My initial impression of the hospitality was lovely. My experience was a bit different because I had come with a different program so there was a decently large group of us which made things a bit more complicated. However, the people were polite, the service was pretty decent, and the food and drinks were delicious. We had mainly gone to Soho to eat and go out after our quick and easy check-in. We had a blast and some great times and created some amazing memories. Many of the attractions were very much so self-oriented, we maybe ran into the employees at the shops, entrance and occasionally around the exhibits but never super involved which wasn’t expected but I appreciated.
The most notable differences to me were the emphasis on sustainability preserving energy and being as environmentally friendly as possible. The music that was being played when going out at night felt as though we were stuck in a time capsule of 2000s-2010s American Pop Radio stations. It was very nostalgic and fun but after a while it was a bit confusing on why every place we went to was playing only that style.
One thing that really stood out was the amount of alternatives they would provide me. Every place I went, they asked for allergies and although I am not allergic many times it was made aware the I am lactose intolerant whether by me or friends or the 2 predetermined menus we had. The servers always made it a point to give me substitutes or would bring out other options such as the tea pastries, desserts, or making sure I was aware of different menu options.
The Tea Time was a very fun and unique experience to me. I am not one who indulges in tea often but the time we had was so cute and really nice to just chill with friends and enjoy some pastries and just chat. I think that the English really enjoy putting emphasis on particular things they hold dear to their culture. The Tea Time and Pubs were the most detailed and most immersive experiences in my opinion. They were exactly what you would expect when you hear British Pub or High Tea. It was brilliant and the dishes and china used was so perfect. I would definitely recommend people do it at least once even if it is not your thing.
The Castles and Tourism Destinations we visited were very somber and beautiful. They all left an eerie energy knowing mildly about the history of each also didn’t help with that. When I am in places where generations have lived before and learning about what has happened in those locations both amazing and tragic, I feel very connected and try to be as respectful as possible. I also learned that it is important to let people explore by themselves to see what they connect with while also making sure they know that you are there to answer further questions or anticipate their needs. I think it provides a better experience that is more personal to each person.
I think all of these aspects combined have shown me that people like to experience their travels and activities in different ways. Understanding how and when to intervene to provide a better experience is important. It really depends on what the guest is looking for but being able to anticipate those needs and being prepared to tend to those needs is vital.