That’s when they were sure that nobody from the staff was there at all other than a single housekeeper. Since the phone kept ringing off the hook, and another guest was railing about how she’d been charged $600, they decided they had nothing better to do than chip in and solve problems. “instantly, we’re like, manager mode,” said one of the guests.
- Answering calls they learned that every single one had the same issue. It was a guest on property whose card had been charged unexpected amounts.
- They called the general manager – her number was written behind the desk – and she told them that she didn’t know why there wasn’t anyone there, but she couldn’t come in because she was on the West Coast for work. They told the manager they’d just figure out how to check themselves in!
- By that time the complimentary breakfast was late. They got into the kitchen and brought out food for everyone staying on property.
Close to 8 a.m. a hotel employee came in, and so did the general manager of a nearby Holiday Inn owned by the same company. As a reward for helping out, they were moved to the better property (Holiday Inn) and their stay was comped. It’s a common joke that La Quinta is Spanish for “next to Denny’s.” But the actual story of the name is that the chain’s founder searched for the cheapest furnishings he could find. They had a Southwestern motif and he decided he therefore needed a Spanish name. It really is unrelated to what the Urban Dictionary says that it means.