I’m in a hotel in Montreal, Quebec at the moment, just about to leave to spend the day with Sharon Peters at her school. But before I leave I wanted to share this little note that was left in the hotel room.
“To our guests,
Because this hotel is a human institution to serve people, and not solely a money making organisation, we hope that god will grant you peace and rest while you are under our roof.
May this room and hotel be your second home. May those you love be near you in thoughts and dreams. Even though we may not get to know you, we hope that you will be comfortable and happy as if you were in your own home.
May the business that brought you our way prosper. May every call you make and every message you receive add to your joy, and when you leave, may your journey be safe.
We are all travelers. From birth to death, we travel between the eternities. May these days be pleasant for you, profitable to society, helpful for those you meet, and a joy to those who know and love you best.”
There was also a large white plate in the room when I arrived, with three chocolates and the words “Welcome Chris Betcher” written in chocolate. Next to the bed was a booklet with short “Chicken Soup for the Soul” style stories in it, with a note saying that these were for reading before bedtime and an invitation to take a copy.
This hotel is not grand and upmarket. It’s just a Quality Inn near the Montreal Airport, much like thousands of other midrange hotels dotted across North America… as a hotel there’s nothing particularly remarkable about it, but these few small human touches have made it seem very remarkable to me. The extra little human touch makes a huge difference to the overall experience. I’m really impressed. I’ve staying in many hotels over the years, but I have never had these sorts of personal touches left in the room.
As we launch into a new year, I think there are lessons in all of this for how we interact with each other, how we treat our families, our colleagues, our students, our fellow humans. I’m going to try and make sure that I always remember the importance of the human touch and how important it is to making those around us feel special and more human.
Happy New Year to you all.