I did my first out call to a hotel last night and when I asked the guy for room number and name, booking number etc he asked me in panic to please not call reception. He stays in the hotel for work often and his company book the hotel for him. He was desperate for absolute discretion. Now I had already had a request from him the previous week but didn't go. So I thought I would chance it. He sounded genuine on the phone and I had a nice feeling about him. Also the hotel is only a short drive away. All was fine. But what he said made sense actually, nobody rings hotels these days to be put through to rooms as nearly everybody uses their mobiles for business and personal use and probably the only ones who do are WG so arousing suspicion. So what can we do other than go on gut instinct if more clients use this reasoning in hotels?

I've not had any problems with phoning hotels to be put through to clients rooms, and I won't go if they won't follow my procedures. I actually had a guy just yesterday ask why I had to call him in the hotel and suggested that if I was nervous about meeting him in the room then he would rather just meet me in the bar. I told him the reasons and he never got back to me, his loss!

Yes Amy I was actually going to get my husband to do it any way. I wasn't that bothered for my self as far as the hotel was concerned as I have used this hotel and it is such a doddle to get to the rooms. You are quite right about the reasons for using the hotel phones as this hotel is one I reviewed a couple of weeks ago regard phone signal. Pretty much none existent. Lucky for me this time all went well but I will disregard future excuses and stick to the tried and tested way.

Calling and asking to be put through to the room has absolutely nothing to do with wether or not it is easy to get to the rooms, it is to ensure your client is actually there before you set off rather than turning up to find you have had your time wasted.

Yes I do know what the checks are for. To ensure he is actually there. And I did know the room number before I set off. Just took his word he was actually in the room. The hotel is virtually on my door step and I have used it numerous times my self so decided the risk was worth it. Had he not been there we would have just had a drink n the bar and chalked it up to experience.

Well I think that's really your call, if it isn't costing you much time or money to go there. I wouldn't, but each to their own - the thought of wasting my time getting ready, leaving home and travelling even ten minutes in a taxi for nothing is more than I can stand but thenI do very few outcalls because the time spent travelling when I could be doing something else/taking other bookings I don't have to go anywhere for bugs me any way .

I know a lady who sat waiting in a hotel lobby for over an hour presumably hoping that if she rang the punters mobile enough times he'd eventually answer it; she hadn't bothered to even check the booking details, let alone the hotel. If she had, she'd have found out - as she did in the end when she went to the desk and asked - that they didn't have a room 6 (or whatever it was).

Even then nothing's foolproof and if a punter decides he's not going to open the door then nothing can make him. But like every other damage limitation exercise, if you've done everything in your power to reduce the chances of getting fannied about, then at least you won't feel so annoyed when it happens.


EDIT: Crossed posts with Rosa