When I landed in Gatwick, it was incredibly early. I landed around 6 am and had to Uber from the airport to the hotel. Everything was pretty easy at the airport; the only thing that was shocking to me was that Ubers have to pick up at a garage instead of the big loop like we are used to in the United States. Driving on the other side of the road was also a bit shocking; it was really messing with my head at first, being in the front seat, which is usually my driver’s side! The Uber was very nice, which is a common thing all over; however, it was interesting asking about his background and hearing his stories, being in a completely different culture. When I got to the service in the restaurant, the people were very nice. In a coffee shop I went to, they were extremely patient with me trying to think of what I wanted. Now, the hotel is less than an acceptable experience. I was there very early, and of course, I knew our rooms wouldn’t be ready; however, I asked the front desk anyway, and she was pretty short and not helpful. I asked about where to put my bags, and she was pretty rude, asking, “Could you not see the concierge desk behind you?”. This initially put me off because I was going into this experience, as they were overly nice and professional in London. When I got out of the bathroom after freshening up from the longest plane ride of my life, I went to check in my bag with the concierge. He was extremely creepy and did not respect my boundaries at all. It was a very uncomfortable situation to be in with them. This hotel kind of reminded me of how hotels are in the U.S. because it’s common to be in a situation with a male, sadly, but I figured maybe the business environment would be different since that is what the U.K. prides itself on. When we went to afternoon tea, it was super quiet and an almost comforting area. It was very peaceful and relaxing, and the tea was so yummy as well, which was to be expected. This role is important in their history as this is a practice from so many years, and even the royals participate in it. When the food tower came out, it was beautiful. I think locals use these as a way to invite guests into their culture as well and immerse people who may not be familiar with it. When visiting the castles and palaces, it’s almost like stepping into a portal to a different era. They keep it extremely maintained and include audio tours of each area and room to fully immerse you when you walk through to take you into the olden times. I think what I learned about managing guest experiences is that they make sure they are overly knowledgeable about where they work, so they can answer all guests’ curiosities about the beautiful landmarks they are proud of their history with. I think these experiences and overall learning will help me develop different skills as a leader in hospitality, in the food and beverage industry, just looking to gift my guests with the knowledge and experience of food or drinks, not just serving to satisfy.