Bengaluru YouTuber gets a free upgrade at 5-star hotel in US after viral post on poor hospitality

In the original post, Sharma had slammed Caesar's Palace and its staff for asking for tips without helping what he termed was the basic service expected from the five-star hotel such as carrying his luggage or offering him some water for free. (Image credit: @Ishansharma7390/X)

A viral post on the alleged poor hospitality a Bengaluru-based YouTube content creator faced in a five-star hotel in the US eventually led him to get a free upgrade. Ishan Sharma was put up in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas where, despite the room tariff being $200 (about Rs 16,800) per night, he was asked to buy a bottle of water worth $14.99 (about Rs 1,260) when he asked only for a glass.

He then took to X to share his disappointment with the hotel and to express his belief that Indian hotels are more hospitable than the ones in the US. Sharma's post soon went viral and had several people speaking both for and against his views, but another outcome was that hotel took note of the incident and offered him a free upgrade.

Sharing the update on X, the second-year electrical engineering student from BITS Pilani in Goa, wrote, "Thank you Caesar's Palace for the upgrade. I'm glad you heard me. Really excited for the next few days!... Staff was really helpful this time."

Thank you Caesar's Palace for the upgrade.

I'm glad you heard me.

Really excited for the next few days! pic.twitter.com/EzRxbxfcUn

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— Ishan Sharma (@Ishansharma7390) August 13, 2024

Responding to his post, the hotel authorities replied: "We’re excited to have you at our resort! We appreciate you taking the time to reach out. Feel free to message us if anything else is needed. We hope you have a great rest of your time in Las Vegas."

In the original post, Sharma had slammed Caesar's Palace and its staff for asking for tips without helping what he termed was the basic service expected from the five-star hotel such as carrying his luggage.

"My biggest culture shock - American Hotels. They just don't get hospitality. Funny how they ask for tips but won't even give complementary water," he wrote. "Basic things like helping with luggage, being accommodating were missing. I check in at 2 am tired from the flight and asked for a glass of water, they say "it's $14.99 for a 200ml bottle you can buy it'. And this is a $200 (about Rs 16,800) per night hotel! Complete lack of empathy. Unbelievable!"

Sharma, who was put up at hotel Caesar's Palace, further elaborated that he had stayed at three, four, and five-star hotels earlier and the experience has been the same for all hotels in the US. "Maybe I'm spoilt with Taj hotels in India," he added.

The post had received more than 4,000 likes and about 450 comments with most agreeing that Indian hotels indeed offer better quality service than their American counterparts.

"Ishan, America understands hospitality differently! Whether it be planes, hotels, restaurants, ships etc. It’s been so for decades. Their concept is just to provide the basic facilities, unlike in Asia/India where we are spoilt by airlines, hotels, and the like with extras," commented Sanjay Lazar (@sjlazars). "You pay for everything in the US and their union regulations are so tough, it’s the law to tip in most states (and everyone expects it), Cali, Illinois, Florida, and New York are some of the places where you experience this."

Another X user Kashif Ansari (@Perfi_X) said, "Americans come to Asia for hospitality! You will get the best loyalty recognition in SE Asia & India only and it is not limited to Taj. Marriott, ITC, Accor are also there and Hyatt is the best in terms of loyalty recognition."