As the search for a new Chelsea football club manager rumbles on, one York hotel has laid claim to a bit of history of its own featuring former Blues boss Avram Grant.
Apparently before Grant got the boot at Stamford Bridge, due to his failure to win the Champions League and achieving only a runners-up spot in the Premiership, he wrote to Tony Newby of the Best Western Monkbar hotel.
Why? You no doubt ask.
Was he aware of his fate and looking for somewhere to stay the night far away from Mayfair's Russian community in the capital? Was Newby in the frame to fill that tricky right-back position that has vexed recent Chelsea managers?
Not exactly.
In fact Newby picked up the Best Kitchen Staff award at the York Tourism Awards earlier this year and Monkbar hotel director June Nelsey took it on herself to inform Grant and the boys at Stamford Bridge as her pot-washer is a huge Blues fan.
Grant, who was sacked on 24 May, actually wrote back to Newby just before his departure, which some would argue might have been time better spent on tactics for the big game against Manchester United.
Still, Grant was gracious, and mindful that at least someone had some silverware to celebrate, said in his letter: "On behalf of the players, directors and staff here at Chelsea, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on this wonderful achievement. Well done."
Newby plans to frame the letter and hang it on his wall and Nelsey added that it was wonderful the club had taken the time to respond.
Of course, Grant will have a lot more time to write letters at the moment. Maybe one to Jim'll Fix It perhaps?
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Comments (2)
Mr Grant could have a future in hospitality. He may not have taken Chelsea to the lofty heights they may or may not deserve, but he has at least shown that as a person in a position of responsibility that he hasn't forgotten one of the basic tenets of hospitality - courtesy.
Irrespective of whether I have good or bad feedback, I have ceased to fill in comment cards or write letters to hospitality and tourism operators. Apart from a letter from Emirates Airlines a few years ago thanking me for taking the time to write, I have never had a single reply from anyone I wrote to.
Ok, I know that most people will say their time is better spent training, or operating or tending to people in front of them but surely if one of your customers shows enough consideration to help you improve what you have, a simple thank you note would be in order.
I'll stop now. I'm in danger of ranting. One final moan though - to the General Manager of the hotel where in one single visit I had to request for my bathtub to be cleaned before I used it; where I had to wash the dust off a cup before making tea in my room; where I was charged a different rate from the advertised rate I had booked and where I received an electric shock when I switched on a reading lamp - if you write a letter requesting your guests to write to you personally with feedback, you could have at least taken the time to tell me how you were going to fix your problems. Sadly, I'll never know if you did resolve your problems because I have never, and never will, ever set foot in your hotel again.
Mr Grant, good luck with whatever lies ahead of you.
Posted by John Kernan | July 4, 2008 2:12 AM
Posted on July 4, 2008 02:12
John,
Sorry to be so tardy getting back to you and thanks for getting in touch and making a very good point through the medium of football. I was so impressed I passed this to my colleagues on Caterer and Hotelkeeper and it's in the new edition on the letters page (10 July).
Posted by Kitchen Rat | July 9, 2008 10:49 PM
Posted on July 9, 2008 22:49