Such requests can be banal, trivial, complex and complicated, downright bizarre, or just strange. Giles has a whole range of such requests from his years in the industry.
However, there was one rather mysterious request and episode which sticks in his mind. Normally, Giles and I have agreed to redact or alter names or details. However, in this instance, that will not be necessary; no names were known or given to the hotel staff.
It was set to be a very quiet lunch service that day- but there was one catch. A table for two had been booked- along with an unprecedented number of bodyguards. No one (not even the GM or the Front Desk who had taken the reservation) had any further details. Consumed with curiosity, several possibilities for tables were considered- and several possibilities for the identity of the heavily protected lunchers were discussed in hushed whispers.
The two lunchers turned out to be totally unknown people; and the last type of people who would need such heavy protection. Giles happened to have knowledge of, and training in, security; “the car they arrived in was a very classy car, shall we say. However, it was very heavy; obviously, adapted and armoured. Only two or three bodyguards accompanied their principals inside. However, a cursory sweep of the lobby and surrounding area made me detect three others. Stepping out of the staff entrance for a few moments, made me detect five or so others. However, there were still over ten other guards to be accounted for.”
It was lucky that the lunch was quiet. “We only had a three or four tables in that day, I seem to recall. The protected lunchers had a whole section of the restaurant to themselves; complete with an ice cold, ice blonde lady with a glass of water sitting at a place where she could command entrance to the section of the restaurant. Another man, very casually dressed, was standing and hovering around the table. Despite his very casual dress sense, let’s say that he had ex- Army stamped all over him, with a physique to match. Oh, and an earpiece not very well concealed.”
The professionalism of the hotel staff was only matched by the professionalism of the bodyguards. The first few times the staff entered that area of the restaurant, it was clear that they were being watched. Soon, though, the bodyguards realised that we were hotel staff, and relaxed a bit whenever they passed or entered. However, when one other lunch guest decided to take a look around the rest of the restaurant- he swiftly found the ex-Army gentleman at his elbow, and made a swift retreat to his own table again, with no words being spoken by guard or guest.
During service (as so often happens) a plate was accidentally dropped. The reaction of the security detail was instantaneous; it speaks volumes to their professionalism that in a less than a few seconds, they were able to work out that the source of the disturbance was just a clumsy waiter, and that there was no threat to their principals- who were enjoying their lunch unconscious of the dynamic between hotel staff and guards unfolding around them.
“One of the most bizarre and interesting lunch services ever,” states Giles. “We had limited interaction with their security, and just left them to it, which is absolutely what they wanted. However, the two principals enjoyed their lunch, and withdrew with as much discretion as they had arrived. Their guards were the silent type, but true security professionals.”
“To this day, we still do not know who those two were- nor do we want to know. In high end hotels, you know when to ask questions, and when not to enquire further.” A policy which no doubt the bodyguards had also learned- along with a waiter’s tact, discretion and patience.
Be it duck feather pillows, or excessive security- the guest is treated like royalty in high end hotels as a matter of principal.
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