Bengaluru YouTuber in US sparks debate on hospitality after being charged Rs 1,260 for water: 'I'm spoilt with Taj hotels'

Ishan Sharma said he was put up at Caesar's Palace, a five-star hotel in the US. (Image credit: Ishan Sharma)

A Bengaluru-based YouTube content creator on a visit to the US has sparked a discussion on social media after he shared his experience at a five-star hotel in Las Vegas and compared it with the hospitality of Indian hotels. Calling it his biggest "culture shock," Ishan Sharma said he was shocked at being asked to pay $14.99 (about Rs 1,260) for a bottle of water when he asked for a glass.

"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," the second-year electrical engineering student from BITS Pilani in Goa wrote on X. "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.

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.

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I stayed at 3 star, 4 star AND today 5 star hotel (Caesar's Palace)

Maybe I'm spoilt with Taj hotels in India.

But basic things… pic.twitter.com/RkB84F69R0

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— Ishan Sharma (@Ishansharma7390) August 12, 2024

Sharma's now-viral post prompted responses from people who supported his views and from those who did not.

"Is anyone going to point out the obvious… that you can drink the tap water at American hotels, but you cannot at most in India?" wrote influencer Nick Gray (@nickgraynews). "So in India the free bottled water is likely mandatory and necessary. Whereas in America the bottled water at a hotel is usually 'fancy'."

When he was pointed out by another X user that Sharma had asked for a glass of water and not a bottle, something that the hotel staff could have helped him with, Gray added, "I think he is trolling anyway. There is no way that Caesars was charging that amount of money he said for such a small bottle of water."

Others, however, highlighted that the hospitality of Indian hotels surpasses those in the US and Europe.

"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."

"Indian hotels are 1000 times better than European and American hotels. We get extra complimentary services, plus it's true that outside hotels don't even provide water bottles daily," wrote Rohit Ghumare (@ghumare64), while X user Deedy (@deedydas) added, "Agreed, Indian hospitality is a notch above American. They have way less help and charge for every thing they can."