When the time rolls around every other week for me to figure out what I’m going opine on, I often check headlines to see what’s happening in and around the hotel/travel space for inspiration.
I initially had one idea that fizzled out, but then I stumbled upon a story with the headline “The Greatest Hospitality Story Ever” on Longreads, a great collection of long-form journalism. As a reporter covering the hotel industry, it naturally grabbed my attention.
I did not know what I was in for when I clicked that link.
Before you read "The Greatest Hospitality Story Ever," know that this is a story about the loss of a loved one to cancer. Whether you’re going through something like that or have in the past, it may be a difficult read, but it’s absolutely worth it when you are ready because it shows us how people can come through for each other in some of the worst situations imaginable.
Everyone knows that being sick with life-threatening illness in America can be devastating, not just to the patient but to the family as well. We have some of the best healthcare in the world, but even so, there’s only so much even the best can do. And regardless of the outcome, even with insurance, it can financially burden a family with debt for years, and that’s not including the other ancillary costs that come with treatment, such as multiple and long-term stays in a hotel.
I won’t say much more here because the focus belongs on this story, told from the perspective of a writer watching his uncle undergo treatment for cancer. The hotel where his uncle and aunt stay during and after his treatment, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, had — and I’m sure still has — an amazing staff who did everything they could to take of this family and make their time there as comfortable and welcoming as possible. It is truly inspiring what they did, and I hope its something that other hoteliers either already do or will aspire to.
Read the story. Make sure you share it, as this story deserves to make its rounds if it hasn’t already. Reflect on what we can all learn from this, both in and outside the realm of hospitality, in terms of compassion, empathy and service to others. Let us take those lessons and put them into action.
You can reach me at bwroten@hotelnewsnow.com as well as Twitter and LinkedIn.
The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hotel News Now or CoStar Group and its affiliated companies. Bloggers published on this site are given the freedom to express views that may be controversial, but our goal is to provoke thought and constructive discussion within our reader community. Please feel free to contact an editor with any questions or concern.