Book Review — Heads In Bed by Jacob Tomsky
The byline for the book is A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality. The book delivered well as a memoir. Tomsky was an authoritative voice having spent many years in the hotel business in various roles.
He spoke of the different stereotypes in each hotel position from bellman to front desk clerk. He does a wonderful job articulating the in-and-outs of the business and how hotels make money, increase revenue streams, and grow profits, as well as how the business has changed through the years with advances in technology and process.
My major takeaway from the book is that much like insurance where the name of the game is collect premiums and limit, or control, distributions — hotels are not much different. Increase room rates and decrease, or control, the cost to flip the room for the next night.
Tomsky did and excellent job explaining how you can get a few free cocktails or what you might be able to say or do to get a room upgrade. The management dynamics that Tomsky worked under were often stressed. The book had some similarity to chef Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. I certainly have a new-found respect and perspective when I check into the next hotel.
Book Rating: 8.5/10
