Some hotel reception staff in Barcelona are offered commissions or free meals for booking guests into selected restaurants, according to reporting by Diari ARA. For visitors asking where to eat, the arrangement means a recommendation may be linked to a commercial benefit, alongside the hotel staff’s own assessment of the venue.
The reported offers involve a fixed payment, a percentage of the final bill or a complimentary meal at the restaurant. They are made to reception staff at some hotels, particularly four- and five-star establishments, Diari ARA reported.
The restaurants seeking bookings are typically chains with a high turnover of tourists and a relatively high average spend, according to the report. They commonly specialise in fish and seafood, seafood dishes or sushi.
Hotel staff say recommendations are checked
Anonymous hotel management and concierge staff told Diari ARA that guests frequently ask for paella and sushi recommendations, as well as short paella-cooking courses. They said they monitor new restaurant openings because the information is part of their work advising visitors.
“It is not about recommending for the sake of recommending, and we do not always pay attention to whether or not we have a commission at that restaurant; if we do and we know it is very good, perfect.”
The hotel employees said they check with guests daily on how recommendations have worked out. They described themselves as aiming to ensure visitors have a good experience and return with positive feedback about the food and service.
Advice also covers journeys to restaurants
A head concierge told Diari ARA that staff arrange guests’ activities for a day in the city and offer safety advice alongside restaurant suggestions. For guests intending to eat in El Raval, the concierge said the hotel recommends taking a taxi directly to the venue and not wearing watches.
Visitors seeking a restaurant booking can ask their hotel reception which venue is being recommended and make their own choice before confirming a reservation. The hotel staff interviewed by Diari ARA said the aim of their advice was guests’ safety and satisfaction.
Reported by Source Text Link, Trinitat Gilbert Martínez, SpainJobs.io, turijobs.com, odysseyhotelgroup.recruitee.com, orldpackers.com, careers.accor.com, pere.com, jmak.com, linkedin.com, slshotels.com, metthotelsandresorts.com, observatoriturisme.barcelona, elspescadors.com, mastercard.com, Diari ARA.
