Training program design · HFT 3450 Guest Services Management I · Fall 2024

Developing Our Natural Service

A complete guest-service training program designed for a hotel: eight sections that move from the company's mission to serving from the heart, brain, and muscles, the three modes of service, practice, and measurement.

HFT 3450 Guest Services Management I · Fall 2024 · November 2024

  • Service
  • Training

The goal

A training program for a hotel team

Students will have developed their ability to serve our guests better because of this course. They’ll understand why and how we operate, their perceptions of our guests, and how to serve those guests in normal, recovery, and wow modes.

Natural service

Heart, brain, muscles

  • Serve from the heart

    The compassion to serve guests.

  • Serve from the brain

    The knowledge you need to deliver service.

  • Serve from the muscles

    The actions you perform to deliver the service.

The three modes of service

  • Normal service

    Delivering what we promised, consistently and confidently.

  • Recovery service

    Solving the problems when they arise, and turning mistakes into moments of loyalty.

  • Wow service

    Going the extra mile any time, where creativity and passion for service show.

Curriculum

Eight sections

  1. Section 1

    Our natural service

    The company's history, policies, and examples.

    • Our mission
    • Our vision
    • Examples
    • Policies we have
    • Why you're here
  2. Section 2

    What is natural service

    The three parts every act of service draws on.

    • Serve from the heart: the compassion to serve guests
    • Serve from the brain: the knowledge you need to deliver service
    • Serve from the muscles: the actions you perform to deliver the service
  3. Section 3

    Who we are as service providers

    Turn inward before turning outward.

    • Self-assessment of our perceptions of people
    • How do we want to be served?
  4. Section 4

    Get to know our guests

    Who they are, what they need, and what they expect.

    • Who are our guests, why do they come here?
    • What guests need from us
    • Managing their expectations and perceptions
    • Dealing with 'difficult' guests
  5. Section 5

    The modes of service

    Name the kind of service you are giving so you can give it well.

    • Normal service: delivering what we promised
    • Recovery service: solving the problems when they arise
    • Wow service: going the extra mile any time
  6. Section 6

    Developing your natural service

    Adopt the traits and apply them daily.

    • Attributes of a service natural
    • Get the details right
    • Innovate and enjoy it
    • The rewards
  7. Section 7

    Natural service in practice

    Hands-on exercises.

    • Listening to guests (practice)
    • Delivering normal service (practice)
    • Delivering recovery service (practice)
    • Delivering wow service (practice)
  8. Section 8

    Measuring our service

    Assess the service you give and the service you receive.

    • An introduction
    • Measure service of others
    • Reflecting on a service instance

The video

Welcome to the program

Developing Our Natural Service, training video

Video coming soon

Read the welcome script

Hello, and welcome to “Developing Our Natural Service,” the training program. Our time together is designed to help us elevate the way we serve our guests here at the KZH. I’m Jeremy, Director of Guest Services, and I’m thrilled to be guiding you through this journey.

At KZH, we believe that exceptional service is the heart of what we do. Our guests don’t just visit us for a stay; they come here for an experience—one that feels seamless, thoughtful, and unforgettable. And you, as a member of our team, no matter the role you are in, play the most critical role in creating that magic for our guests.

Over the next few days, this course will inspire you, challenge you, and equip you with the tools you need to serve with excellence, authenticity, and confidence. Let me give you a glimpse into what lies ahead.

We’ll start by exploring what we call “Our Natural Service.” This is where you’ll get to know more about KZH—our mission, our vision, and the rich history that brought us to where we are today. You’ll also learn why we’ve chosen you to be part of this journey. You’re here because you belong here, and I’ll show you why your unique contributions matter.

Next, we’ll dive into the concept of natural service. What does it mean to serve naturally? It’s about serving with your whole self—your heart, your mind, and your actions. Compassion, knowledge, and effort come together to create moments that truly matter for our guests.

We’ll also take some time to reflect on who we are as service providers. This is a chance for you to look inward. How do your perceptions shape the way you treat others? And how would you like to be served? This self-awareness is the foundation of meaningful service.

From there, we’ll shift our focus outward to our guests. Who are they, and why do they choose us? Understanding their needs and managing their expectations allows us to connect with them on a deeper level. We’ll also address something every service provider faces—handling difficult situations. Together, we’ll learn how to turn challenges into opportunities to shine.

One of the most important lessons in this course is understanding the three modes of service:

  • Normal Service is about delivering what we promise—consistently and confidently.

  • Recovery Service comes into play when things go wrong, and let’s face it, they sometimes do. We’ll teach you how to turn mistakes into moments of loyalty.

• And then there’s Wow Service—going above and beyond to create unforgettable experiences. This is where your creativity and passion for service really shine.

As the course progresses, we’ll help you develop your own natural service. We’ll talk about the qualities of a true service professional, the importance of attention to detail, and how to innovate while enjoying the process. Because when you love what you do, it shows—and our guests feel it.

Of course, we won’t just talk about service. You’ll have opportunities to practice it. Whether it’s active listening, delivering exceptional recovery service, or creating a wow moment, you’ll have hands-on exercises to bring these concepts to life.

Finally, we’ll explore how to measure and reflect on service. You’ll learn to assess not only the service you provide but also the service you experience. Reflection helps us grow, and this process will empower you to continuously improve.

This course is more than just training—it’s a chance to connect with the purpose behind our work. By the end, you’ll not only understand what it takes to deliver exceptional service; you’ll also feel more confident, more inspired, and more prepared to make every guest interaction truly special.

Let me inspire you with a true story that happened recently here at the KZH hotel. Hannah, a valet team member, only a month into her role here, was working late one evening. An Uber driver pulled up to the front entrance. Out of the vehicle came a family of 5. They were beleaguered, to say the least. The family had a long day of travel, plagued with flight delays and waiting on the tarmac for long stretches. They arrived at the hotel later than they planned and Hannah could tell they were tired. One of the parents asked hannah, first thing, if the dining room was still open. She said it was, but it was closing soon. That made the father grimace, but he proceeded to get his family and luggage all in place and head in the door for yet another step in this long day.

Hannah knew the restaurant was closing soon, but also realized the family needed food. So she excused herself from her post, went to our little market. The market has baskets in the back we use for different occasions. Hannah got one and filled it with food items from the shelves and drinks from the cooler.

As the newly checked in guests were heading to the elevator, she headed over to the front desk. There she gave them the basket, explained the situation, and asked someone to deliver it to their room. The front desk staff immediately recruited our concierge to do so. Hannah wrote up a quick note and placed it in the basket.

That is the kind of service we want, and that is the kind of service we are excited to develop in you.

So, are you ready to take the next step in becoming the best version of yourself as a service provider? I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together.

Thank you for being part of this journey and for choosing to make a difference in the lives of our guests. Let’s get started.

The deck

Seventeen slides

Your browser cannot display the PDF here. Download the training deck.

What I built

A course site to hold it

Alongside the outline, deck, and video, I built the program as a Next.js course site: a home page listing the eight sections, a summary page per section, and a lesson page for every topic with previous and next navigation and start and complete buttons. The structure above is the app’s own course map. The source is on GitHub.