Who has a wild hotel story to share?
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Each month we feature a person or place that inspires us … this month we interview a former colleague and friend who exemplifies how challenges open us to opportunities…if we are willing to see them!
After our former colleague, Julie Gealta, was laid off from her job as Senior Convention Services Manager at The Intercontinental San Diego following a six-month furlough, she decided now was time to write the book she knew she always had brewing in her. Writer is a new title Julie is embracing while she looks for a job. She has always journaled and did some travel blogging, so she had been developing her skills as a side passion. Now she is committed to publishing her forthcoming collection of wild, hilarious and bizarre stories gathered from her 30-year career in the hotel industry. Following are excerpts from Kim’s conversation with her to learn more about the project.
KP: Tell me a little bit about the book you are preparing to write
JG: I’ve had so many experiences that made me think, “No one will ever believe this, these would be great in a book.” So, I’m putting together a collection of stories from my own experience as well as those of co-workers and others who have worked in the industry. It includes perspectives from all sides of hospitality—front desk, bellmen, concierge, housekeeping, catering, sales and beyond.
KP: What motivated you to write this book?
JG: Well, my story in hospitality began when I used to watch the old TV show “Hotel.” I thought it was so glamorous and exciting. WRONG! I quickly discovered it’s hard work, with extremely long hours and multiple days with no time off. With the book, my number one goal is to entertain. I also want to commiserate with my fellow hospitality workers and show readers what we go through dealing will people who I swear sometimes have multiple personalities! I want to expose what some highly entitled people demand and expect from us—wrong or right—and what hoops we jump through to make guests and clients “happy.” It’s not a glorious or glamorous job at all!
KP: Can you give us a teaser of the nature of the stories we can expect to read about?
JG: Personally, I’ve dealt with the death of the keynote speaker for a convention, along with drugs, prostitution and robbery—to name a few of the more unexpected encounters on the job. I’ve met some incredibly nice celebrities—those with minimal requirements in their riders—and those that were so obnoxious, I had to tell them to cut their list down since they were only in the hotel for 45 minutes! I’ve worked with heads of state, religious leaders and foreign dignitaries, so there will be some stories about those encounters too.
KP: What is the strangest, funniest, or oddest request or experience you, personally, have ever had?
JG: A very well-known singer was going to stay in the hotel with his wife and bring his personal chef. I was given a shopping list of food to purchase and we set aside and area in the main kitchen for the chef to prepare the food. I spent over $300 on special organic and healthy foods and two hours before arrival, he and his wife decided to stay at a hotel on the water. I spoke to his manager and told him to pull his car up to valet as he could take all the food to the new hotel since he paid for it.
KP: Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you?
JG: I’m an open book and don’t hide anything! I’ve shared my two-time breast cancer battle on Facebook and my travels. I will say that I love to travel as a solo as it forces me to meet new people, which I’ve done on all my trips.
KP: When is the book going to be released and where can we find it?
JG: Currently, I’m doing all of this through Kindle Direct Publishing. This allows me to get the book printed and then sell on Amazon. After that, who knows. This is a first for me as well. A friend of mine did a book this way so I thought I would try too.
KP: How can people submit their stories to you?
JG: I welcome any and all hotel tales via email: hotelstoriesjdg@gmail.com
