that your house offers.
CD At table give him a cold glass
Of water with ice in 1t. Most travellers
are city people. accustomed to begin
ming a meal with a generous swallow
or two of ice water.
CD Make point of serving the
best bread or rolls you can secure,
accompanied with a generous pat of
good butter on an individual butter
dish. If the rolls are hot, serve them
on plat rolled in napkin.
t4) Give your guest a cup of cof-
fee--the very best that money can
buy. He viii expect the worst. be-
cause that is the kind of five pounds
for a-doliar ahomination that Is
served by most medium priced hotels.
The difference IN the cost between
coffee selling at 40 cents and that
selling for twenty cents is not more
than half-cent cup. This small
additional cost means satisfied guest
instead of Disguised one. Refnem-
Der. this coffe business Is vital. Good
coffee must be properly made and
served with good cream and loaf
sugar III your dealer sells you coffee
that is Just a. good at half the price,
3 70