The other day, while lounging in my apartment in Brooklyn, I caught the opening scenes from the 2001 movie "Rat Race". For those of you who haven't seen it, the movie revolves around a core group of characters chosen to take part in a "race" put on by several wealthy gambling addicts (who have grown tired of the same old casino games) holed up in a swanky Las Vegas Hotel suite. The "socialites" round up the characters and explain to them that they are now involved in a race and the first one of them to get to a specific locker at a specific bus station in New Mexico will get the prize inside of it which happens to be $2 million cash. The debutantes then bet on which character will retrieve the money first.
Now the plot is completely irrelevant as to why I'm mentioning this in my blog.While the movie is mediocre at best, I haven't been able to stop thinking about one of the opening lines of the film. The character of Randy, (played by Jon Lovitz) plays a likable but unbalanced jewish man on a vacation in Las Vegas with his family. The scene opens within the family's vacant hotel room, with the camera focused intently on the door. As the door swings open the entire family is revealed, each one of them holding 2-3 pieces of luggage in their arms. Once the door fully opens, the wife and kids all drop the luggage in a heap in the hallway, exhausted and annoyed. "See" Lovitz' character exclaims. "I told you we didn't need a bellman!"
These 9 words and this scene have made me laugh for the last few days because I deal with these types of people everyday. It is these people who check into hotels that cost them upwards of $300 per night and have more bags than they can handle comfortably. However, rather than accept the help of the employees of the hotel, they choose to struggle with their bags so they can save $5-$10 in tip money. It's so pathetic watching these people lugging these 50 pound bags out of the taxi or supershuttle bus. As welcome them to New York I approach them with a luggage cart and motion to grab the cases. I typically here them cry out emphatically "no, no, no. We've got it" or "I think we can handle it," or "It's ok, they've got wheels" as their excuse to get me to leave them alone.
It's not that they don't want help, it's that they don't want to tip me at the end of my assistance. They can afford $300 per night but its as if giving an employee $10 to haul their 8 bags up to their room while acclimating them to their surroundings is just going to put them in the red for their whole vacation. It's really incredible watching these people struggle through the lobby and up to the elevator, the whole time denying help from the people who are offering it to them. These people see bellmen as unnecessary vultures looking to separate them from the cash they covet so dearly. I can just hear their thought process as they grunt "If I tip him, I won't be able to get all of those stupid NYPD t-shirts and knock off Louis Vuitton bags in Chinatown that I want so badly. I'd rather struggle up to my room on my vacation than tip somebody for helping me at the end of a long travel day."
I mean really people, lighten the fuck up. Accept the bellmen's help and ask him a few questions about the hotel and the neighborhood while you are at it. You will typically find a very interesting and knowledgeable person whose insight into the city you are visiting and the hotel you are staying in to be more than worth the tip you give him, let alone not having to force your wife and children to carrying half their wardrobe to the room. How badly do you want to save a few dollars? The best are the people who grab the luggage cart as they head up to their room. "Can I help you up to your room?" I ask politely. "No, It's ok, we'll take it from here." they respond. "Well ma'am I will have to help you if you wish to use the cart." As if it's cool to take the tools someone uses to do their job.
If you have a single roller or just an overnight bag, I completely understand. Obviously you don't need our help, but I have been asked for assistance by someone with just one small bag who was very nice and talkative and at the end they tipped me $20 so I guess you never know. However, if you are on vacation and have several large bags, let the bellmen assist you, it's all part of the experience of the hospitality industry. Skipping their part in the check-in process would be like seating yourself at a restaurant even though there is a hostess there. And you better believe we all make mental notes of who tipped us, who stiffed us, and who didn't want our help. Next time you need a taxi, we just might be a little too busy to help you!
Now the plot is completely irrelevant as to why I'm mentioning this in my blog.While the movie is mediocre at best, I haven't been able to stop thinking about one of the opening lines of the film. The character of Randy, (played by Jon Lovitz) plays a likable but unbalanced jewish man on a vacation in Las Vegas with his family. The scene opens within the family's vacant hotel room, with the camera focused intently on the door. As the door swings open the entire family is revealed, each one of them holding 2-3 pieces of luggage in their arms. Once the door fully opens, the wife and kids all drop the luggage in a heap in the hallway, exhausted and annoyed. "See" Lovitz' character exclaims. "I told you we didn't need a bellman!"
These 9 words and this scene have made me laugh for the last few days because I deal with these types of people everyday. It is these people who check into hotels that cost them upwards of $300 per night and have more bags than they can handle comfortably. However, rather than accept the help of the employees of the hotel, they choose to struggle with their bags so they can save $5-$10 in tip money. It's so pathetic watching these people lugging these 50 pound bags out of the taxi or supershuttle bus. As welcome them to New York I approach them with a luggage cart and motion to grab the cases. I typically here them cry out emphatically "no, no, no. We've got it" or "I think we can handle it," or "It's ok, they've got wheels" as their excuse to get me to leave them alone.
It's not that they don't want help, it's that they don't want to tip me at the end of my assistance. They can afford $300 per night but its as if giving an employee $10 to haul their 8 bags up to their room while acclimating them to their surroundings is just going to put them in the red for their whole vacation. It's really incredible watching these people struggle through the lobby and up to the elevator, the whole time denying help from the people who are offering it to them. These people see bellmen as unnecessary vultures looking to separate them from the cash they covet so dearly. I can just hear their thought process as they grunt "If I tip him, I won't be able to get all of those stupid NYPD t-shirts and knock off Louis Vuitton bags in Chinatown that I want so badly. I'd rather struggle up to my room on my vacation than tip somebody for helping me at the end of a long travel day."
I mean really people, lighten the fuck up. Accept the bellmen's help and ask him a few questions about the hotel and the neighborhood while you are at it. You will typically find a very interesting and knowledgeable person whose insight into the city you are visiting and the hotel you are staying in to be more than worth the tip you give him, let alone not having to force your wife and children to carrying half their wardrobe to the room. How badly do you want to save a few dollars? The best are the people who grab the luggage cart as they head up to their room. "Can I help you up to your room?" I ask politely. "No, It's ok, we'll take it from here." they respond. "Well ma'am I will have to help you if you wish to use the cart." As if it's cool to take the tools someone uses to do their job.
If you have a single roller or just an overnight bag, I completely understand. Obviously you don't need our help, but I have been asked for assistance by someone with just one small bag who was very nice and talkative and at the end they tipped me $20 so I guess you never know. However, if you are on vacation and have several large bags, let the bellmen assist you, it's all part of the experience of the hospitality industry. Skipping their part in the check-in process would be like seating yourself at a restaurant even though there is a hostess there. And you better believe we all make mental notes of who tipped us, who stiffed us, and who didn't want our help. Next time you need a taxi, we just might be a little too busy to help you!
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