Elegant

I am advised by my supervisor to improve my some gestures to be a better hotel person. She particularly advised me to make my vow and walking more elegant or slower. I try to improve my attitude. Before I go to work, I always make sure to focus on those assignments.

Learned from Duty Manager

When a guest just arrived at hotel by taxi, his credit card could not be accepted to pay for taxi fare for some reason. We suggested that we paid for it instead and taxi fare was charged additionally to his room charge. It was kindly accepted by a guest, and a guest requested to have a receipt of taxi fare. I asked a front clerk to give the receipt to a guest after checking in, but a front clerk unfortunately said we only could give a copy of receipt because we have to hand in original receipt to the financial department since we actually paid for his taxi fare. A guest still requested the original, and it was a uncomfortable situation for a front clerk.

Duty manager kindly and quickly advised a front clerk to give the original receipt to a guest and make a copy for our internal procedure as long as a guest requested. I learned form duty manager that we should be flexible for customers.

Sense of Place

I have been learning how to wear Kimono. I go to a Kimono school once a week and learn a basic way of wearing Kimono and different ways of tying the kimono belt. It is not directly related to my internship, but I'm sure it is going to be usuful in the future because the hotel thinks a great deal of an unique history and a cultural place in Japan. The hotel is located on a historical place in Tokyo and deeply related to Kimono culture. I am also interested in protecting and showing a local culture. I am excited to get much knowledge about Kimono!

Mistakes...

I sometimes make mistakes for my tasks when I take care of something at the first time. However, they fortunately did not affect to guests so far due to my colleague's follow-up. For example, the restaurant user requested me to make a taxi reservation in advance. I got his name and time for departure, but my colleague told me it was not enough information and I was advised to find the customer in order to complete this task. Since there were five restaurants at the hotel, I visited all restaurants and finally found the customer. I got further information about his phone number and confirmation for extra fees of taxi reservations in addition to the restaurant name he used. Although my task was eventually completed without problems, I made sure if it is the first time for me to take care of something I have to ask my colleagues before I accept any orders from customers.

Traditional Wedding

Our hotel have wedding ceremonies and receptions every weekend. One day, the couple had a Japanese traditional wedding at a temple and came to the hotel for their reception. They wore formal and special Kimono for wedding. When the couple arrived at the hotel lobby, people who are from Russia were at the lobby to get ready for going out. It was a rare opportunity for Russian people to see Japanese traditional wedding style. Russian people were excited and happy to experience Japanese culture. I was also glad to see intercultural experiences at the hotel. It is one of my goals to provide understandings of Japanese culture to foreigners through hotel visits.

Tiredness

I had been so exhaused after work for the first two weeks. After I got home, I went to bed and fell asleep right away. I always have to wear high heels and keep standing and moving for all day long, which makes me get tired easily. Although I had to memorize a lot of things about the hotel and services, I couldn't do it at home because I was too tired. Therefore, I had some mistakes or felt lack of knowledge to assist guests. After two weeks my body gets used to it for the work. So I have some time to learn about the hotel. I had a hard time during the first two weeks, but after that I have been comfortable to work and enjoyed to get new knowledge.